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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/license - - -Title: The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XX) - -Author: Charles Paul de Kock - -Release Date: December 17, 2012 [EBook #41645] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration: Frontispiece] - - -_THE MILKMAID'S WEDDING_ - - -_Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her charms and -her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the altar by -the man she loved._ - -_All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married._ - - - - -NOVELS - -BY - -Paul de Kock - -VOLUME XX - -THE MILKMAID - -OF - -MONTFERMEIL - -PRINTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH - -GEORGE BARRIE'S SONS - -THE JEFFERSON PRESS -BOSTON NEW YORK - -_Copyrighted, 1903-1904, by G. B. & Sons._ - - - - -THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL - - - - -I - -A CONVERSATION IN A CABRIOLET - - -"For you can't go on like this forever, lieutenant--you must agree to -that. The great Turenne didn't fight ten battles at once and didn't -carry on six intrigues on the same day." - -"No, my dear Bertrand, but Csar dictated four letters at once in four -different languages, and Pico de la Mirandola boasted that he was -familiar with and could talk _de omni re scibili_----" - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, I don't know Latin." - -"That means that he claimed to know all languages, to have gone to the -bottom of all the sciences, to be able to refute all creeds and -reconcile theologians of all breeds." - -"As I don't think that you're so conceited as that, lieutenant, I won't -compare you with this Monsieur de la Mirandola, who claimed to know -everything. As for Csar, I've heard him spoken of as a very great man, -but I'm sure he didn't have as many mistresses as you." - -"You're mistaken, Bertrand; the great men of antiquity had a great many -female slaves, concubines, and often cast off their wives and took new -ones. Love and Pleasure had temples in Greece; and those high and -mighty Romans, who are represented to us as so strait-laced, weren't -ashamed to indulge in the wildest debauchery, to crown themselves with -myrtle and roses, and sometimes to appear at their banquets in the -costumes of our first parents." - -"For God's sake, lieutenant, let's drop the Romans, with whom I never -exchanged a shot, and go back to what we were talking about." - -"I propose to prove to you, my dear Bertrand, that we are very far from -surpassing preceding generations in folly, and are in fact much more -virtuous." - -"Is that why you have four mistresses?" - -"I love women, I admit; I will say more--I am proud of it; it is a -natural inclination. I cannot see an attractive face, a fine pair of -eyes, without feeling a pleasant thrill, an agitation, an I don't know -what, in short, that proves my extreme susceptibility. Is it a crime, -pray, to be susceptible in an age when selfishness is carried to such -lengths; when self-interest is the mainspring of almost all human -actions; when we see authors prefer cash to renown, and men in office -forgetful of everything except retaining their offices, instead of -meditating on the good they might do; when we see artists begging for -the patronage of people they despise, and asking alms from stupidity -when it is in power; when we see men of letters carefully block a -confrre's path when they detect in him a talent that might outshine -theirs; when, in short, every door is closed to obscure merit, and -thrown wide open to impudence and conceit when accompanied by wealth? If -selfishness had not wormed its way into all classes of society, if love -of money had not replaced love of one's neighbor, would it be thus? And -you berate me for my susceptibility! You reproach me for being unable to -listen unmoved to the story of a noble deed, or of pathetic misfortune; -for giving money to people who deceive me; for allowing myself to be -gulled like an ass by the palaver of a child who tells me that he is -begging for his mother, or of a poor laboring man who swears that he has -no work and nothing to eat! Well, my dear Bertrand, I prefer my -susceptibility to their icy selfishness, and I find in my heart sources -of enjoyment which their indifferent hearts will never know." - -This conversation took place in a stylish cabriolet, drawn by a prancing -horse, which was bowling along the lovely road from Raincy to -Montfermeil. A small groom of some twelve or fourteen years was perched -behind the carriage, in which Bertrand was seated beside a young man, -dressed in the latest fashion, who, as he conversed, touched -occasionally with his whip the spirited steed he was driving. - -Bertrand had partly turned his face away toward the end of his master's -speech; and to cloak the emotion which was beginning to be too much for -him, he blew his nose and took a huge pinch of snuff. Somewhat composed -thereby, he said in a voice slightly tremulous with emotion: - -"God forbid, lieutenant, that I should blame you for being -tender-hearted! I know your kind heart; I know how willing and ready to -help you are! And I could mention a thousand things you've done that -many men would have bragged about; whereas you are very careful to -conceal them." - -"People who boast of the good they do are like the ones who offer you a -thing in such a way that you can't accept it: both give regretfully." - -"We needn't look very far, lieutenant; haven't you heaped presents on -me? didn't you take me in, and give me board and lodging?" - -"You're an idiot, Bertrand; don't you act as my steward, factotum, -confidential man of business,--yes, and as my friend, which is better -than all the rest, and for which one cannot pay?" - -At that, Bertrand turned his head altogether, and blew his nose again, -because a great tear had dropped from his eyes. He took two pinches of -snuff, and having warmly grasped the hand that his master offered him, -he said in a quavering voice: - -"Yes, monsieur, you are the best of men; you have a thousand good -qualities! and no one had better say anything different in my hearing! -Morbleu! my sword isn't rusty yet." - -"Oho! so now you're going to flatter me, are you? Remember, Bertrand, -that you began this conversation for the purpose of scolding me." - -"Scolding you! no, indeed, lieutenant, but simply to point out to you -that it would be more reasonable to love one woman at once; with full -liberty to change as soon as you see another one that you like better." - -"Look you, Bertrand, I'll draw a comparison for you, that you'll see the -justice of at once." - -"You won't put any Greeks or Romans in it, will you, lieutenant?" - -"Not one.--You like wine, don't you, Bertrand?" - -"That's so, lieutenant; I admit that an old bottle--of a good -brand--there's nothing like that to liven you up!" - -"Do you like beaune?" - -"Very much, lieutenant." - -"And bordeaux?" - -"Ah, yes! it smells of violets; it has a delicious bouquet!" - -"And volnay?" - -"I've never been able to resist it." - -"And chambertin?" - -"I would go down on my knees to it, lieutenant." - -"If you had a bottle of each of those wines in front of you, would you -give up three of them and drink just a single one?" - -"I promise you, lieutenant, that I'd take care of all four of them, and -I wouldn't be any worse off for it either." - -"Why then do you expect me, when I am surrounded by four pretty -creatures, each of whom has some peculiar charm, to give up three of -them and make love to only one?" - -"Parbleu! that's true enough, lieutenant; you can't do it; you must -drink them--I mean you must love them all four; and I see now that I was -wrong." - -The discussions between Bertrand and Auguste Dalville almost always -ended so. Auguste was twenty-seven and had twenty thousand francs a -year; his father died while he was in the cradle, and his mother was -taken away from him six years before our story opens. That was the date -of the beginning of Auguste's life of dissipation; he had sought -distraction from his perfectly natural grief, and had finally become -unable to resist a sex in whose company he had at first sought diversion -only. - -Meanwhile, the ambition to wear a handsome uniform, and perhaps to earn -a pair of epaulets, had led Auguste to enter the army. The country was -at peace; but a young man with a good education does not remain a -private. Auguste, promoted to sub-lieutenant, delighted to listen to -Bertrand, who had served as corporal of _voltigeurs_, and had been at -Austerlitz, Eylau, and Friedland. Bertrand was only forty-four: he put -into the description of his battles the same fire and zeal that he had -displayed in the battles themselves, and Auguste never tired of -listening. The corporal's stories excited his ardor; he regretted that -he was not born a few years earlier, thinking that he might, like -Bertrand, have taken part in those triumphant campaigns which will -always be the glory of France. - -About this time, Auguste was sent with his regiment to Pampeluna, to -which the French were laying siege. Bertrand found himself under the -command of the young officer, who had been made a lieutenant. But, the -war at an end, Auguste quitted the military profession, and returned to -Paris, to abandon himself afresh to his taste for pleasure. He proposed -to Bertrand to go with him; he readily obtained his discharge and -accompanied Dalville, to whom he was sincerely attached, and whom he -continued to call lieutenant, partly from habit and partly from choice. - -Bertrand had a mother in Paris, very old and infirm. Auguste's first -care was to settle on the poor woman a pension which placed her beyond -fear of want, and enabled her to enjoy in her old age a multitude of -comforts which she had never known during her life of toil and -misfortune. - -Thereafter Auguste was not simply a master in Bertrand's eyes; he -regarded him as his benefactor, and his affection and devotion knew no -bounds. After his mother's death, which occurred three years later, -Bertrand attached himself to Auguste's service altogether, and vowed -that he would devote his life to proving his gratitude. Bertrand had had -no education; he often made blunders in delivering the messages which -his master entrusted to him; but Auguste always forgave him, because he -was well aware of the ex-corporal's attachment and his good heart. -Bertrand, as we have seen, sometimes ventured to remonstrate with his -superior officer, because, being as yet unfamiliar with the manner of -life in high society, Auguste's follies terrified him, and he was in -constant dread that his intrigues would lead to serious complications; -but Auguste always succeeded in allaying Bertrand's fright, so that the -latter invariably ended the conversation by saying: "I was in the -wrong." - -There are many more things that I might tell you concerning the two men -who have been talking together. Perhaps I ought to draw their portraits -for you, and to tell you to just what type of face Auguste Dalville's -belonged. But what would be the use? Doubtless some one of his numerous -conquests will have something to say about him; so that I should run the -risk of unnecessary repetition by sketching him at first. We can simply -presume that he was comely, as he was fortunate enough to please the -ladies. "That is no reason," you will say; "when a man has twenty -thousand francs a year, that takes the place of physical charms, and -conceals ugliness."--Oh! what an idea, my dear readers! Surely no reader -of the gentler sex would make such a reply; for I have too good an -opinion of the ladies not to feel sure that it would take something more -than twenty thousand francs to captivate them. - -But the cabriolet is speeding along; we will resume our reflections at -some other time. - -"Bbelle goes very well. You are warm, lieutenant; don't you want me to -take the reins?" - -"No, I like to drive." - -"We shall be at Monsieur Destival's by eleven o'clock." - -"That is quite early enough; and from that time until five o'clock, when -we dine--But I promised a long while ago. At all events, Madame Destival -is an excellent musician, and we will try to amuse ourselves while we -are waiting for dinner." - -"Why did you bring me, lieutenant? I can't play or sing, and as I don't -belong in the salon, where am I to do sentry-duty?" - -"Never fear; Monsieur Destival expressly requested me to bring you. He -has become infatuated with hunting, and he wants you to teach him to -handle a gun." - -"Very well, lieutenant, I'll teach him all I know; that won't take -long." - -"Poor Virginie! What a rage she will be in to-night! I promised to take -her to Feydeau----" - -"She has often promised you things, and then broken her word." - -"How do you know that, Bertrand?" - -"Because I've heard, lieutenant, that Mademoiselle Virginie's a terrible -liar." - -"That is true; yes, I have had proofs of it more than once." - -"That's very bad, after all that you've done for her! But you're so -kindhearted, you always allow yourself to be imposed on! Ten thousand -carbines! if the hussy had killed herself every time she threatened _to -perish_ because she didn't have enough to pay her rent----" - -"Come, come, Monsieur Bertrand, be quiet! You have a wicked tongue.--Go -on, Bbelle; I believe you're asleep." - -"And one evening, when you went out, and she told me her troubles! She -said that if she had had a weakness for you, it was because she was too -loving, but that she was determined to change her ways, not to see you -any more, and to make up with her aunt. For my part, I believed every -word of it; in fact, she had such a sincere way of saying it, that I -felt all ready to cry. But no sooner did she learn that you were at the -masked ball than she shouted: 'I'm going too, Bertrand! lend me some -clothes, I'm going to dress as a man!'--'What, mademoiselle,' says I, -'when you're talking about being good and not seeing Monsieur Auguste -any more!'--At that she began to laugh like a madwoman and called me an -old turkey-cock! Faith, lieutenant, I don't understand a woman like -that." - -"I can well believe it, my poor Bertrand; even I myself don't understand -her, and I know her better than you do." - -"I like that little light-haired woman better; you know, lieutenant, the -one you got acquainted with by carrying back the little poodle she'd -lost, that I found lying at our door at night." - -"You mean Lonie?" - -"No, I mean Madame de Saint-Edmond." - -"Lonie and Saint-Edmond are the same person." - -"I didn't know, lieutenant." - -"But look you, Bertrand, it was your fault that I made her -acquaintance." - -"The poodle's rather, lieutenant." - -"Lonie lived in the same house with me, and I didn't know her." - -"Parbleu, lieutenant, as if a body knew all his neighbors in Paris! -except concierges and cooks, whose business it is." - -"At all events, you found the dog, and I bade you ask the concierge if -anyone in the house had lost it." - -"And he told me that there was a young lady on the third floor, who had -lain awake all night for grief at losing her dog, and that her maid, -after searching from garret to cellar, had gone out to have placards -printed offering thirty francs reward to whoever brought the little -beast back. I confess that I didn't have any idea that the little -poodle, which did nothing but bite and growl, was worth more than four -months' pay for a private soldier; but I went up to the third floor in a -hurry, to have the order for the placards countermanded by giving the -little beast back to its mistress. To celebrate his return, he began by -scratching a handsome blue satin armchair and putting his paws in -madame's cup of chocolate; but that didn't prevent her calling him her -little jewel, and expressing the greatest gratitude to me. Still, -lieutenant, I don't see anything in all that to force you to fall in -love with Madame Lonie Saint-Edmond." - -"You haven't told everything, Bertrand: you forget that, when you came -down from the third floor, you drew a very alluring picture of that -lady; you told me that she had a pair of eyes--and a voice--and a -certain shape!" - -"Bless me, lieutenant, I should say that all women have eyes and a shape -and a voice!" - -"Yes, to be sure; but still I was curious to know this young neighbor of -ours, who showed such keen sensibility." - -"And it would seem, lieutenant, that you dislodged the poodle, for since -then Madame Saint-Edmond is forever at your heels; and as for me, madame -questions me and tries to make me talk; she sends for me to come up when -she's at breakfast, and as she offers me a little glass of malaga and a -biscuit, she asks me where you passed the evening before." - -"And Monsieur Bertrand, melted by the malaga, recounts my actions to my -neighbor, I presume?" - -"Oh! for shame, lieutenant! What do you take me for? The idea of my -betraying my master's secrets! If there had been half a dozen bottles -of malaga in front of me, I wouldn't have said a word! To be sure, I -don't like malaga." - -"Bless my soul, my dear Bertrand, I am not scolding you! You know well -enough that I make no secret of my follies, even to those who might have -ground for complaint. It's a mere matter of an amourette or two, a -little fooling." - -"All the same, lieutenant, I am seriously embarrassed, on my word, being -forever questioned by this one and that one. One calls me her little -Bertrand, another her true friend--and these ladies are all very -attractive----" - -"Ah! monsieur le caporal has noticed that!" - -"Parbleu, lieutenant, I have eyes just like other men, and if my heart -don't take fire as easily as yours, that don't mean that it's -invulnerable. And when I see one of those ladies put her handkerchief to -her eyes, when I hear your neighbor throw herself into an armchair and -say that she's going to faint; and when Mademoiselle Virginie cries that -she _will perish_,--why, I don't know where I am. I run from one to the -other, offer them salts and eau-de-vie, tear my hair, and sometimes I -even cry with them. Let me tell you that I'd rather assault a fortress -six times than be present at one of those scenes, on my honor!" - -"Ha! ha! ha! Poor Bertrand!" - -"Of course, you laugh; it don't make any difference to you how much you -are called traitor, perfidious villain, savage, monster, cruel wretch!" - -"Those are terms of endearment; in a young woman's mouth those words -mean: 'You are charming, I love you, I adore you!'" - -"Oho! so 'monster!' means 'you are charming,' does it? That makes a -difference, lieutenant; I couldn't be expected to guess that; now I -understand. But these tears that you are responsible for--do they also -mean that you are considered charming?" - -"Oh! do you suppose, my old friend, that in love-affairs tears are -always sincere?" - -"In a great flood, lieutenant, there may happen to be one honest one; -and it seems to me that a man ought to be sorry for the suffering he -causes a pretty girl." - -"I promise to reform, Bertrand, to be more virtuous in the future! Is it -possible that you think that I, who adore that charming sex, I, whose -whole happiness depends on making myself attractive to the ladies--that -I set about causing them pain?" - -"No, lieutenant; on the contrary, I am well aware that you would like to -give pleasure to all the young beauties you meet; but it is that very -pleasure that leads to regret and cares; and you yourself--for, as I was -saying just now, the great Turenne----" - -Auguste had ceased to listen to Bertrand; he had put his head out of the -window and was watching a young peasant who had just come out of the -forest and was walking along the same road that our travellers were -following, driving before her an ass laden with baskets, in which were a -number of the tin cans in which milk is carried to the people of Paris -by the village women. - -As the ass did not move as fast as Bbelle, Auguste drew in his horse -and made him walk, in order to see the girl as long as possible. - -"Shall I touch Bbelle up?" asked Bertrand, surprised to find that they -continued to go at a walk. - -"No, no--she's going well enough." - -"Yes, lieutenant, you will be very wise to turn virtuous--virtuous for -you, I mean; if you don't, your income won't be enough to pay all your -expenses. You have appointed me your steward, so I can venture to talk -figures with you; and, although I'm not a great mathematician, I can see -plainly enough that when you're forever dipping into a cash-box, it is -soon empty. This year you don't seem to be lucky at that infernal game -you play so often--you know, lieutenant, the game in which you turn the -kings----" - -"Fresh complexion--a pretty figure--lovely eyes--it's extraordinary, I -swear!" - -"And then the cashmere shawls you send to one, and the milliner's bill -that you pay for another----" - -"And all these charms in a milkmaid!" - -"What's that? a milkmaid? Do you mean to say that you pay their bills -too, lieutenant?" - -"Who in the devil said anything about bills? Just look at that sweet -child on the road yonder." - -"Well! she's a milkmaid--that's the whole story!" - -"You don't see how pretty she is. And that sly smile, every time her -eyes turn in our direction." - -"Perhaps she wants to sell us some cream cheese?" - -"Blockhead! to see nothing but cheese! I tell you that sackcloth waist, -that double linen neckerchief, so high in the neck, conceal a multitude -of treasures." - -"Treasures! treasures! Parbleu! one can guess very nearly what they -conceal, although appearances are often deceitful. But such treasures -aren't scarce; is it on account of the little milkmaid that we're going -now like a load of flour?" - -"No, no, it's because I am beginning to get tired of the cabriolet. The -weather is so fine; I feel that it will do me good to walk. We're only a -little way from Monsieur Destival's now. Here, Bertrand, take the reins; -I'll do the rest of the distance on foot." - -"What, lieutenant, you mean to----" - -Auguste had already stopped his horse; he jumped lightly to the ground -despite Bertrand's grumbling, and said: - -"Go on with Tony." - -"But what shall I tell Monsieur Destival?" - -"That I am coming; I shall be there as soon as you." - -"But----" - -"Bertrand, I insist." - -Bertrand said no more; but he cast an angry glance at the little -milkmaid, and lashed Bbelle, who soon left Auguste far behind. - - - - -II - -THE FALL - - -The damsel went her way, with a branch of walnut in her hand, driving -her ass before her, apparently oblivious of the fact that the young man -had alighted from his cabriolet. She did not look back, but contented -herself with calling out from time to time: "Go on there, White Jean;" -and White Jean went none the faster. - -Auguste soon overtook the milkmaid. He walked behind her a few moments, -to examine her; she was well-built, so far as one could judge of her -shape beneath the thick wrapper in which she was muffled; her foot was -certainly small, although encased in heavy shoes, and her woolen -stockings covered a shapely leg, which he could examine at his leisure, -for a milkmaid wears very short skirts. - -Auguste stepped forward; the girl looked up and seemed surprised to see -the young man of the cabriolet walking by her side. But she turned her -head away, with another "go on!" to her ass, in which there was no touch -of romance. - -Our young exquisite gazed closely at the girl, who wore a cap perched on -top of her head, which concealed none of her features. - -"She is very pretty," he said to himself; "fine eyes, a pretty mouth, a -complexion like the rose; but nothing extraordinary, after all. Her -freshness is the freshness of a village girl; she's a mere country -beauty, and I should have done as well to stay in the carriage. However, -as I have alighted, I may as well try to gain something by it." - -And the young man continued to stare at the milkmaid, with a smile on -his face; but she, apparently annoyed by the fine gentleman's scrutiny, -said to him sharply: - -"Shall you soon be through looking at me?" - -"Isn't it within the law to admire you?" - -"No, I don't like to have anyone eye me like that." - -"If you weren't so pretty, people would look at you less." - -"If this is the way you talk to your ladies in Paris, you must have lots -of faces in your head! When you look at a body so close, you'll know her -again; but here among us, we don't call it decent; and you'd better not -come here to play monkey tricks like this!" - -"I made a mistake in leaving the cabriolet," thought Auguste. However, -he continued to walk beside the girl, and said to her after a moment: - -"Are you a milkmaid?" - -"Pardi! anyone can see that. Have you just guessed it?" - -"Will you sell me some milk?" - -"I haven't got any." - -"Do you carry it to Paris?" - -"I don't go so far as that." - -"Where do you come from?" - -"You're very inquisitive." - -The girl's tone was not encouraging, and Auguste looked along the road -to see whether he could still see his cabriolet; but it had disappeared, -for White Jean stopped very often to eat leaves or grass, despite the -blows with the switch which his mistress bestowed on him. - -"Do you know," said Auguste, "you are not very agreeable, my lovely -child? You are so pretty that I thought you would be gentler, less -savage." - -"That's just it! monsieur thought he was going to turn my head with his -flattery! But I'm used to meeting young men from Paris; it's always the -same old song; they think they can make themselves welcome just by -telling me I'm pretty! Oh! you're a parcel of flatterers! but I don't -listen to you, you see!" - -"I should like to hear anyone deny again that virtue has its home in the -village!" said Auguste to himself. "It is clear enough to my mind that -the country is the place where we find the pure morals of the ancient -patriarch, the models of virtue celebrated by the poets, the--That devil -of a Bertrand needn't have driven Bbelle so fast; he must have done it -from pure mischief! And when I said that we were almost there I was -lying. It's at least three-quarters of a league farther!" - -To complete the young man's discomfiture, the milkmaid turned aside from -the high road into a path that led through the woods. Auguste stood for -a moment hesitating at the entrance to the path. Should he follow his -cabriolet? or should he follow the girl? The first course was the more -sensible, and that was his reason no doubt for deciding in favor of the -second. - -The time that Auguste had passed in indecision had allowed the milkmaid -to get some distance ahead of him; she walked along the path, and, -thinking that the young man had followed the highroad, she sang as she -drove White Jean in front of her: - - "You love me, you say, - Then prove it, I pray; - But dandies like you, - Would hoax us, I know." - -"Very pretty! although the rhyme isn't first-class," said Auguste, -quickening his pace to overtake the girl. She turned, and seemed -surprised to see the young man in the path behind her. - -"What! you coming this way?" said the milkmaid, in a somewhat uncertain -voice. - -"To be sure; this path is lovely." - -"Ain't you going to overtake your carriage?" - -"I couldn't make up my mind to leave you." - -"Oh! you're wasting your time, monsieur, and I promise you you'd do -better to go after your carriage." - -"But I much prefer to walk by your side, although you treat me so -harshly; however, I have an idea that you're not so unkind as you choose -to appear." - -"Well, you're mistaken; I ain't kind at all; ask all the young fellows -in Montfermeil how I treat them when they try to fool. Oh! Denise Fourcy -is well known hereabout, I tell you." - -"Denise Fourcy? Good, now I know your name." - -"Well, what then? How does that put you ahead any?" - -"It will help me to find out about you easily, and to find you again -when I choose." - -"Pardi! I ain't lost, and anyone can easily find me." - -"Do you mean to say, Denise, that at your age, pretty as you are, you -haven't a lover?" - -"Is that any of your business?" - -"Oh! very much!" - -"Here in the country we ain't in such a hurry as your city ladies." - -"Haven't women hearts in the country as well as elsewhere?" - -"Yes; but they don't take fire the way yours does; it seems to me to be -a little heart of tinder." - -"Upon my word, she is really amusing!" said Auguste, laughingly. - -"_She!_" repeated the milkmaid in an irritated tone; "how polite these -fine gentlemen are! _She!_ Anyone would think we had known each other a -long while." - -"It depends entirely on you whether or not we shall be the best friends -in the world in a moment. And to begin with, I must give you a kiss." - -"No--no, monsieur--none of that sort of thing, if you please.--Oh! look -out, or I'll scratch you." - -Auguste, accustomed to defy such prohibitions, seized the little -milkmaid by the waist, and tried to put his lips to her fresh, ruddy -cheek; but she defended herself more vigorously than the city ladies do; -to be sure, a peasant is less embarrassed by her clothes, she isn't -afraid of rumpling them, and her corsets are not so tight that she -cannot move her arms; that is the reason no doubt that a kiss is much -harder to obtain from a peasant. - -The kiss was taken at last; but it cost Auguste dear, for he bore below -his left eye the marks of two nails which had drawn blood from the -Parisian dandy's face. Thus each of the combatants was beaten, for each -bore a token of defeat. But the war seemed not to be at an end. Denise, -twice as red as she was before the battle, arranged her neckerchief, -glaring angrily at the young man; while he put his hand to his face, -and, finding blood there, wiped it with his handkerchief, looking at the -girl with a less sentimental expression; for those two digs with her -nails had cooled his ardor to an extraordinary degree. - -"I'm glad of it," said the girl at last; "that will teach you to try to -kiss a girl against her will, monsieur." - -"I certainly didn't expect to be treated so. The idea of disfiguring -me--just for a kiss!" - -"If all women did the same, you wouldn't be so forward." - -"Thank God, they don't all have the same ideas that you have. You hurt -me terribly!" - -"Oh! what troubles you the most is that it will show; you're afraid you -won't be so pretty to look at." - -"No, I assure you that that isn't what I am thinking about. I am sorry -that I really made you angry. I realize that I was wrong. Come, Denise, -let us make peace." - -"No, monsieur, no, I don't listen to you any more." - -And the milkmaid, thinking that the young man intended to try to kiss -her again, ran to her donkey, and, in order to fly more rapidly, leaped -on White Jean's back, and beat him with redoubled force. But it was the -animal's custom to return placidly to the village, browsing on whatever -he found by the roadside, and not to bear his young mistress on his -back. Disturbed in his daily routine by this unexpected burden, White -Jean broke into a fast trot, and entered the woods despite his -mistress's efforts to make him follow the beaten path. Auguste heard -the girl's cries as she tried in vain to hold her steed, dodging with -much difficulty the branches which brushed against her face every -instant. Forgetting the marks that Denise had left on his cheek, -Dalville followed the milkmaid's track, in order to lead the ass back -into the path; but when he heard running behind him, the infernal beast -went faster than ever and rushed heedlessly into the densest part of the -wood. Soon a stout branch barred the milkmaid's path. While her mount -ran beneath it, she was swept to the ground; and as she fell another -branch caught her skirt; so that poor Denise fell to the ground, face -downward, with her skirt over her head and consequently not where it -usually was. - -Auguste came up at that moment. You can imagine the sight that met his -eyes; and what the skirt no longer covered was white and plump and -fresh. But we must do the young man justice; instead of amusing himself -by contemplating so many attractive things, he ran to Denise. She -shrieked and wept and gnashed her teeth. He succeeded in rescuing her -head from her petticoats, and quickly covered--what you know. - -Denise rose; but she was covered with confusion, she dared not look up -at the young man, who, far from taking advantage of her embarrassment, -inquired solicitously whether she was hurt. - -"Oh, no! it ain't anything," said Denise, still blushing. "I should have -forgotten all about it before this if that cursed branch--Pardi! I must -be mighty unlucky." - -"Why so? because you fell? Why, my dear child, that might happen to -anybody." - -"Yes, but it's possible to fall without showing--without--Never mind, -you're the first one that ever saw it, all the same." - -"Ah! I would like to be the last one, too.--Come, why this offended -expression? I promise you that I didn't see anything; I thought of -nothing but helping you. I was so afraid that you had hurt yourself! It -would have been my fault; for, if it hadn't been for my nonsense, you -would have gone your way in peace, and this wouldn't have happened." - -As Denise listened to Auguste, her anger passed away, and she even -smiled as she said: - -"I ain't cross with you any more. You're more decent than I thought; if -I'd fallen like that before the village fellows, they'd have laughed to -begin with, and then they'd have made a lot of silly talk, and there -wouldn't have been any end to it. Instead of that, you picked me right -up, and you looked so scared!--I'm sorry now that I scratched you. Come, -kiss me, to prove that you forgive me." - -Auguste made the most of this permission. Denise was so pretty when she -smiled! and a woman who defends herself so sturdily makes the favors -that she grants seem the more precious. - -So peace was made between the milkmaid and the young man. But White Jean -was no longer there; overjoyed to be rid of his burden, he had kept on -through the woods. - -"Oh! I ain't worried," said Denise; "I'm sure he's gone home. Let's take -this path and we shall soon be in the village." - -They walked on; the milkmaid beside Auguste, who once more considered -her a charming creature, since she had smiled upon him and had allowed -him to kiss her. In truth, Denise's face was no longer the same; an -angry expression is not becoming to a pretty face, and features that are -made to inspire love should never express wrath. But they soon emerged -from the woods and descended a hill, at the foot of which lay -Montfermeil. - -"There's my village," said Denise; "and look, do you see my ass trotting -along down there? Oh! I knew he'd go right home.--Have you got business -in the neighborhood?" - -"No, not exactly. I am going to Monsieur Destival's country place. Do -you know it?" - -"To be sure; I carry milk to them, when Madame Destival stays there in -summer. She always tells me to be careful about her little cheeses. You -see, I make nice ones. I carried them a bigger one this morning, because -Mamzelle Julie, madame's maid, told me they expected company from -Paris." - -"That being so, I probably shall have the pleasure of tasting your -cheeses." - -"But if you're going to Monsieur Destival's, you mustn't go to the -village. I'll show you what road you must take." - -"It will be much kinder of you to go with me and show me the way; as you -are not anxious about your ass, there is nothing to hurry you." - -"Oh, no! monsieur! I see that you're all right, but you're too fond of -kissing the girls. Besides, my aunt is waiting for me. It's after noon, -and our dinner-time.--Look, monsieur, take that road that goes up the -hill yonder, then the first turn to the left, then the grass-grown road, -and you'll find yourself at the place where you're going." - -"I shall never remember all that. You will be responsible for my losing -my way." - -"You shouldn't have left your carriage." - -"It was your lovely eyes that turned my head." - -"Ah! you're going to begin again. Go along, quick, or they'll eat the -cream cheese without you." - -"I should be very sorry for that, as it was you who made it." - -"The road up the hill--then turn to the left--then the grass-grown road. -Adieu, monsieur." - -"One more kiss, Denise." - -"No, no; that sort of thing shouldn't be repeated too often; you'd soon -get tired of it." - -And Denise hurried down the hill toward the village. Auguste followed -her with his eyes for a long while, saying to himself: - -"She's very pretty, and she's bright too! What a pity that she doesn't -live in Paris!--What am I saying? If she were in Paris, she'd look like -all the rest; it's because she's a milkmaid that her face and her wit -have impressed me.--Well, I will follow the directions she gave me, and -arrive as soon as possible. I am sure that they are impatient for me to -come; poor Bertrand won't know what to say, and Madame Destival will -pout at me--how she will pout!--And great heaven! these scratches! how -in the devil am I to explain them? Faith, I scratched myself picking -nuts. It's a pity that nuts don't have thorns. But no matter, they may -think what they choose." - -So Auguste decided to resume his journey; but he cast another glance at -Denise's village, and murmured as he walked away: - -"I shall come again and make Montfermeil's acquaintance." - - - - -III - -THE CHILD AND THE BOWL - - -Auguste followed the road that Denise had pointed out to him, his -thoughts still fixed on the little milkmaid. The most fickle of men -remembers the last woman who has succeeded in attracting him, until some -new and pleasing object, causing him to feel other desires, effaces from -his mind the charms of which he has lately dreamed. - -Suddenly the sound of tears and lamentations roused the young man from -his reverie. He looked about and spied, some ten yards away, by a large -tree, a little boy of six years at most, dressed like a peasant's child, -in a little jacket, trousers torn in several places, no stockings, and -heavy wooden shoes; his head was bare, protected only by a forest of -fair hair. - -Auguste walked toward the little fellow, who wept lustily, and gazed -with an air of stupefaction at the fragments of an earthen vessel at his -feet, the former contents of which were spilled on the road. The child -did not turn to look at the person who spoke to him, all his thoughts -being concentrated on the broken vessel; he could do nothing but weep, -raising to his head and eyes from time to time a pair of very grimy -little hands, which, being wet by his tears, smeared his chubby face -with mud. - -"Why, what makes you cry so, my boy?" asked Auguste, stooping in order -to be nearer the child. - -The little fellow raised for an instant a pair of light-blue eyes, about -which his little hands had drawn circles of black; then turned them -again upon the pieces of broken crockery, muttering: - -"I've broke the bowl--hi! hi! and papa's soup was in it--hi! hi! I'll -get a licking, like I did before--hi! hi!" - -"The deuce! that would be a misfortune, and no mistake! But stop crying, -my boy, perhaps we can fix it all right. You say that you were carrying -soup to your father?" - -"Yes, and I broke the bowl." - -"So I see. But why do they make you carry such a big bowl? You're too -small as yet. How old are you, my boy?" - -"Six and a half--and I broke the bowl, and papa's soup----" - -"Yes, yes, it's on the ground; you mustn't think any more about it." - -"It was cabbage soup--hi! hi!" - -"Oh! I can smell it. But don't cry any more. I promise you that you -shan't be whipped." - -"Yes, I shall; I broke the bowl, and grandma told me to be very -careful." - -"Come, listen to me: what's your name?" - -"Coco--and I've broke the bowl." - -"Well, my little Coco, I'll give you money to buy another bowl, and to -have three times as much cabbage soup made. I hope you won't cry any -more now." - -As he spoke, Auguste took a five-franc piece from his pocket and put it -in the child's hand; but Coco stared at the coin with his big blue eyes -open wider than ever, and continued none the less to sob bitterly, -saying: - -"Papa'll lick me, and so will grandma too." - -"What! when you give them that money?" - -"Papa's waiting for the soup for his dinner; and when he sees me without -the bowl--" - -"Well," thought Auguste, "I see that I must take it on myself to arrange -this matter. It will make me still later; but this little fellow is so -pretty! and they are quite capable of beating him, despite the -five-franc piece. I wasted one hour making love to a milkmaid, I can -afford to sacrifice a second to save this child a thrashing.--Come, -Coco; off we go, my boy! Take me to your father; I'll tell him that it -was I who knocked the bowl out of your hands as I passed, and I'll -promise that you won't be beaten." - -Coco looked at Auguste, then turned his eyes on the remains of the -vessel, from which he was very reluctant to part. But Dalville took his -hand, and the child concluded at last to start. On the way Auguste tried -to make him talk, to divert him from his terror. - -"What does your father do, my boy?" - -"He works in the fields." - -"And his name?" - -"Papa Calleux." - -"Papa Calleux evidently is not very pleasant, as you're so afraid of -him. And your mother?" - -"She's dead." - -"Then it's your grandmother who makes the cabbage soup?" - -"Yes, and she told me to be very careful and not break the bowl, like I -did the other time." - -"Aha! so you've broken one before, have you?" - -"Yes, and there wasn't anything in it; but they licked me." - -"You don't seem to be lucky with bowls. But the idea of whipping such a -little fellow! These peasants must be very hardhearted. Poor boy! he is -still sobbing; and he isn't seven years old! So there's no age at which -we haven't our troubles." - -The boy led Auguste across several fields, through the middle of which -ran narrow paths. It took Auguste still farther from Monsieur -Destival's; but he did not choose to leave the child until he saw that -he was happy. At last they reached a field of potatoes, and Coco stopped -and grasped his companion's arm with a trembling hand. - -"There's papa," he said. - -Some forty yards away Auguste saw a peasant plying the spade. He dropped -the child's hand and walked toward the peasant, who kept at his work, -bent double over the ground. - -"Pre Calleux, I have come to make amends for a slight accident," said -Auguste, raising his voice. - -The peasant raised his head and displayed a face covered with blotches, -a huge nose, great eyes level with the face, a half-open mouth, and -teeth that recalled those of Little Red Riding Hood's enemy. That -extraordinary countenance expressed profound amazement at hearing a -fashionably-dressed gentleman call him by name. - -"I imagine that Pre Calleux is as fond of wine as of cabbage soup," -said Auguste to himself as he scrutinized the peasant. - -"What can I do for you, monsieur?" asked the latter. - -"I met your son Coco on the road----" - -"Ah! where is he, I'd like to know? He was going to bring me my -dinner.--Coco! what are you doing there?" - -"Wait until I tell you the whole story; as I was looking at a fine view, -I ran into the child, and I knocked the bowl he was carrying out of his -hands; it broke, and----" - -"You'll pay for it, that's all; for you're to blame for my having no -dinner." - -"Oh! that's but fair; that's why I came to speak to you. How much do I -owe you? Name the price." - -"Well, monsieur, it was a good soup-bowl; it was worth all of thirty -sous; and there was twelve sous' worth of soup in it; for pork's dear -round here----" - -"See, here's five francs; are you satisfied?" - -"Oh, yes! monsieur; that's fair enough; I haven't got anything to say." - -"Then I hope that you won't scold your son; and, if you take my advice -you won't make a child of that age carry such heavy loads any more." - -"Oh! monsieur, it gets them used to being strong. We poor folks can't -bring children up on lollipops.--Well, Coco, come here." - -The child approached timidly, and, when he reached his father's side, -began to whimper again, saying: - -"I broke the bowl." - -"Yes, yes, I know what happened; monsieur told me all about it. Go back -to the house now, and tell Mre Madeleine to get me some dinner, and to -be sure to have some wine. But no, I'd rather go to dinner at Claude's -cabaret. Go home, Coco, and don't wait supper for me; I've got business -in the town." - -Auguste guessed that Pre Calleux's business consisted in drinking up -the five-franc piece to the last sou; but, satisfied to see that his -young protg was in high spirits, he bade the peasant adieu, and -followed the child, who retraced the steps they had just taken; but this -time he leaped and gambolled about his companion. His great grief was -forgotten already! And they say that we are great children: it is true -as concerns our foibles, but not as concerns happiness. - -Auguste, happy in the little fellow's joy, took pleasure in watching -him. Laughter sits so well upon a little face of six years! A person -who is fond of children cannot conceive how anyone can look with -indifference on their tears. And yet there are people for whom a dog's -yelping has more charm than the laughter of a child! It speaks well for -their depth of feeling! - -As they went along, Coco sang and ran and played about Auguste, playing -little tricks on him, for they were great friends already; at six years -and a half one gives one's friendship as quickly as at twenty one gives -one's heart. Auguste ran and played with the child; he chased him, -caught him, and rolled with him on the grass, heedless of the fact that -it stained his clothes, because the boy's laughter was so frank and true -that it was often shared by his elegant companion. - -What! you will say, a dandy, a lady-killer, a butterfly of fashion, -amuse himself playing in the fields with a little peasant boy? Why not, -pray? Happy the man who, as he grows old, retains his taste for the -simple pleasures of his youth! Henri IV walked about his room on all -fours, carrying his children on his back. When surprised in that -position by the ambassador of a foreign power, he asked him, without -rising, if he were a father, and, upon his answer in the affirmative, -rejoined: "In that case, I'll just trot round the room." - -When they reached the place where he had first met the child, Auguste -would have bade him adieu and have gone his way; but Coco held his hand -and refused to release it. - -"Come home with me," he said, "please come; Mamma Madeleine will give -you some nice butter. Come and you can see Jacqueleine; she's awful -pretty, I tell you." - -"Who is Jacqueleine, my boy?" - -"She's our goat; she sleeps by me." - -"And is your home far away?" - -"No, it's right over there." - -Auguste submitted to be led away. Coco repeating: "It's right over -there," gave his companion another half-hour's walk. At last they came -in sight of a wretched hovel, the thatched roof of which had fallen in -in several places, standing on a crossroad, and Coco shouted: "Here we -are; do you see our house?" Then he pulled his companion's sleeve, to -make him run with him. - -An old woman sat in front of the hovel; she was thin and bent, and her -complexion reminded one of an Egyptian mummy. But a strong, shrill voice -emerged from her fragile body. - -"So here you are at last, lazybones!" she said to the child; "what have -you been doing so long? Where's the bowl?" - -Coco looked at Auguste, whom he was already accustomed to look upon as -his protector; Auguste told Mre Madeleine the same fable that he had -told Pre Calleux, reinforced once more by the five-franc piece, which -was the irresistible argument. At that the old woman tried to soften her -voice, and urged Auguste to come in for a drink of goat's milk and some -fresh butter, which were all that she could offer him. The young dandy -entered the cabin. His heart sickened at the sight of that wretched -habitation. The home of the Calleux family consisted of a single room. -It was a large room, but the daylight lighted only a small part of it. -The bare earth formed the floor; the walls, half whitewashed, had -nothing upon them to conceal their nakedness; the thatched roof -threatened disaster. Two cot beds, in the darkest corner, had no -curtains to shelter them from the wind which entered on all sides. An -old buffet, a chest, a table and a few chairs were the only other -furniture. - -"Where on earth do you sleep?" Auguste asked the child. He led him to a -corner of the room, where it was almost impossible to see anything, and -pointed out a small straw bed on the floor, with a dilapidated woolen -coverlet thrown over it. Close beside it was a goat, lying in some straw -that was spread on the ground. - -"There's my bed," said Coco. "Oh! I'm all right, you see; Jacqueleine -keeps me warm in winter. Jacqueleine loves me, she does!" - -And the child threw his arms round the goat's neck, and patted her, -rolling over and over on the straw with her. But he was obliged to leave -his faithful companion, for his grandmother called him. - -"Come, come, good-for-nothing! You can play by-and-by. Come and put the -bread on the table and give me a cup. The little scamp ain't good for -nothing." - -"You treat your grandson very harshly," said Auguste, taking his place -at the table and tasting the rye bread and the milk. - -"If I'd let him have his way, monsieur, he'd play all day long." - -"But you must love the child dearly, as he's the only one your daughter -left you." - -"Oh! yes, I love him enough! But when a body's poor, it's just as well -not to have none at all." - -Auguste looked once more at the old peasant woman, and her extreme -ugliness no longer surprised him so much. He took Coco on his knee, gave -him milk to drink, and bread and butter to eat, and enjoyed looking at -his pretty face and lovely fair hair. The old woman seemed astounded by -the endearments which the fine gentleman lavished on the child, and -muttered between her teeth: - -"Oh! you'll spoil him! 'taint no use in doing that!" - -"Is he learning to read and write?" - -"Oh, of course! where's the money coming from, I'd like to know? -Besides, we don't want to make a scholar of him. Is that wanted for -driving the plough?" - -"But you might at least give him a better place to sleep than he has." - -"There ain't no sheets but for one bed, and it's no more'n fair for me -to have 'em, old as I am. His father sleeps on a sack of straw same as -he does. He don't sleep no worse for it either, I tell you." - -"Here, Mre Madeleine, take this, and buy a bed for the child, and don't -be so harsh with him." - -As he spoke, Auguste rose, and put six more five-franc pieces in the old -woman's hand. She, having never before seen so much money at one time, -made curtsy after curtsy, overwhelming the stranger with thanks, and -saying to the child: - -"Come, Coco, thank monsieur for giving me all this money for you. Thank -him, I say, quick!" - -The child looked up at his grandmother in evident embarrassment. - -"Let him alone," said Auguste, as he kissed him; "he doesn't know the -value of money yet. The kiss he gives me is all the more sincere on that -account. Adieu, my little Coco.--By the way, which is the road to Livry, -please?" - -"Follow this path, monsieur, and it'll take you to the main road. You'll -be there in half an hour. Do you want Coco to show you the way?" - -"It isn't necessary." - -Auguste left the hovel; the child bade him good-bye and called after -him: - -"Come and play with me again, won't you?" - -"Yes," said Auguste, "I promise." - - - - -IV - -SOME PORTRAITS AFTER NATURE - - -Since eleven o'clock Dalville had been expected at Monsieur Destival's. -Madame, a brunette of thirty, with a bright eye and a most expressive -glance, who was an adept in the art of making the most of a shapely -figure and seductive contours by an effective costume,--madame had -finished her toilet. In the country it was, of course, very simple; but -there are some nglig costumes which require much preparation. However, -as madame was pretty and still young, she had spent only a half hour in -donning a filmy white dress, confined at the waist by an orange sash; in -arranging her curls becomingly and adorning them with a bow of the same -color as her sash. Nor had she asked Julie more than six times if the -yellow was becoming to her. - -Julie replied that madame was fascinating, that yellow was always -becoming to brunettes, and, in fact, that madame need not be afraid to -wear any color. Madame smiled slightly at Julie, who was only -twenty-four, but was extremely ugly, which is almost always considered a -valuable quality in a lady's maid. - -Monsieur Destival was ten years older than his wife; he was tall and -thin; his face was not handsome, but it had character; unfortunately its -expression was not of the sort that denotes an amiable person, whose wit -causes one to forget his ugliness; it denoted self-sufficiency, conceit, -and a constant tendency to be cunning. His rustic cap, set well forward -on his head, seemed to put a seal upon all the rest. - -Monsieur Destival was formerly a government employ; with his wife's -dowry he had bought the office of official auctioneer, which he had -afterward sold at a profit. Although he never talked of politics for -fear of compromising himself, and did not himself know to what party he -belonged, he had had the shrewdness to set up an office as a business -agent, had obtained a numerous clientage and had succeeded in tripling -his capital. To be sure, he gave receptions, balls and small punches, -and madame, whose eyes were full of fire and whose manners were -charming, did the honors of her salon with infinite grace. - -The country house, where they passed much of the time in summer, was -large enough to enable them to entertain extensively, and to provide -rooms for seven or eight friends. As monsieur never allowed more than -one day to pass without going to Paris to look after his business, and -as he sometimes passed the night there, madame--who was very timid, -although she had the look of a strong-minded woman--liked to keep one of -monsieur's male friends in the house. - -A young man with twenty thousand francs a year could not fail to be -hospitably received at Monsieur Destival's; and so, although it was only -three months since Auguste had made his acquaintance, he was already on -the footing of an intimate friend. Monsieur constantly urged him to -call, whether at Paris or in the country, and madame was very fond of -singing and playing with him. - -But the clock struck twelve, and Monsieur Dalville did not appear. -Madame was annoyed. Julie was posted on the lookout at a window on the -second floor, and monsieur wandered from one room to another, -exclaiming: - -"The devil! my friend Dalville is very late, and he promised to come -early, to be here for breakfast." - -"Does Monsieur Auguste ever remember his promises?" asked madame -snappishly. - -"Oh! there you go again, always finding fault with him, attacking him, -making fun of him." - -"I, monsieur? What concern of mine are Monsieur Dalville's tastes or his -failings? When did you ever see me attack him?" - -"I know that it's all in joke; but you are a little bit caustic, my dear -Emilie, you like to hurl epigrams. It is true, I admit, that I myself -should be very biting, if I didn't hold myself back; in fact, I often am -unconsciously. But after all, Dalville's a charming -fellow--well-born--rich--talented." - -"Talented? Oh! very slightly." - -"I thought that he was strong on the violin?" - -"No, monsieur, he often plays false--Well, Julie, do you see anyone -coming?" - -"Mon Dieu! no, madame, it's no use to look. And all those cheeses that I -bought of Denise! How annoying!" - -"For heaven's sake, mademoiselle, don't bother us with your cheeses. Go -up to the cupola--you can see farther." - -"Very well, madame." - -Julie went upstairs and monsieur resumed the conversation. - -"You won't deny, I trust, that Dalville has a pleasant voice." - -"Pleasant! bah! a voice like everybody's else." - -"Why, I should say that you and he sing duets together perfectly, -especially the one from Feydeau's _Muletier_; you know, the one with -'What joy! what joy!' and that ends with 'coucou! coucou!'" - -"Oh! you tire me, monsieur, with your 'coucous!'" - -"He plays quadrilles on the piano." - -"Who doesn't play now?" - -"Faith, I don't; to be sure, I have always had so much business on hand -that I have had to neglect my taste for music. At all events, Dalville -is bright, pleasant, always in good spirits." - -"There are days when he can't say three words in succession!" - -"Let me tell you that I myself, when I'm very much occupied with some -important matter, am not as agreeable as usual--that happens to -everybody. To return to Dalville--he is rich--and young.--By George! I -have an idea! such a delicious idea!" - -"What is it then, monsieur?" - -"I must find a wife for him." - -"A wife for Monsieur Auguste? Why on earth should you interfere? Is it -any of your business?" - -"Isn't it my business to look after other people's business? This may -turn out a profitable affair." - -"Oh! don't go to making matches, monsieur, I beg! As if you knew -anything about such things!" - -"I flatter myself that I do, madame." - -"A business agent make marriages--nonsense! that would be absurd!--Have -you thought about your gun, monsieur?" - -"Yes, madame, I told Baptiste to clean it; and Dalville promised to -bring that old soldier of his, Bertrand; he will teach me how to use it; -for a wolf has been seen in the neighborhood, you know, madame; and that -is very unpleasant because it keeps one uneasy all the time." - -"I don't suppose that that makes it impossible for you to beat up the -wood?" - -"Oh, no! on the contrary, madame, it was I who suggested that measure of -safety. I propose to see the wolf, madame." - -"You will do well, monsieur." - -The conversation was interrupted by a noise in the next room. - -"Ah! here's our dear Dalville at last, no doubt," said Monsieur -Destival. - -Madame said nothing, but she prepared a little pouting expression which -would surely imply what she thought. Meanwhile the person whom they had -heard did not enter the room, but continued to rub his feet on the -doormat. Monsieur Destival threw the door of the salon open, and found, -instead of Auguste, a little man of some fifty-five years, with a light -wig, broad-brimmed straw hat, coat cut almost square, short breeches, -and fancy stockings, who was rubbing and rerubbing his feet on the mat -in the reception room. - -"Ah! it's our neighbor, Monsieur Monin!" said Monsieur Destival, at -sight of the little man. - -At the name of Monin, Madame Destival made an impatient gesture, -muttering: - -"What a bore! why need he have come!" - -"Hush! be still, madame! He still has a drug store to sell, and he wants -to buy a house. I propose that he shall dine with us." - -With that, Monsieur Destival turned back toward the door, where Monsieur -Monin was still rubbing his feet on the mat. - -"Well, aren't you coming in, my dear Monsieur Monin? What in the deuce -are you doing there all this time? It's a fine day; you don't need to -wipe your feet." - -"Oh! but I'll tell you: as I came across the courtyard I looked up at -the sky to see if we were going to have a shower, and I stepped into a -dung-heap that I didn't see." - -"That's Baptiste's fault; it should have been taken away." - -"There, that will do." - -Monsieur Monin left the mat at last, and looking up at Monsieur Destival -with a pair of big eyes level with his face, wherein one would have -looked in vain for an idea, smiled a smile which cut his face in halves, -although it was still dominated by a nose of enormous dimensions, always -stuffed with snuff, like an unlighted pipe. - -"How's your health, neighbor?" - -"Very good, my dear sir. Pray come in; my wife is here and will be -delighted to see you." - -Monsieur Monin entered the salon and removed his hat, making a low bow -to Madame Destival, who acknowledged the salute by a smile which might -have passed for a grimace; but Monsieur Monin took it most favorably for -himself, and began his inevitable question: - -"How's your health, madame?" - -"Passable, monsieur; not very good at this moment; my nerves are -unstrung, I have palpitations." - -"It's the weather, madame; the heat is intense to-day: twenty-six -degrees and three-tenths." - -"Twenty-seven, neighbor," said Monsieur Destival, glancing at his -thermometer. - -"That's surprising! it isn't so high at my house, and yet mine's in the -same position. My wife says that I've made it too low lately." - -"Why did not Madame Monin come with you, neighbor?" - -"She's making pickles, and it will take her all day. My! but she takes a -lot of pains with 'em! She won't go out to-day." - -"I am deeply indebted to the pickles," whispered Madame Destival, while -Monsieur Monin continued, doing his utmost to force another pinch into -his nose: - -"My wife said to me: 'I don't need you, Monin, take a walk.' So I came -to see you." - -"That was very agreeable of you, neighbor. Will you pass the whole day -with us?" - -"Why, yes, if it don't put you out, I should like to, because I'll tell -you--when my wife's making pickles, she don't like to bother with -cooking." - -"Very good, then you will stay. You will meet Monsieur Dalville, a -delightful young man, full of fun. His servant, who is an old soldier, -is to give me a lesson in drilling, for I am appointed general----" - -"What?" - -"Why, yes, in the _battue_ we're going to have." - -"Oh, yes! I was saying----" - -"Won't you take part in it, Monsieur Monin?" - -"Why, I'll tell you: when I had my rifle, it was all right--" - -"Madame, madame, a lovely calche is just driving into the courtyard," -said Julie, rushing into the salon. - -"A calche?" - -"With Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire." - -"What! have they come? How kind of them!" cried Monsieur Destival, -running to the window. Madame Destival did not share her husband's -delight; however, she rose to satisfy herself concerning the arrival of -her new guests, and went out to receive them; for persons who have a -calche and a livery deserve the very greatest consideration. Thus, -Monsieur Destival flew at his wife's heels, leaving Monsieur Monin, who -was just about to tell him how many times he had hunted, and who, -finding himself abandoned in the salon, turned to his ordinary -resource, and succeeded, by dint of perseverance, in forcing two dainty -pinches of snuff into his nostrils. - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, for whom they ran downstairs so eagerly, -was a man of about forty years of age. When he arrived in Paris, at -eighteen, his name was Thomas simply, and he did not blush then for his -mother, who kept a little wine-shop in her village. But residence in the -capital had wrought an entire change in Monsieur Thomas. First a shop -clerk, then a government clerk, then a money-lender, then a man of large -affairs, Monsieur Thomas had seen Fortune smile constantly upon him. He -speculated with his consols and was lucky; after that he forgot his -village and adopted the tone and manners of a man in the first society. -That a person should start from very low and rise very high--there is no -objection to that; on the contrary, the man who wins success by his -work, who makes his own fortune, leads us to believe that his merit is -greater than his who attains the highest honor without exertion of his -own. But the thing for which a parvenu is never forgiven is an -affectation of pride and insolence, and the belief that by assuming the -airs of a grand seigneur, he can lead people to forget the name and the -clothes that he used to wear. Monsieur Thomas was such a one. He began -by changing his too vulgar name for that of La Thomassinire. Then, -instead of urging his mother to leave her village and enjoy his fortune, -he contented himself with sending her a sum of money which would enable -her to take down the sign of the _Learned Ass_, and to stop selling -wine. But he forbade her to come to Paris, where, he said, the air was -very unhealthy for elderly women. Then Monsieur de la Thomassinire set -up an establishment,--carriage, servants, livery--bought a magnificent -country estate and a very pretty wife of eighteen, who was turned over -to him with a dowry of one hundred thousand francs, and who did not so -much as ask whether her husband was handsome or ugly, because, having -been perfectly educated, she knew that a husband who owns a carriage is -always comely enough, and, besides that, a woman is supposed to look at -nobody but her husband. - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, dressed like a dandy and aping the manners -of good society, but always affording a glimpse of the days of the -_Learned Ass_, was forever talking about "my estate, my property, my -servants, my horses." His wife was his only possession as to whom he did -not use the possessive pronoun. As for madame, a lively, volatile, giddy -creature, with no thought for anything save dress and amusements, she -never spoke to monsieur except to ask him for money, or to talk about -some festivity that she proposed to give. - -"Ah! here are our dear friends!" said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward to offer his hand to Madame de la Thomassinire to help her -alight, while monsieur gazed admiringly at his horses and gorgeous -livery. - -"Good-morning, Destival.--Lapierre, be careful of the horses.--Madame, -allow me to offer my respects.--Cover my calche, you fellows, it may -rain in.--We have come without ceremony. It doesn't put you out to have -me bring a few of my people, does it?" - -"Of course not! I have enough to board and lodge them," replied Monsieur -Destival, biting his lips, because his modest cabriolet was completely -eclipsed by the superb calche, and Baptiste and Julie, who composed his -whole staff of domestics, would be hidden by a single one of the tall -rascals whom Monsieur de la Thomassinire carried in his train. But -these reflections did not prevent the exchange of the usual courtesies, -they simply made him ambitious to enlarge his household; and so, as he -led the young woman into the house, our business agent said to himself: - -"I must find a wife for Dalville, sell Monin's drug shop, and buy a -house for him; then I will have a little groom--a negro--and dress him -in red, so that he can be seen a long way off." - -The two ladies embraced. - -"Good-morning, my dear girl." - -"Good-morning, dear." - -"How sweet of you to come to see us!" - -"We are going to stay until to-morrow." - -"How lovely your hats always are!" - -"Do you think so?" - -"Fascinating. I like that style of dress ever so much." - -"It's the latest--not quite low enough in the neck." - -"Why, yes. I must have some of that material; it's very stylish." - -"Oh! it's very simple; the dress cost only two hundred francs. But for -the country, and for calls on one's friends--I'll give you my -dressmaker's address." - -Madame Destival allowed Madame de la Thomassinire to go upstairs first, -continuing to lavish compliments upon her, and counterfeiting the most -extravagant delight in order to conceal her secret annoyance; for the -new arrival was genuinely pretty, her manners were charmingly vivacious, -and Monsieur Dalville, whom Madame Destival was still expecting to see, -had never met her. Monsieur Dalville, who was so quick to take fire, was -very likely to make love to Madame de la Thomassinire, who was no less -likely to listen to him. All this caused Madame Destival much secret -anger; but she affected the greater amiability on that account; for in -society one must know how to make believe, to speak otherwise than one -thinks; that is the great secret of social success. - -Madame de la Thomassinire entered the salon, where Monsieur Monin had -remained; he was on the point of attempting the introduction of another -pinch of snuff, but checked himself at sight of the young woman, stepped -back, removed his hat, and although he had never seen her before, began -his inevitable question: - -"How's your health?" - -But the petite-matresse did not give the ex-druggist an opportunity to -speak; she stifled with her handkerchief the outburst of laughter -inspired by Monsieur Monin's unique countenance, and turned to Madame -Destival, saying: - -"Who is this?" - -"A neighbor of ours, very rich, but as stupid as he is ridiculous." - -"Ah! so much the better; we will have some sport with him. We may as -well laugh a bit. Do you expect anybody else?" - -"Why, yes, we expect a young man, a great friend of Monsieur -Destival--Monsieur Auguste Dalville. Do you know him?" - -"No, but I've heard a great deal about him; he is noted in society for -his _bonnes fortunes_ and his conquests. I shall be very glad to make -his acquaintance. As a general rule, these naughty fellows are very -agreeable--don't you think so, my dear?" - -"Why, sometimes--not always. However, you shall judge for yourself." - -"They say he's very good-looking?" - -"Oh! so-so; a passable face, that's all; rather fine eyes, but his mouth -is a little too large and his lips are very thick. I don't like that -type of face at all." - -"For my part, I don't like thin lips. Is he light or dark?" - -"I can hardly remember; he is dark, I think." - -"I had an idea that I had heard that Monsieur Dalville came to your -house very often?" - -"Oh, no! he goes to my husband's office, on business." - -"Is he musical?" - -"A little." - -"I have brought a nocturne that I am crazy over; he must sing it with -me." - -"Monsieur Dalville will certainly be delighted to sing with you.--Excuse -me, my dear, but I have some orders to give. In the country we don't -stand on ceremony." - -"I should hope not! I will go out and see your garden." - -"Do; I am going to order luncheon, and I will come and call you." - -The petite-matresse tripped lightly down the stairs leading to the -garden, and Madame Destival went to her bedroom, where she threw herself -on a lounge, saying to Julie as she came in: - -"Oh! Julie! I am so annoyed! I cannot stand any more, I am choking!" - -"I should think as much, madame; I don't see how you can help it! To -wait in vain for those whom you expect, and have to receive a lot of -people that you don't expect!" - -"Monsieur Destival is perfectly brutal, with his mania for inviting -everybody he sees. If he had a chteau, he would not do any more!" - -"That old Monin, who can't do anything but eat and drink!" - -"And yet, if he were the only one, I shouldn't mind him, I promise -you." - -"Is his wife coming?" - -"No, thank God! she is making pickles." - -"That's very lucky! Madame Monin has a wicked tongue in her head; and -inquisitive--why, she always comes into the kitchen to see what's going -on." - -"In spite of that, I should have preferred her to those Thomassinires, -who put on so much style and assume the most unendurable airs and -pretensions!" - -"And then, who ever heard of bringing three servants to be fed! Those -big rascals will eat everything in the house." - -"What time is it, Julie?" - -"After twelve, madame." - -"He won't come. I am very glad of it now. Order luncheon. We will not -dine until half past six." - -"That's right; in that way they won't get any supper, at all events." - -Julie went downstairs. Madame stood in front of her mirror, looked at -herself a few moments, arranged a few locks of hair, then left the room, -saying to herself: - -"I look well enough for these people." - -She went to the garden and joined Madame de la Thomassinire, whose -husband, immediately on arriving, had asked Monsieur Destival for a pen -and some ink, so that he might at once write an urgent letter on a -matter of great importance. Monsieur Destival ensconced the speculator -in his study. - -"Make yourself perfectly at home," he said; "I will leave you." - -And Monsieur de la Thomassinire, left to himself at the desk, scratched -his head, looked at the pens, and wrote nothing at all, for the reason -that he had nothing to write and no letter to send. But a man involved -in great speculations should always seem preoccupied, and pretend that -he needs a writing desk; that impresses fools and credulous folk, and -sometimes people of good sense even; the professional schemers are the -only ones who do not allow themselves to be gulled by such petty wiles, -because they often use them themselves. - -On leaving La Thomassinire, Monsieur Destival returned to Monsieur -Monin, who did not take offence because no attention was paid to him, -his wife having accustomed him to that. - -"Well, neighbor, have you sold that drug shop?" queried the business -agent, slapping Monsieur Monin on the shoulder. - -"Not yet, neighbor. It vexes me, because, I'll tell you, those who have -taken my place temporarily aren't used to it as I am, and----" - -"I'll sell it for you. I hope to see you in Paris next winter, Monsieur -Monin, and to know you better." - -"Certainly, monsieur." - -"You must come to our house to play cards." - -"Do you play loo?" - -"No, but cart, and boston. I have a very pretty house to sell you." - -"Do you mean it?" - -"Yes, it's a great opportunity; the price is nothing at all." - -"Is it insured?" - -"I don't know; we will talk about all those things later; go out and -take a turn in the garden. I am going to find out if they have any idea -of giving us some luncheon." - -Monin left the room; as Monsieur Destival turned to do likewise he -confronted his wife, who exclaimed: - -"What, monsieur! you have asked Monsieur Monin to call on us in Paris?" - -"To be sure, madame." - -"It's well enough in the country, because he's a neighbor. But in town! -A man who can't say anything or do anything, and who knows no game but -loo!" - -"He is rich, madame." - -"What if he is? that doesn't prevent his being as stupid as an owl." - -"He won't be the first stupid person who has been to my house, madame. -When one receives a great deal of company, it can't be otherwise. And -besides, with your men of intellect, your authors and your poets, -there's not a sou to be made." - -"If you're so fond of money, monsieur, why do you invite so many people -to your country house? It is ruinously extravagant, monsieur." - -"Never fear, madame; I invite none but those who may be useful to me. -Oh! I am very shrewd, I look a long way ahead. La Thomassinire is a -valuable acquaintance, and I am very desirous to become intimate with -him. I know that he often makes himself very ridiculous, that he tries -to play the great man, and that the rle isn't suited to him; that he -occasionally makes blunders in speaking that smell horribly of his -origin; that he is tiresome beyond words with his carriage, his estates, -his property and his servants, whom he is forever throwing in one's -face; but for all that, he's a man for whom I have a peculiar esteem and -regard, because, as I told you just now, madame, I look a long way -ahead.--But how about luncheon?" - -"Speak to Baptiste, monsieur; I have given my orders to Julie." - -Madame Destival went into the garden, where the petite-matresse was -strolling about, gathering a bouquet. - -"I am picking your flowers, you see," she said. - -"You are doing just right, my dear love; pray take all that you please." - -"Your garden is lovely." - -"Oh! it isn't very extensive; but there is plenty of shade, and that's -what I like." - -"So do I. I have had a forest planted on our estate at Fleury. It will -be delicious, I assure you." - -"But before it grows----" - -"Oh! we have set out nothing but large trees. I will send you an -invitation for next month. I am waiting for the painting and decorating -I am having done to be finished, before going there for a month. But I -shall take plenty of guests; for I don't like the country except with a -lot of people about." - -"For my part, I am rather fond of solitude." - -"Mon Dieu! I should die if I were alone a single day!" - -"So you don't like reading?" - -"Yes, I do, for a moment or two, in bed; but not long at a time; it -tires me." - -"And music?" - -"I play and sing only when someone is listening to me." - -"Drawing?" - -"Oh! that was all right at boarding-school! I mean to have a little -theatre on my estate, and we will have theatricals there; that's great -fun. I used to act often at boarding-school. I was particularly fond of -the parts in which I changed dresses." - -"What a child you are!" - -"What would you have? one must pass the time somehow. If I had nothing -but my husband to amuse me, great heaven! where should we be? A man who -thinks of nothing but figures and exchange and heaven knows what. These -business men are very disagreeable." - -The ladies, having turned into another path, found themselves in the -neighborhood of Monsieur Monin, who had stopped and seemed to be in a -sort of trance before a plum tree laden with very large fruit. At sight -of the ladies he took off his hat and muttered: "How's your--" But he -did not finish the sentence, because he remembered that he had already -paid his respects to them in the salon; so he turned and pointed to the -tree, saying: "That tree bears very fine fruit." - -"Why, my dear, you don't mean that you have fruit trees in your garden?" -cried the petite-matresse; "why, that's the worst possible form; you -must take them all away and set out in their place ebony-trees, acacias, -and sycamores." - -"Oh! our garden makes no pretensions," rejoined Madame Destival, biting -her lips with anger; "it isn't a park such as you have on your place, -and Monsieur Destival is very fond of fruit." - -"He is quite right," said Monin, who had walked nearer to the plum tree -when Madame de la Thomassinire spoke of taking it up. "Fruit is the -body's friend when it's good and ripe. But I was just going to say----" - -"And monsieur's plums!" continued the younger woman. "Dear, dear! they -are very vulgar; they should be left for the servants." - -"Oh! when Monsieur Destival has made a fortune, then we will have a -separate orchard; but meanwhile we are simple enough to be content with -a small country place. What would you have? We were not born in a -palace--in the lap of grandeur." - -Madame Destival uttered these last words with malicious emphasis; but -Madame de la Thomassinire seemed to pay no heed to them; as -hare-brained as she was inconsequent, she said offensive things -unintentionally; and if she talked constantly of her dresses, her -diamonds and her estate, it was less from vanity than as a matter of -habit, whereas the wish to make a show of his wealth was the motive -behind every act of her husband. - -"Luncheon is waiting, mesdames," said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward gallantly to offer his arm to the petite-matresse; "come; it is -late, and you must be hungry. Faith, if Dalville comes, he will have to -eat alone, that's all there is about it." - -The master of the house walked away with the young woman. Monsieur Monin -had taken off his hat and was about to offer Madame Destival his arm; -but she, divining his purpose, vanished by another path, and the little -man, having lost sight of her, decided to betake himself alone to the -dining-room; but first he cast a last tender glance at the plum tree. - -They were seated at the table, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire was -still in the study. - -"Tell him that we are going to have luncheon," said Monsieur Destival, -"and that we're only waiting for him." - -Baptiste went up to the study and called through the door: - -"Luncheon is served, monsieur." - -"Very well, very well, I will come down," replied La Thomassinire, -continuing to roll little balls of paper; "I have only one more note to -write." - -The valet withdrew and reported the answer that was made to him. - -"What a terrible man he is with his notes!" said Madame Destival; -"doesn't he have a moment to himself, even in the country?" - -"My husband?" replied the petite-matresse; "why, my dear love, he's a -most insufferable creature with his endless writing! He is never ready -at meal-time; and even when we have twenty persons to dinner, which -happens quite often, I have to send for him three or four times." - -After making balls of paper for another five minutes, Monsieur de la -Thomassinire concluded at last to go down to the dining-room. - -"I beg pardon, here I am! It wasn't my fault," he said as he took his -seat; "you shouldn't have waited for me. You see, I happened to think -about a certain speculation I am interested in.--Give me the wing of a -chicken and a glass of claret; that is all I take in the morning.--Well, -Athalie, have you devastated madame's flower garden?" - -Athalie, who ate quite heartily for a petite-matresse, answered with a -laugh: - -"I have been doing what I chose, monsieur; you know perfectly well that -it doesn't concern you." - -"That is true, madame, that is perfectly true. I supply the money, I pay -the bills. Twelve hundred francs to a milliner seems a trifle expensive. -But madame must have the best there is." - -"If you lose your temper, monsieur, the next bill will be twice as -large." - -"You know well enough, madame, that when it's a question of giving you -money, I never have to be asked twice. When one is rich, that's -perfectly natural; we must help the tradesmen to make money; isn't that -so, Destival?" - -"To be sure," replied his host, "I have the same feeling.--Well, what do -you think of my claret? You don't say anything about it." - -"It is very fair; but I have some better than this, oh! much better! I -will give you some when you come to my house, and you'll see." - -"And this cream--do you like it, madame?" - -"Very much," replied the petite-matresse. But Monsieur de la -Thomassinire helped himself to three spoonfuls, saying: - -"Let's taste the cream." Then he made a slight grimace and added: "Oh! -my estate is the place for fine dairy products! This can't be compared -with it; it's an entirely different thing! And our fowls! ah! they are -delicious. To be sure, they are fed with such care! Now you people think -that you are eating something good when you eat a chicken like this. -Well, let me tell you that if you should see my poultry yard at Fleury, -you would look on this as rubbish." - -"It is very fortunate then that we know nothing about it," retorted -Madame Destival, with a meaning glance at her husband. He, to change the -subject of that pleasant conversation, turned to Monin, who had not said -a word since he had been at the table, being engrossed by the second -joint of a chicken, which he seasoned now and then with snuff, glancing -occasionally with the eye of a connoisseur at a magnificent pie that -stood in front of him, to which he seemed to be saying: "How's your -health?" - -"Your appetite seems to be in good condition, neighbor?" said Destival. - -"Yes, yes, it's the weather that does it. Do you take snuff?" - -And Monin offered his box to Destival, then to La Thomassinire, who, -after taking a tiny pinch, took from his pocket a gold snuff-box at -which he gazed for some time with a complacent expression. - -"This is Virginia," he said, "the very best snuff there is; it's very -expensive, but I don't care for any other kind. Try it, monsieur." - -Monin, who never declined a pinch of snuff, was about to partake of the -Virginia, when they heard the wheels of a carriage entering the -courtyard, and Julie hurried into the dining-room, saying: - -"Here's Monsieur Dalville; his cabriolet has just come in." - -Madame Destival smiled with satisfaction, and the petite-matresse -hastily ordered her plate to be changed, so that the dbris of her -repast might not be seen in front of her. Monsieur Destival ran out to -receive his dear friend, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire thought: "This -Dalville must be a millionaire, to have his arrival make such a -sensation." - -As for Monin, with his pinch of Virginia in one hand and his fork in the -other, confused by the bustle caused by Dalville's arrival, he put a -dainty piece of ham to his nose and the superfine snuff in his mouth. He -discovered his mistake, however, and put each article in its proper -place. - - - - -V - -THE DRILL, THE SWING, THE STORM, AND THE MUSIC - - -Destival, having gone out to greet Dalville, looked about for him in -vain; he saw nobody near the cabriolet save little Tony and Bertrand, -the latter of whom gave him a military salute. - -"Well! where is he? which way did he go in?" inquired Destival. Bertrand -passed his tongue over his lips and scratched his ear, seeking a -suitable reply; at last he said in a firm voice: - -"Monsieur Dalville will be here as soon as I am." - -"But you seem to have got here before him; did he leave you on the way?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Does he know anyone in the neighborhood?" - -"It would seem so, monsieur." - -"At all events, he is really coming; that's the main point." - -Destival ran back to inform the ladies that his friend Dalville would -soon be there; that he had stopped to see a friend, but that he could -not be long. - -"Why, I didn't know that he knew anyone in this vicinity," said Madame -Destival in surprise. - -"Mon Dieu! this gentleman keeps us on the anxious seat a long while," -said the vivacious Athalie, leaving the table; while La Thomassinire, -annoyed that a thought should be given to anybody but himself, paced the -floor a few moments, then stamped violently, and put his hand to his -forehead. - -"Bless my soul!" he cried, "I had almost forgotten. What time is it? Not -one yet? Is there a post office[A] anywhere near?" - -[A] French _poste_; when used alone the meaning is ambiguous and depends -on the context. Hence the misunderstanding. - -"Do you mean a donkey post?" asked Monin. - -"No, for letters, of course!" - -"Oh, yes! on the second street. By the way, I believe--I won't say for -sure, but I'll tell you----" - -"I'll go there at once; I shall be in time." - -And Monsieur de la Thomassinire rushed from the room as if he would -overturn everybody, paying no heed to Destival, who shouted after him: - -"Stay here; I'll send it for you. Besides, your own servants are here." - -The speculator darted out across the fields, and having reached a dense -thicket, lay down on the grass and went to sleep, saying to himself: - -"A man like me must never have a moment to himself." - -The ladies returned to the salon. Monsieur Destival went down to -Bertrand, and Monin, seeing that everybody had left the table, concluded -to do likewise and followed his host. - -As soon as Bertrand had taken some refreshment, Monsieur Destival went -to him and begged him to give him a lesson in drilling and giving -orders. The ex-corporal was very willing to do anything that recalled -glorious memories. He repaired with Monsieur Destival to the terrace in -the garden, where the latter had his rifle brought to him, and a foil -which he used as a sword, and stood as straight as a ramrod as he -carried out Bertrand's orders. Monin, who had followed them, thought -that it was courteous to do as his host did; he took a spade in lieu of -a musket, and, standing behind his neighbor, followed him through "right -shoulder," "left shoulder," "present arms," etc., pausing only to use -his snuff-box. - -For more than an hour the gentlemen had been on the terrace with -Bertrand, who would gladly have passed the day in such a pleasant -occupation. Monsieur Destival, ambitious to outshine the rural -constables, began to carry himself like a Prussian grenadier; and Monin, -perspiring profusely in his efforts to do as well as his host, did not -notice that, while taking aim, presenting arms and grounding arms with -his sword, he had pushed back his cap and wig, thereby giving himself a -most swaggering appearance. - -The drill was interrupted by roars of laughter from the effervescent -Athalie, who appeared on the scene with Madame Destival. - -Monsieur Monin paused in the act of presenting arms. It was high time; a -moment more and the wig would have fallen back and have exhibited the -ex-druggist as the Child-Jesus. As for Monsieur Destival, he turned -toward the ladies, with a martial air, weapon in hand, and said: - -"Well, what do you think of my set-up?" - -"Superb! But I prefer monsieur here with his spade; he is more amusing." - -"What, neighbor, are you taking a lesson in the manual?" - -"Yes," replied Monin, wiping his brow and pulling his wig forward; "I -followed you at a distance, and I'll tell you----" - -"But what can have become of Monsieur Dalville?" said Madame Destival, -paying no attention to Monin; "he left you on the road, he said that he -would be here as soon as you, and you have been here two hours. At whose -house did you leave him, Bertrand?" - -"At whose house, madame? I didn't say that I left him at anyone's -house." - -"But you must have seen him go into a house, didn't you? Of course you -didn't leave him on the highroad?" - -"Excuse me, madame, but that's just what I did: I left my lieutenant in -the middle of the road, about half a league from here." - -"You do not tell the whole story, Bertrand: Monsieur Auguste wasn't -alone on the road, I fancy." - -"I didn't see whether anybody was coming, madame." - -"Oh! there must have been some peasant girl there, some rustic beauty, -who captivated Monsieur Dalville!" - -"What do you mean, my dear? Does he consort with that kind?" inquired -the petite-matresse disdainfully. - -"He consorts with all kinds, my dear. Bless my soul, a scullery maid, if -she has a little turned-up nose, a----" - -"Oh dear! oh dear! this goes far to destroy the good opinion I had -formed of this gentleman." - -"I tell you," said Madame Destival in a lower tone, drawing nearer to -her friend, "he's a perfect libertine! If it weren't for my husband, I -should never receive him. He's a man whose acquaintance is likely to -endanger a woman's reputation. But Monsieur Destival is daft over him. -He absolutely insists on entertaining him, and is forever inviting him -here. I don't like quarrels, and I let my husband do what he chooses." - -"Well, I am not so obliging; I do only what I like, and I receive only -those people who suit me. Ah! if Monsieur de la Thomassinire should try -to thwart me, I should instantly become subject to hysterics." - -The ladies were about to return to the garden and Bertrand to continue -his lesson in drilling, when they heard loud laughter in the courtyard, -and in a moment Dalville made his appearance. - -"Ah! good-day, my dear friend," said Monsieur Destival, going to meet -Auguste, rifle in hand; "we had about given you up. Shoulder arms, eh? -Isn't this about right?" - -"I see that Bertrand will make something of you." - -"Here is my wife, who has been in a temper because you didn't come." - -"Mon Dieu! how my husband does irritate me!" said Madame Destival to her -neighbor, assuming a frigid air to welcome Auguste, who said to her: - -"What, madame! have you been so kind as to be uneasy because of my -non-appearance?" - -"I have not said a word of that sort, monsieur. I cannot conceive why -Monsieur Destival delights in crediting me with statements the thought -of which I do not even entertain. I simply considered that when a person -promised to arrive in time for luncheon, it was ridiculous to put in an -appearance at the end of the day. However, I am not at all surprised, -and--But, bless my soul! what on earth has happened to you, monsieur? -What a plight you are in! A wound in the face--clothes all -disarranged--It would seem that you have had some thrilling adventure." - -"In truth, madame," said Auguste, bowing to Athalie, who returned his -salutation with a simpering air, "I did have an encounter----" - -"Perhaps he met the wolf," suggested Monin, walking up to Destival; "it -seems that there is one in the woods. The peasant woman who sold my wife -her cucumbers told her that the other day----" - -"Can it be that you have been fighting with a wolf, my gallant -Dalville?" cried Destival, presenting his bayonet to the company as if -he proposed to charge a hollow square. - -"Oh, no!" said madame, with a sly smile, "it was no wolf that made that -mark on monsieur's face; it looks like something entirely different; -don't you think so, my dear love?" - -"That looks to me exactly like the scratch of a finger-nail," said -Athalie the vivacious, looking very closely at Auguste; "isn't it that, -monsieur?" - -"You are not mistaken, madame." - -"So you have been fighting, have you, monsieur?" said Madame Destival. - -"No, madame, I simply met a very pretty little boy, who had broken the -bowl in which he was carrying soup to his father. I gave him a piece of -money to console him; at that, in his joy he embraced me; he patted my -cheeks with his little hands, and he--he accidentally scratched me a -little. That is a faithful account of my adventure, mesdames." - -Madame Destival bit her lip and glanced at her companion, who smiled. It -was evident that they both doubted the truth of Dalville's story; but he -cared very little what they might think. Taking advantage of this brief -pause in the conversation, Monin went to Auguste, whom he had met twice -at his neighbor's and said to him in the most amiable manner: - -"How's your health?" - -"Very good, Monsieur Monin, except for this scratch, which is not -dangerous." - -"You are joking, monsieur! I tell you finger-nail scratches are not to -be trifled with.--Do you use snuff?" - -"Thanks." - -"I know all about it, and I'll tell you why: my wife has a----" - -Having no curiosity to hear Monin's story, Dalville followed the ladies, -who had returned to the garden. Athalie's presence aroused in the young -man a desire to be agreeable. He had not expected to find any other lady -than the mistress of the house, who was well enough, but with whom he no -longer took pains to be agreeable. Why? Was it because he was no longer -in love with her, or because he was sure of pleasing her, or--On my -word, you ask me too much. - -Madame de la Thomassinire's vivacity and unconventionality harmonized -perfectly with Auguste's lively humor and free-and-easy manners; and as -greater liberty is authorized in the country, after a very short time -he and the petite-matresse were laughing and joking together as if they -had known each other for years. - -Madame Destival did not share their gayety; she was sulky, said little, -and contented herself with darting eloquent glances at the young man -from time to time; the more intimate her two companions became, the more -her ill-humor seemed to increase. Meanwhile they were strolling about -the garden; they sat down; then Madame de la Thomassinire went to look -at a pretty view, or pluck a flower, or chase a butterfly, and as she -sauntered back showed Auguste a double row of lovely teeth, and seemed -to say: - -"Why don't you come with me?" - -But Madame Destival did not leave her, and although visibly annoyed, she -too ran after the butterflies. - -"What on earth is the matter with you, my dear love?" said Athalie, -good-humoredly; "you don't seem very hilarious." - -"I beg pardon, I am satisfied; but a severe headache has just come on." - -"Go in the house and lie down for a moment." - -"No, my child, oh, no! I prefer to stay with you." - -"You shouldn't stand on ceremony in the country. Besides, monsieur will -bear me company. We will catch butterflies together." - -"I will catch whatever you please, madame," said Auguste, with a smile -which was instantly succeeded by a wry face, because Madame Destival -pinched his arm as she replied: - -"No, the air will do me good. But I thought that you intended to have -some music?" - -"Oh! we shall have time enough this evening, as I am to pass the night -here. Is monsieur to remain?" - -"If madame will kindly allow me to do so?" said Auguste, glancing at his -hostess, who replied angrily: - -"As you please, monsieur." - -After walking for some time longer, they stopped beside a swing, and the -sprightly Athalie sprang to a seat on the narrow plank, held in place by -two cords only, saying to Auguste: - -"Oh! do give me a push, please. I am wild over swinging; I have nearly -killed myself a dozen times, but it makes no difference, I always come -back to it. Not too high, monsieur, do you understand?" - -"As high or as low as you choose, madame." - -Auguste stood near the swing and pushed gently, while Madame Destival -seated herself at a little distance, with her handkerchief at her eyes. -The young man was distraught; he looked at Athalie and Madame Destival -in turn; the former's petulant ways attracted him, the other's grief -seemed to cause him pain. - -"Oh! what fun! how lovely it is!" cried the petite-matresse. "Keep on, -monsieur, harder! Look out, you are jerking me.--Ah! my dear, you can't -imagine how I like this!" - -Madame de la Thomassinire gave no sign of being tired of swinging; but -Madame Destival, who was not at all amused, resorted to the device of -fainting, and fell back in her chair with a hollow groan. Thereupon -Auguste left the swing and ran to Emilie, exclaiming: - -"What is the matter, madame?" - -"Leave me; you are a monster!" replied Madame Destival, her eyes still -closed. - -"What have I done, pray?" - -"Do you think that I have not noticed your conduct?" - -"My conduct has been perfectly natural, I should say----" - -"Not content with coming here from--from I don't know where, monsieur -presumes, in my presence, to make love to that flirt, who behaves in the -most indecent way! I should have hoped that you would at least respect -my house, monsieur!" - -"Really, madame, I cannot in the least understand your anger. I am -courteous, polite--nothing more." - -"Do you think that I have no eyes? It is far too evident. The least that -you can do is to show some little self-restraint!" - -"But----" - -"Hush!" - -"Well!" said Athalie, noticing that the swing moved more slowly, "what -are you doing, monsieur? You are not pushing, you are letting me stop; -and I don't want that. Are you tired already? Fie! a young man too!" - -At that moment appeared Monsieur Monin, who, seeing that his host was -determined to practise the manual until dinner, and feeling that he had -not the strength to continue, had dropped his spade and bent his steps -toward the garden, where, as he wiped his forehead, he sought to freshen -up his ideas by resorting to his snuff-box. - -"You have come in the nick of time, Monsieur Monin," said Madame -Destival; "madame is sorely in need of somebody to swing her. Do her -that service, she will be overjoyed." - -As she said this, Emilie rose, took Auguste's arm and led him to another -part of the garden, leaving Monin agape with amazement at the task -assigned him, and Athalie still in the swing. Having her back to the -others, she had not noticed their departure and was still ignorant of -the fact that she had changed swingers. - -"Well! push me, monsieur!" she said, wriggling about in the swing to -make herself go. - -Monin fortified himself with a pinch of snuff and walked toward the -swing; but, having miscalculated the space that it covered in swinging -back, the seat came down upon him as he was turning up his sleeves in -order to push harder, and the young woman's plump figure struck him in -the face. - -Dazed by the blow, Monin fell on the turf a step or two away; while -Madame de la Thomassinire gave a little shriek because his nose had -almost unseated her. - -"How awkward you are!" she cried; "if I hadn't held on tight, I should -have fallen. Come and stop me, and help me to get down.--Well, monsieur, -do you propose to leave me here?" - -Monin was not quick to rise, and he was looking for his cap, which the -swing had knocked off, muttering: - -"I am at your service in a minute, madame. You see, if I should go home -without my cap, my wife would make a row." - -Really vexed, Athalie turned her head and saw Monin trying to climb a -tree to reach his cap, which the swing had sent flying to a high branch. -The young woman laughed heartily, then jumped down from the swing and -walked away, seeking Auguste and Madame Destival in every thicket. - -After scouring the garden to no purpose, she returned to the place where -she had left Monin; he was still at the foot of the tree, which he had -tried vainly to climb, gazing despairingly at his cap, lodged on a -branch, which he could not reach, and seeking in his snuff-box some -inspiration as to the means of recovering it. - -"Which way did they go, monsieur?" asked Athalie, stopping beside him. -He looked stupidly about and said: - -"Who, madame?" - -"Monsieur Dalville and Madame Destival." - -"I can't tell you--unless they've gone to drill too." - -Athalie went toward the house. Destival was still with Bertrand on the -terrace. The young woman entered the salon; it was empty. - -"This is very polite," said Athalie; "a perfect gentleman that! It seems -that there is no standing on ceremony here. I would like right well to -know if Monsieur Dalville is with Madame Destival. She had a -sick-headache; I am curious to know how she gets rid of it." - -The young woman left the salon and passed through several rooms without -meeting anybody, for Julie and Baptiste were busy in the kitchen, and -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's three servants had gone to the village to -play goose. She went up to the first floor, where Madame Destival's -bedroom was; but the door was closed and locked. - -"She is in her room," thought the petite-matresse; and she knocked -gently. There was no reply; she knocked louder. At last Madame Destival -asked who was there. - -"I, my dear," Athalie replied. "I came up to have a chat with you." - -"Excuse me, I had dropped asleep; my headache is so much worse----" - -"I have one too, and I will lie down in your room a moment; it will do -me good." - -"Hasn't Julie shown you your room?" - -"No, my love; let me in, pray." - -Madame de la Thomassinire was determined not to go away, and after some -little time she was admitted. Madame Destival appeared with her clothes -no more disarranged than was natural in a person who had been lying -down. As she went in, Athalie glanced about the room, and her eyes -longed to pierce the walls of a small closet at the foot of the bed, -the mirrored door of which was tightly closed. - -"Oh dear! how my head jumps!" said Madame Destival, putting her hand to -her forehead. - -"Isn't it any better?" asked Athalie, seating herself on a couch. - -"No; quite the contrary." - -"Lie down again, my dear; I will stretch myself out on this couch; I -shall not be sorry for a little rest myself. This hot sun affects my -nerves." - -Madame Destival seemed disinclined to return to her bed; she walked -about the room impatiently, and said: - -"Oh, no! I don't want to go to sleep again, it's almost dinner-time." - -"How on earth did you ever succeed in sleeping here? Your husband makes -such a noise with his 'present arms,' and his 'ready, aim!'" - -"It didn't disturb me at all." - -"What did you do with Monsieur Dalville?" - -"What did I do with him? Why, nothing." - -"I thought he was with you." - -"With me?" - -"When you left me in the swing, didn't you take him away with you, and -leave in his place the charming Monsieur Monin, whose society is so -entertaining?" - -"Monsieur Auguste left me immediately; he must have gone for a walk to -the village." - -"Do you know, my dear, that I should not have recognized Monsieur -Dalville from the picture that you drew of him. In the first place, you -said that he wasn't good-looking, that he had a common look." - -"I did not say common, I swear." - -"That he hadn't good style, that he was a rake, a ne'er-do-well, a man -whose visits might compromise a woman." - -"Oh! you exaggerate, my dear!" - -"I beg your pardon, but you said all that, you drew a shocking portrait -of him! For my part, I think him very good-looking, and I like his -manners very much." - -"That is very fortunate for him, madame." - -"Well! what on earth are you doing? You are putting on your belt inside -out." - -"Why, so I am! I have fits of absent-mindedness." - -"Shall I fasten your dress for you, my dear?" - -"Thanks; I can dress myself." - -At that moment the sound of something being placed against the window -made Emilie jump. - -"What is that?" she said. - -"It was in that closet, I think; something fell." - -"No, madame, the noise didn't come from the closet; it was at the -window." - -The ladies went to the window and saw Monsieur Destival, who had just -placed a ladder against the outer sill. - -"What in the world are you doing, monsieur?" exclaimed Madame Destival -in alarm; "what is the meaning of this ladder and all this confusion?" - -"My dear love, I know now all the evolutions there are; the only thing -left for me to learn is to storm a fort; that's the bouquet, so Bertrand -says, and he's going to show me how. You, mesdames, are inside the -fortress, you represent the enemy; you must try to keep us out, but we -will enter the citadel in spite of you." - -"What is the meaning of this absurd nonsense, monsieur?" - -"It's the bouquet, madame, I tell you.--Come, Bertrand; one! two! At the -double-quick, isn't it?" - -"I am not willing that you should storm my room, monsieur.--Take away -that ladder, Bertrand, I beg you.--You are mad, monsieur! Do you have -to storm a fort to catch a wolf?" - -"Nobody knows what may happen, madame." - -"I know that you won't happen to reach my room, monsieur." - -As she said this, Madame Destival closed her window with a bang, and led -Madame de la Thomassinire from her room, saying: - -"Let's go down, my dear, let's go down, I beg you, for they'll turn -everything topsy-turvy with their drilling." - -They went out on the terrace, where Monsieur Destival still held his -ladder, which Bertrand tried in vain to take away from him. The business -agent was determined to raise it somewhere. - -"Mon Dieu! monsieur, if you absolutely must lay siege to something," -said Madame Destival, "let it be a tree in the garden, and not my -bedroom." - -Bertrand grasped at this idea, and Athalie suggested to them that they -should attack the tree in which Monsieur Monin's cap had lodged. They -went toward the swing and found the ex-druggist there, with his short, -fat arms around the tree, trying to climb it, but unable to raise -himself more than three inches from the ground. - -At sight of the ladder, Monin uttered a cry of delight, and outdid -himself in thanks when Monsieur Destival ascended it at the -double-quick, having no suspicion that the manoeuvre had any other -purpose than the recovery of his cap. But alas! Monsieur Destival -thought it best to capture the trophy with his bayonet, and the point of -his weapon pierced the top, which was of thin straw. Bertrand shouted -"Bravo!" Monin made a wry face, the ladies laughed, and Auguste arrived -in time to witness the tableau. - -Auguste bestowed a sweet smile on Madame de la Thomassinire and a -rather cold bow on Madame Destival. I do not know whether you can guess -the cause, but the ladies had no difficulty. - -"Are you just from the village, monsieur?" said the petite-matresse, -showing her pretty teeth. - -"Yes, madame, I have had a most instructive walk; I have acquired some -new knowledge, and I hope to make good use of it." - -"Dinner is on the table," said a thin, yellow little man, with a napkin -on his arm. It was Baptiste, the one male servant, who acted as -scrubber, cook, footman, errand-boy and butler all at once, pending the -time when Monsieur Destival should establish his household on a more -extensive scale. So that poor Baptiste was worked to death, and told -Julie every day that he did not propose to remain in a place where they -made him do the work of a horse. - -"Say that dinner is served, Baptiste. That fellow will never be -trained!--Come, mesdames, to the table! Ouf! I have well earned it. I -have drilled terribly hard to-day.--Here, Monin, here's your cap. Did -you see how I picked it up?" - -"You made a hole in it," said Monin, gazing at the crown with a piteous -expression. - -"Bah! in the heat of the action; charge, bayonets! one, two! eh, -Bertrand?--But the ladies have gone already. Let's go now and attack the -dinner; I expect to make a tremendous breach in it. Go to Julie, -Bertrand; she'll look after you." - -Bertrand betook himself to the servants' quarters, and Monin, after -trying to bring the straws nearer together and conceal the hole in his -cap, followed his host to the dining-room. - -They were all seated at the table, when Monsieur Destival cried: - -"Well! how about Monsieur de la Thomassinire? He's missing again." - -"That's so, I had forgotten all about my husband," said Athalie, smiling -at her right-hand neighbor; and that neighbor was Auguste, who was -seated between the two ladies. "Oh! you mustn't wait for him." - -"It's very annoying! Where can he have gone? Do you suppose he has lost -his way in the Forest of Bondy?" - -"It's a very dangerous place," said Monin, fastening his napkin to his -buttonhole; "they say there's a band of robbers there just now, who----" - -"Suppose I tell your three servants to beat up the neighborhood? What do -you think, madame?" - -"Oh! no, monsieur; don't worry about my husband, I beg. I assure you -that he will turn up. I am not in the least anxious." - -"So long as madame is not disturbed," said Madame Destival, pursing her -lips, "it seems to me that we should do wrong to be. After what she -says, we may venture to dine." - -"Very good, let us dine. One, two, at the soup, and by the left flank at -the beef." - -"For heaven's sake, monsieur, are we going to hear nothing now but 'one, -two'?" - -"Faith, madame, this day has given me a great liking for the military -profession. What a fine thing is a man who holds himself perfectly -straight, with his body thrown back!--Pass me the beans.--Your man -Bertrand is a terrible fellow; he knows his business root and branch. -Deuce take it! what a fellow he is! How he handles a musket! He told me -that he was satisfied with me. Three or four lessons more, and I -hope----" - -"I hoped that you knew quite enough, monsieur." - -"Madame, a man cannot know too much about managing weapons. I wish now -that we might be attacked by robbers!" - -"Would you set them to drilling, monsieur?" - -"No, madame, but I would make the most of my advantages; I can fire four -shots in five minutes now." - -"I didn't know that, monsieur." - -"Oh! there are still more surprising things. Just look at Monin; he did -nothing but listen to us a moment, but see how much better he carries -himself than he did this morning." - -"It is certain," said Monin, raising a turnip on his fork and putting it -in his mouth as if the latter were a gun barrel, "it is certain that -drilling is good for a man; and I'll tell you what----" - -Monin was interrupted by the arrival of La Thomassinire, quite out of -breath, for he had taken a long nap under his tree, and, on waking, had -reflected that they might dine without him. - -"Ah! here you are at last, you terrible man!" said Destival. - -"I beg pardon; I am late, I know, but I have written at least ten -letters since I left you." - -"Why didn't you write them here?" - -"Faith, I was in such a hurry that I went into the first place I saw." - -"Well, sit down beside Madame Destival." - -"I'll soon overtake you, for, you see, I don't eat beef; it's poor -stuff, is beef! it isn't worth eating." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire took his seat, gazing at Auguste with some -surprise, because he had given him only a slight nod, and continued to -eat without apparently paying any attention to the parvenu, which was a -sore trial to that gentleman, who always wanted to make a sensation. - -But Dalville had seen on the instant what manner of man Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was. Fools enjoy the advantage of being accurately judged -in a very short time, whereas it often requires a long time to form a -just appreciation of men of sense. - -The dinner was lively enough, thanks to Auguste and his neighbor on his -left, who talked all manner of nonsense and seemed very much inclined to -suit their actions to their words. The mistress of the house ate little, -and Monin ate a great deal. Monsieur Destival attacked each dish in -measured time, and stuck his fork into a radish as if it were a bayonet. -As for Monsieur de la Thomassinire, when he found that Dalville was -determined not to take any notice of him, he decided to make himself -prominent by holding forth concerning the various dishes. He declared -the chicken cooked too much, the peas too large, the salad too sour, and -the beaune too new. An exceedingly agreeable guest was Monsieur de la -Thomassinire; but a very rich man must never seem content with what is -put before him. The idea! that would make people think that he had never -eaten anything good. - -It was dark when they reached the dessert, because it was late when they -sat down. The sky was heavily overcast; the heat became more intense, -and the flashes that rent the clouds from time to time indicated an -impending storm. - -Monsieur Monin made haste to eat his cheese, because his wife was afraid -of the thunder, and his orders were to go home to her whenever a storm -was brewing. La Thomassinire asked if the house was provided with -lightning rods. Monsieur Destival ordered all the windows closed at the -first clap of thunder, and the sight of the lightning made him forget to -present arms with his glass. As for the petite-matresse, she declared -that she was terribly afraid of a thunder storm, and she hid her face -upon Auguste's shoulder at every flash. - -"The deuce! the deuce! the weather is very threatening!" said Monsieur -Destival. "Come, messieurs, a glass of champagne; that will scatter the -clouds and make us forget.--Baptiste, have you shut everything tight?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Be very careful that there's no draught." - -"But you are stifling us, monsieur." - -"Windows must be closed when it thunders, madame; that is only prudent." - -"Then why don't you have a lightning-rod?" said La Thomassinire; "I -have three on my country-house, two on the house I live in in Paris, and -one on my other fine house on Rue de Buffaut." - -"Yes, I shall have one put on at once.--Come, messieurs, your glasses, -there goes the cork." - -"Oh! mon Dieu!" cried Athalie, pressing against her neighbor; "how you -frightened me with your cork!" - -"The storm seems to frighten you terribly, my dear love," said Madame -Destival, with a sneer. - -"Oh, yes! terribly!" - -"My wife's nerves are extremely sensitive." - -"Look out, you're not pouring into the glass, Destival." - -"That confounded flash dazzled me. Will your charming wife have some?" - -"Yes, I'm very fond of champagne. Please make it foam a lot, monsieur." - -"Here you are, belle dame.--Come, Dalville, drink with madame." - -"That is just what monsieur is doing," said Madame Destival spitefully. - -"And you, Monin, pass your glass." - -"Oh! I was just going to say that I must go; my wife's afraid of -thunder." - -"Why, your wife's making pickles, you know; she's busy." - -"But when it thunders she drops everything and crawls under a woolen -quilt, and if I shouldn't go to see how she is--Oh! what a crash! it -came very soon after the lightning, so the storm can't be far away." - -"Suppose we have a little music?" said Monsieur Destival, helping -himself to a third glass of champagne, in order to recover his courage; -"it seems to me that that wouldn't be a bad idea. What do you say, -Dalville?" - -Auguste had stooped to pick up his knife, which he had dropped under the -table for the second time. - -"Monsieur is awkward to-day," said Madame Destival, rising from the -table with a gesture of impatience; "I believe that we shall do well to -go up to the salon." - -At that moment the clouds broke, the rain fell in torrents, and the -fields assumed a novel aspect. Everybody rose; the petite-matresse -leaned heavily on Auguste's arm, because the storm had taken away all -her strength. Monsieur de la Thomassinire, desirous to play the -scholar, because he thought that his companions were no more learned -than he, went to one of the windows and declared that the storm would -not be _consequential_ because the atmosphere was very beautiful at -sunset. - -Auguste could not restrain a slight laugh, which caused the trembling -Athalie to press his arm all the harder. Monsieur Destival, who had -recovered his spirits in some measure since the rain began, which made -the storm much less dangerous, executed a half wheel to the left of the -company, and charged up the stairs at the double-quick. Monin was left -alone in the dining-room, folding his napkin as a matter of habit, and -muttering as he listened to the rain: - -"It's coming down hard, and I haven't any umbrella, and they've made a -hole in the top of my cap! so what am I going to do?" - -Having taken snuff two or three times, our friend decided to address -Julie, who had just passed through the room. He followed her, calling -after her: - -"I beg pardon, mademoiselle, but couldn't you----" - -As Julie did not reply, Monin followed her to the kitchen, where -Bertrand was drinking with Baptiste and Monsieur de la Thomassinire's -three tall footmen, who did not agree with their master that the beaune -was too new. - -"Could you lend me an umbrella?" asked Monin. - -"We haven't any here," Julie replied curtly. - -"Nonsense! an umbrella!" said Bertrand, in whom the beaune had already -aroused a tendency to talk. "As if a man should use such a thing! Is -that what I taught you this morning--to handle an umbrella?" - -The guests began to laugh, and Julie elbowed Monin gradually toward the -door, saying: - -"I don't like to have so many people in my kitchen, monsieur; they get -in my way. Besides, you don't belong here." - -Julie closed the door; and Monin, finding himself expelled from the -kitchen, decided to go up to the salon and wait until the storm should -have subsided. Dalville and Athalie were at the piano, singing a -nocturne. Monsieur Destival was playing cart with Monsieur de la -Thomassinire; and Madame Destival, while pretending to watch the game, -lost nothing of what took place at the piano. - -"I have the honor to wish you good-evening," said Monin, noiselessly -entering the salon. - -"Why, haven't you gone, neighbor? I supposed that you were at home -before this." - -"No, I'll tell you--the rain----" - -"In that case, you must take a hand. Come, bet on me and you will win." - -"Can I bet now?" - -"Yes, it isn't too late." - -"All right; then I'll bet two sous." - -"What sort of bet is that--two sous!" exclaimed La Thomassinire -contemptuously; "do you suppose that I play for copper? It's vulgar -enough to play for a crown. Take that away, monsieur, it's covered with -verdigris." - -"It's my two sous, monsieur; I bet them." - -"No one wants them, monsieur." - -"What! have I won already?" - -"Here, I'll fix that," said Destival, taking a ten-sou piece from his -pocket; "I'll add eight sous to make up Monin's bet. So I stake three -francs forty, and you, my dear fellow, three francs ten. My neighbor is -prudent, you see, and yet he is very rich, in very comfortable -circumstances. His nest is well feathered, the rascal!" - -"Then how can he propose to bet two sous?" said La Thomassinire; "it's -beyond belief.--Ace, ace, and ace. You are robbed." - -"What! does he admit that he has robbed us?" Monin asked his neighbor in -an undertone. - -"That means that we have lost.--Well, now for our revenge.--Aren't you -betting, Madame Destival?" - -"No, monsieur, I prefer to listen to the singing." - -"Betting won't prevent you, madame; I don't lose a note while I am -playing." - -"Nor I," said La Thomassinire. "I am like Cato, I can easily do four -things at once!" - -"Haven't you any duets of Rossini's here, my dear?" inquired Athalie, -running her fingers over the keys. - -"Why, I don't know, but I think not." - -"I think, madame, that I have had the pleasure of singing some of them -with you here," said Dalville. - -"Ah! you remember, do you, monsieur?" - -"Here's a duet from _La Gazza_," said Athalie, after upsetting all the -music on the piano; "let's try it, monsieur." - -"Ace, and _passe carreau_!" cried Monsieur de la Thomassinire -triumphantly, taking up the money that was on the table. - -"What does _passe carreau_ mean?" Monin asked Destival in a whisper. - -"It means that we have lost, as you see." - -"I don't know the terms of the game. That makes four sous that I've lost -already." - -"Make your bet." - -"Allow me to see what the weather is, first. Oh! it's still raining very -hard. I am in the game." - -"Monsieur is lucky!" - -"And then, too, I am pretty good at this game!" said La Thomassinire, -leaning back in his chair. - -"I believe that I play it rather well too," rejoined Destival, biting -his lips angrily. - -"Be quiet, messieurs! we can't hear each other sing!" said the sprightly -Athalie, while Auguste sang: "_Il certo il mio periglio_." - -La Thomassinire beat time falsely with his foot, murmuring, to make -believe that he understood Italian: - -"Very pretty! exceedingly pretty! bravo! bravo! bravissimo!" - -Whereupon Monin stooped and whispered to Destival: - -"Does that mean that we have lost, too?" - -"No, no! don't you hear them singing Italian? It's a duet by La Pie."[B] - -[B] _Pie_ in French means magpie. - -"Oho! it's by La Pie!" Monin repeated, rolling his eyes about and taking -out his snuff-box. "How does it happen, neighbor, that a _pie_ writes a -duet?" - -"My dear Monin," said Destival testily, "please don't talk to me all the -time; you see, you make me lose." - -"What! I make you lose, although I am not playing?" - -"Yes, yes, it confuses me. Bet again. I certainly am not a poor player, -but when a person talks like that----" - -"You see we've got a _pie_ at home that talks finely, and I wanted to -know--That makes eight sous I've lost." - -"And I sixteen francs!" - -"Bah! what does that amount to, messieurs?" said La Thomassinire; "if -you played for handfuls of gold as I do, it would be all very well; -that's what you can call gambling! I am very sorry to waste my luck for -such small stakes.--Bravo! bravissimo! _Certo pio pio piu! Atoussimo!_" - -La Thomassinire insisted on mixing Italian into everything that he -said, and Destival forced himself to smile, as he felt in his pockets; -but his gayety was forced, and his smiles were grimaces. The two singers -exchanged melting glances as they executed together roulades and -flourishes, which they prolonged inordinately, and during which Madame -Destival coughed impatiently in the hope of disturbing the harmony that -was rapidly becoming established between them. - -Suddenly the door of the salon was thrown open; a stout woman of fifty -or thereabouts, wearing a straw hat whose brim barely overpassed her -forehead and upon which nodded a wreath of faded roses, entered the room -with the air of a person in a towering rage, holding an umbrella in one -hand, and in the other a reticule large enough to hold a ten pound loaf -of sugar. At sight of her Monin started back, lost his wits, upset his -snuff-box, and acted as if he proposed to hide himself under the table. - -"Ah! so you're here, are you, monsieur?" cried Madame Monin, for it was -that lady in person who had entered the salon. "I find you gambling. I -suspected as much. I wish you good-evening, neighbors. While it's -thundering and a frightful storm is raging, monsieur sits here gambling -instead of coming home to comfort me; and yet he knows how afraid I am -of thunder storms! Excuse me, neighbor, for venturing to scold him -before you, but you must agree that his conduct is unpardonable." - -During this sermon, poor Monin, who had no idea what he was doing, -staked a forty-sou piece instead of two sous, and stuffed his fingers -into his snuff-box, in which there was nothing at all, stammering the -while with a contrite air: - -"How's your health, Bichette?" - -"My health! a lot you worry about it, on my word! To leave me alone -during the storm! Catherine had to keep me company under the quilt." - -"It was the rain that----" - -"As if a man should be afraid of the rain! for shame! You make me -blush!" - -Madame Destival did not like Madame Monin; but, being overjoyed by her -arrival at that moment, she gave her a seat near the piano and -overwhelmed her with attentions, to which Madame Monin replied by -repeated curtsies, at the same time handing her husband the umbrella. He -stepped forward to take it, and, forgetting that he was interested in -the game, murmured so low that she could hardly hear him: - -"Whenever you're ready, Bichette." - -But Bichette, who was comfortably seated and was already beginning to -criticise Madame de la Thomassinire, replied sharply: - -"Now that I've come, do you think I propose to go right away again? That -would be polite, wouldn't it? that would be worthy of you! I shall have -the pleasure of chatting with my neighbor a minute, and listening to the -music. I'm very fond of music." - -"You sing, I believe--do you not, Madame Monin?" inquired Madame -Destival eagerly. - -"Oh! I used to sing; I had rather a good voice, too; but I've forgotten -almost everything now except the duet from _Armide_: '_Aimons-nous! -aimons-nous! tout nous y convie!_' That's so lovely! it will never grow -old." - -"I have the score of _Armide_; you must sing that for us with Monsieur -Dalville." - -"Oh! really, neighbor!" - -"Do you hear the present that's to be given you?" whispered Athalie to -Auguste. - -"I am much obliged," replied Dalville; "upon my word, I don't know what -I have done to Madame Destival to make her play such a trick on me." - -"Don't be alarmed; if she forces you to sing the duet, I'll be your -accompanist, and I promise you that three or four chords will be broken -before the tenth measure." - -"How good you are, and how deeply indebted I shall be to you!" - -Monin, seeing that his wife had softened somewhat, made bold to say to -her: - -"You sing very nicely too that song about sheep: '_Margot filait -tranquillement, ne pensant, ne rvant qu' son p'tit, p'tit, p'tit._'" - -"Hush, monsieur, and attend to your game, as you're so fond of gambling. -Is it piquet they're playing there?" - -"No, Bichette, cart." - -"What? cart? And how long have you known cart, monsieur?" - -"I don't know it, but I was just going to tell you, I'm betting on it." - -"Ah! you're betting, are you? Well, I trust that you are modest at -least, and don't play for big stakes?" - -"Oh, no! never fear, Bichette!" - -"You have lost your forty sous, Monsieur Monin!" exclaimed Destival at -that moment, heaving a deep sigh. - -"Forty sous!" shouted Madame Monin, jumping from her chair with a -violence that made all the furniture in the room tremble; "what's that? -Monsieur Monin betting forty sous! Why, that is horrible! For heaven's -sake, neighbor, what did you give him to drink at dinner?--What is the -meaning of such extravagance, Monsieur Monin? Have you gone crazy?" - -"No, Bichette, it's a mistake; I assure you that I didn't bet but two -sous." - -"You put forty sous on the table, monsieur," said La Thomassinire, "and -they're lost." - -"I had won a lot, you see," whispered Monin to his wife; "that was just -my winnings." - -"You must admit that I am playing in hard luck," said Destival; "that -makes seven times that I have been responsible for Monin's losing." - -"Seven times, monsieur! have you bet seven times in succession?" cried -Madame Monin, glaring at her husband with the expression of a cat about -to pounce upon a mouse. - -"Why, no, Bichette; you know perfectly well that I am incapable of such -a thing!" - -"Here's the duet from _Armide_," said Madame Destival; "come, Monsieur -Dalville, sing it with madame." - -"I don't know it," said Auguste. - -"Nonsense! you are enough of a musician to sing it at sight." - -"I'll prompt you in your passages, monsieur," said Madame Monin, -removing her hat lest it should interfere with her voice. - -Madame Monin began. Her voice was almost enough to set one's teeth on -edge. Monin applauded every measure. Suddenly a chord broke. The -vivacious Athalie ran her fingers over the keys and seemed excited by -the fire with which she was playing. Soon a second chord broke, then a -third, and it was impossible to go on. Athalie left her seat, saying: - -"What a pity! it was going so well!" - -"That's the disadvantage of your pianos," said Madame Monin testily, as -she put on her shepherdess's hat; "Monsieur Monin's little flute's the -thing; there's no danger of that ever breaking, at all events." - -"Do you want me to go and get it, Bichette?" - -"Upon my word, this is a pretty time of night to make such a suggestion! -We must go home to bed, monsieur; that will be much better than your -little flute." - -Destival left the card-table, red as a turkey-cock. - -"I can't stand it any longer!" he cried. "That makes twelve times that -he has passed! I've lost at least forty francs!" - -"Oh! how can anyone risk so much money?" said Madame Monin. "If you -should ever lose forty francs, Monsieur Monin, I'd have a separation at -once." - -"Here's a fine to-do over a trifle!" said La Thomassinire, rising from -his chair; "I'll stake it on a single hand to-morrow, at a notary's, -who's a friend of mine. That's where they play cart! The table is -covered with gold and bank-notes! Ah! there's some fun in that! But -otherwise cart's a very stupid game.--Well! are we going to bed?" - -"Go to bed, monsieur, who's preventing you?" said Athalie; "we don't -need you." - -"Faith, I am terribly sleepy." - -"Baptiste will show you to your room, which is over this." - -"And where is mine, my dear, if you please?" queried the -petite-matresse, as her husband went up to bed without bidding anyone -good-night, because it was bad form. - -"Yours, my dear?" rejoined Madame Destival; "why, with your husband; we -have only one room to offer you." - -"What! can it be by any chance that you are going to make me sleep with -him?" - -"Why, of course." - -"Oh! that is absurd! Such a thing never occurred to me. I never sleep -with Monsieur de la Thomassinire. I have my own suite, as you know." - -"For once, belle dame," said Destival, with a sly expression, "our dear -husband will not complain." - -"Mon Dieu! how amusing!" exclaimed Athalie, sulkily. Meanwhile, Madame -Monin, who had succeeded at last in tucking up her dress and putting on -her shawl, said to Madame Destival with a simper: - -"For my part, I sleep with my husband, and I should just like to hear -him mention a separate room! Ha! ha!" - -"You know perfectly well, Bichette, that I have no desire to----" - -"All right, Monsieur Monin, I know what I know.--Good-night, -neighbors.--Well, monsieur, why don't you put on your cap? What sort of -way is that to act?" - -Monin was afraid that his wife would discover the hole in his cap. He -finally decided to wear it over his left ear, so that the top would be -less visible to the eyes of his better half. And Madame Monin led her -spouse away, promising him that she would never again let him dine out -without her, because he was not careful of himself at the table, and -wine made him plunge into all sorts of extravagance. - -When his neighbors had gone, Monsieur Destival admitted that the -drilling had fatigued him terribly, and he speedily vanished. - -The music had cemented the intimacy between Dalville and the brilliant -Athalie. With those who are capable of enjoying the charms of harmony, -there is nothing that brings two hearts together so quickly as a sweet -or tender ditty, or a passage overladen with passion, which the -performers often address to each other. Music is a very potent auxiliary -in love; it stirs the emotions, it speaks to the soul. Thank heaven, -almost all our ladies know how to play the piano now. - -But Athalie rose, and Madame Destival escorted her to her apartment. -Before going in, the petite-matresse laughingly said to her friend: - -"My dear, I must tell you something in confidence: I believe I've made a -conquest of Monsieur Dalville." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am almost sure of it; he has been talking to me in that veiled -way,--you know what I mean; and then he squeezed my hand very -tenderly." - -"I congratulate you!" - -"Oh! you understand that I mean to have a little sport with him, that's -all." - -"But I must tell you frankly that the conquest is of little value, for -he is a man who falls in love with every woman he sees.--Adieu, my dear, -good-night." - -"Until to-morrow, my love! I shall get up early for a walk in the -fields." - -"I will go with you, my dear." - -The ladies parted. Madame Destival went down to the salon, but Dalville -was no longer there; he too had retired. So madame did the same and -summoned Julie to undress her. - - - - -VI - -THE COMPANY RETURNS TO PARIS - - -The night passed. Did its protecting darkness banish Madame Destival's -irritation and her husband's fatigue? Did Dalville determine to be -virtuous, and Bertrand to be sober? Did the sprightly Athalie become -reconciled to the necessity of sharing her husband's bed, and did -Monsieur de la Thomassinire sleep well beside his wife? These are -mysteries which I am unable to solve. - -All I know is that Madame Destival rose with her friend's pleasant -confidence of the night before still in her mind, and that she said to -herself as she dressed: - -"The flirt did everything that she could to assure the conquest of -Auguste. I saw all her simpering and smiles while they were singing. No -doubt she hopes to receive a declaration in due form this morning; but -I am sorry for you, madame, for I shall be on the spot, I shall not let -you out of my sight, I will not allow such intrigues to be carried on in -my house. Oh! women are such coquettes nowadays!--I think I will put -this rose in my hair; it's more becoming than a ribbon. Mon Dieu! how -badly my curl-papers work to-day!--And then they complain because men -think unfavorably of our sex. Why, don't they justify them in that -opinion by acting as they do? At the very first meeting, to let a man -see that one is attracted by him--shocking! And a woman of twenty, -married two years at most! Ah! Monsieur Auguste, you don't deserve any -friends." - -Monsieur Destival, on laying aside the silk handkerchief that covered -his head at night, took his stand in front of his mirror and presented -arms with a vessel which he had forgotten to replace in the night-table. -Forgetting that he was in his shirt, Destival, who had dreamed of -exterminating all the beasts in the district, made the circuit of his -chamber at the double-quick, and took aim at his bolster with the tongs. -But in that martial posture the remembrance of the forty francs he had -lost at cart the night before presented itself to his mind, and as one -cannot attend to business while practising the manual of arms, our -friend recurred to more peaceable ideas and proceeded to dress, thinking -of nothing but the best means to become as rich as La Thomassinire, so -that he might be able to lose a few crowns at play without losing his -temper. - -Dalville dreamed a little of the fair Athalie, a little of the young -milkmaid, a little of Madame Destival, also of some other persons; like -one who has no exclusive sentiment in his heart, but allows himself to -be led by all the sensations, all the illusions, all the whims of his -imagination. He rose without any well-defined plan of operations, -without a determination to be more virtuous or more enterprising, -without any intention of beginning a new intrigue. Chance should decide, -he would act as circumstances might suggest, he would obey the dictates -of his heart, or rather of pleasure. For a heedless fellow, that line of -conduct was not devoid of wisdom; if to abandon oneself to the course of -events, to lay no plans in advance, but to seize on the wing every -opportunity to be happy--if that is heedlessness, it bears a strong -resemblance to philosophy; in which there is nothing surprising, since -extremes meet. - -Bertrand had risen before dawn, always ready to carry out his master's -orders, even when he did not approve of his conduct. The ex-corporal was -well pleased with his repast of the preceding night, because the beaune -was not spared, and Baptiste and Tony and the tall lackeys, while -drinking with him, listened with respectful attention to his stories of -his campaigns. He was walking on the terrace, ready to give Monsieur -Destival a lesson in the manual, and perfectly reconciled to the life -that people lead in the country. - -The petite-matresse, whose head was as light as her heart, had risen -very early, before her husband was awake. She had slept badly; -innumerable thoughts crowded into her mind, but the principal one was as -always the desire to attract, to make a sensation; that was the fixed -point about which her other sentiments revolved by the force of -gravitation, without disturbing the course of the planet whose -satellites they were. - -As for Monsieur de la Thomassinire, he had slept without waking, and in -his dreams had imagined himself the _seigneur_ of a department, -decorated with three crosses, a broad ribbon and a star, and richer, -more conceited and more insolent than ever. Then he had found himself -abruptly transported to the wine-shop of the _Learned Ass_, serving wine -to peasants who treated him most cavalierly. That infernal sleep has no -respect for anything; it displaces the most powerful men, and effects -strange revolutions; it transforms a king into a shepherd, and sometimes -raises the plowman to a throne; it confounds the great lord with the -humblest plebeian; it makes of a minister of state a poor devil without -bread or work or resource, starving in a garret; it transforms the -banker into a petty clerk working fourteen hours a day to earn three -francs; the poet who sells his pen, into a juggler employed to perform -tricks before an audience which pays and despises him. To the kept woman -it shows the hospital, to the public harlot, La Salptrire, to the -young men who frequent roulette tables, the galleys or the nets of -Saint-Cloud. It reminds the parvenu of his birth, the public official of -the acts of injustice he has committed, the man without sense of honor -of the insults he has endured. And all these people do as Monsieur de la -Thomassinire did: they awake shrieking that they have a nightmare, and -they ascribe those horrid dreams to a bad digestion. They would be very -sorry to seek therein a memory of the past and a lesson for the future. - -There was no trace of the storm of the preceding evening. The sky was -clear, and the country seemed lovelier than ever; the trees glistened -with a brilliant green undimmed by dust, the flowers were fresher, the -brooks more noisy; everything invited one to enjoy the charms of nature; -and that doubtless was the reason that Auguste was already in the -garden, standing in the gateway leading into the courtyard, undecided -whether he should go for a walk in the fields or remain on the -premises. Meanwhile, Athalie had taken a seat under a clump of trees at -the end of the garden; she was occupied in arranging some flowers, but -her glance constantly wandered to right and left to see if someone was -coming to bear her company; while Madame Destival strolled along an -adjacent alley ready to join the persons whom she expected to meet in -the garden. - -Suddenly Auguste heard a voice that was not unknown to him crying: - -"Whoa, White Jean! whoa, I say! Have you forgotten that we stop here?" - -And at the same instant a milkmaid with her tin cans entered Monsieur -Destival's courtyard. Auguste uttered an exclamation of delight when he -recognized Denise, and hurried across the courtyard to meet the pretty -milkmaid. - -"It is really you, lovely Denise!" - -"Yes, monsieur, it's I. Didn't I tell you yesterday that I came here -every morning to bring milk? I'm very glad to see you again, monsieur." - -"Really, Denise, did you want to see me?" - -"Yes, monsieur, I wanted to ever so. Oh! that was such a nice thing you -did! it was so generous! and even if you do have a little too much -blarney with us girls, no matter--I let it go on account of that." - -"Bless my soul! what on earth have I done, Denise, to bring down all -these compliments on my head?" - -"What about Coco, and his soup-bowl, and his old grandmother--don't you -remember them?" - -"How do you know so much, Denise?" - -"Pardi! as if everything wasn't known in the country! The old grandma'am -came to the village to buy some things. Coco came with her, and he told -everybody that a fine gentleman had given him money to buy another -bowl. The grandmother described you, and I knew you right away. It's too -bad that Pre Calleux is such a drunkard; he passed the whole night in -the wine-shop drinking up the crown piece you gave him, and he'll soon -get away with the money you left for Coco too. But that ain't your -fault, and you were mighty kind to 'em." - -"I did nothing except what was perfectly natural, Denise, and I am well -rewarded at this moment." - -Denise had become more and more animated as she told Auguste what she -knew, and the young man's glances made her blush more than ever. She -lowered her eyes and smiled, and stood for some moments before the man -who was gazing at her, her arms hanging at her sides. Her awkwardness, -her embarrassment and her coarse woolen skirt made the charms of her -pretty face even more alluring. - -At last she took up her cans, which she had placed on the ground, and -said: - -"I must take this milk to Mamzelle Julie; she's generally up by this -time." - -"One moment, Denise, I beg you." - -"Have you got anything to say to me, monsieur?" - -"Oh, yes! In the first place, you look even prettier this morning than -you did yesterday." - -"Oh! if that's all it is, I may as well go." - -"One instant, Denise, please; I feel that the more I see you, the more I -love you!" - -"Well, then, you mustn't see me any more, monsieur." - -"Does it make you angry to have me love you?" - -"Oh no! for I'm pretty sure it ain't dangerous." - -"If you would listen to me----" - -"Adieu, monsieur." - -And Denise started to walk away. But Auguste took her hand and stopped -her, gazing tenderly at her,--too tenderly for a fickle youth who gazed -so at all pretty women. A seducer's eyes should express nothing but -inconstancy; unluckily, the eyes lend themselves to every sort of -scheme. But perhaps Dalville was moved at that moment by genuine -feeling, who knows? Who can read the human heart? - -At this juncture Bertrand entered the courtyard; he approached his -master, unseen by him, and said: - -"Did I hear monsieur call me?" - -"Why, no! I didn't call you," replied Auguste angrily, dropping Denise's -hand; "you always appear at the wrong time. Is it proper to interrupt -people when they are talking together?" - -"Pardon, lieutenant, I didn't hear you say anything; I didn't know -people talked without speaking." - -"Leave us, Bertrand." - -Bertrand made a half wheel to the left and went toward the garden; but -as he passed Denise, who, although she said that she was going, did not -go, and seemed very busy with her little cheeses, the corporal said to -her in an undertone: - -"Look out for yourself!" - -Auguste once more approached Denise, who had started in surprise at -Bertrand's words. - -"What's the matter?" he asked. - -"Nothing, monsieur, but I must go." - -"Will you do me a favor, Denise?" - -"Oh, yes! with pleasure, monsieur, if it's anything I can do." - -"I have taken a liking to that child I met on the road yesterday. His -pretty face, his little honest way, everything speaks in his favor." - -"You mean Coco Calleux?" - -"Yes." - -"I'm fond of him, too, but the poor little fellow's had a hard time -since he lost his mother. His grandmother's rough and cross, and his -father's a drunkard, and they want that child, only six years old, to go -to work so soon! Can you imagine such a thing? Why, he often has nothing -but bread to eat, and he's lucky when he doesn't have a beating for his -supper. So we in the village don't like that drunken pig of a Calleux, -and if the cottage wasn't some distance from the village, Coco would be -at our house more than he's at home, I tell you." - -"Well, Denise, be good enough to keep an eye on the child and buy him -whatever he needs--in short, take my place with him, will you?" - -"Oh! with pleasure, monsieur!" - -"Here, take this purse, and use the contents to the best advantage for -my little protg. When that is gone, I'll give you more. I shall always -approve whatever use you may make of it." - -"Ah! you've got a kind heart, monsieur! How glad I am! But such a lot of -money as this will last a long time." - -"You will do me this favor, won't you?" - -"Will I! Pardi! I should say so! Don't you think it's pleasant to be -employed to do good? Who could refuse such a commission?--I say, -monsieur, I must kiss you for this--do you want me to?" - -"Do I want you to, Denise!" - -Auguste already had his arms around the girl, and had deposited more -than one kiss on the plump cheeks which she offered him with pleasure, -when an exclamation and a burst of laughter reached their ears -simultaneously. Dalville turned: Madame Destival and Madame de la -Thomassinire stood behind him. - -"Oh! this is too much!" cried Madame Destival, walking forward with a -wrathful glance at Denise, while Athalie continued to laugh, albeit her -laughter seemed slightly forced. - -"Delicious!" she said. "What! even with milkmaids? I shall remember -this! the picture was truly rural." - -Denise was not disturbed, for she had no thought that she could be -blamed; so she looked at the two ladies in amazement, trying to divine -the cause of the merriment of the one and the anger that gleamed in the -eyes of the other, and still holding in her hand the purse that the -young man had given her. - -"What are you doing here?" demanded Madame Destival, with a contemptuous -glance at the young milkmaid. - -"As you see, madame, I have brought cheese and milk as usual." - -"I didn't order any cheeses of you; in fact, yours are bitter, and I -don't want any more of them. As for your milk, you put water in it, and -I propose to take mine of somebody else." - -"Water in my milk!" cried Denise, whose eyes filled with tears when she -heard her merchandise thus vilified. "You're the first person that ever -said that, madame, I tell you! And I swear----" - -"All right, mademoiselle, that's enough; I don't want you ever to set -foot inside my doors again. I thought that you were a decent, virtuous -girl; I don't like little hussies." - -"Hussies! Mon Dieu! what have I done to madame?" - -"We saw it all, mademoiselle. And that purse in your hand is proof -enough." - -"That purse, madame," said Auguste, walking to Denise's side, "is -destined for a charitable purpose, to relieve an unfortunate person. But -I see that an evil interpretation is always put upon everything.--Poor -Denise! I am responsible for your being made wretched! And when, by -chance, I attempt to do a good deed, they think that I am trying to -seduce you.--Do you suppose, mesdames, that one wins the love of a -milkmaid with money? Remember, please, that this is not Paris." - -While Auguste was speaking, Denise became calm; she wiped her eyes with -the corner of her apron, and recovered sufficient assurance to say to -Madame Destival: - -"I ought not to cry at what you said to me, madame, for I haven't done -anything to be ashamed of.--Adieu, monsieur; I'll take your money and -try to carry out your kind intentions." - -With that, Denise curtsied to the company, and, still choking back her -sobs, returned to White Jean and left the business agent's house. - -Madame Destival, conscious of some embarrassment, returned to the -garden. Athalie walked up to Auguste and said, with a laugh: - -"You must admit, monsieur, that you kissed her at least six times in -succession." - -"I didn't count, madame." - -"You seemed to like it." - -"Very much, madame." - -"Monsieur is frank, at all events." - -"That is, perhaps, my one good quality." - -"But why did you kiss her?" - -"Is she not very pretty, madame?" - -"Pretty! perhaps; as coarse, rustic beauties go." - -"No, no! on the contrary, her features are extremely delicate." - -"But she's a milkmaid!" - -"What difference do you see between a pretty country girl and a pretty -city girl?" - -"Why, an enormous difference, monsieur. What about education, good -manners, and refinement--do you count all those as nothing? Would you go -out in Paris, or even in the country, with a milkmaid on your arm?" - -"No, madame, I admit that I should not be enough of a philosopher for -that. But just put on Denise----" - -"Who is Denise, pray?" - -"This little milkmaid, madame." - -"Oho! so monsieur knows her name?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"Well, monsieur, what do you propose to put on Mademoiselle Denise?" - -"A pretty hat, a stylish dress, a handsome shawl----" - -"Ah! she would cut a strange figure in all those things!" - -"Mon Dieu, madame, habit is everything. You yourself, despite all your -charms, might be awkward in a milkmaid's cap. Those things that can be -acquired, madame, are of little worth; but the things that are innate -are beauty, grace, intellect, a sweet voice and glance and smile--in a -word, the charm which takes us captive and which you possess in such -abundant measure, madame." - -"Ah! you did well to end in that way; if you had not I should have been -angry. Madame Destival is right; you are a ne'er-do-well, a dangerous -man. By the way, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in Paris, -monsieur; I often give balls, and I have a reception every Thursday in -winter." - -"Madame is too kind; but your husband has said nothing to me." - -"Mon Dieu! has he any time to think to invite people? He is so -distraught, so engrossed by his speculations, that I alone attend to the -invitations. Will you come?" - -"Is it not absolutely necessary for me to see you again? If I should -yield to my inclinations, I would never leave you." - -"Bless my soul! I believe that we are dropping into sentiment. Are you -going to make me a declaration?" - -"Is it possible to see you without loving you?" - -"Look out! you are becoming serious, and I like none but merry people. -That melancholy air doesn't suit you." - -"Have you no pity, then, for the pain you cause?" - -"Oh! not the least! Sighs do not move me an inch; to please me, it is -necessary to keep me laughing constantly." - -While they talked, Auguste and his companion had strayed into the shaded -portion of the garden. He had taken the young woman's arm and was -pressing it tenderly. Athalie was still laughing, but was making no -effort to avoid Dalville's gentle caresses, when Bertrand appeared -before them at a bend in the path. - -"They are waiting for you and madame at breakfast, lieutenant," said the -corporal, putting the back of his hand to his forehead. - -Auguste stamped on the ground impatiently; but the vivacious Athalie had -already dropped his arm and was frisking away. - -"Parbleu! you are exceedingly awkward, Bertrand!" said Auguste, glaring -at the corporal, who still stood before him. - -"What have I done, lieutenant?" - -"You seem to have made it your business to disturb me when I am engaged -in an interesting conversation with a pretty woman." - -"Excuse me, lieutenant, but I can't tell what you're saying." - -"A shrewd man can guess it at a glance. Once for all, when I am alone -with a woman, I forbid you to interrupt me." - -"That settles it, lieutenant; if the house should burn down, I wouldn't -disturb you." - -The whole party had assembled in the dining-room; even La Thomassinire, -having waked with a tremendous appetite, had not devised any previous -business which would have vexed his stomach, and he bestowed a most -affable nod upon Dalville, which meant that his wife had informed him -that she proposed to receive the young man at their house. Madame -Destival too seemed desirous to be reconciled to Auguste, who had -treated her coldly since the scene in the courtyard. - -"I must be in Paris before noon," said La Thomassinire, shuffling a -mass of papers that he took from his wallet; "I have ten appointments -for to-day. I am sure that at least twenty people have called at my -house before this. A little more coffee, if you please. It isn't -Mocha----" - -"I beg your pardon," said Destival, as he poured out some for him. - -"Oh, no! I assure you that isn't; I know what I am talking about. I laid -in lately a _consequential_ supply; it's very different from this." - -"I must be in Paris this morning," said Destival, puffing himself out; -"I have numerous matters on the carpet, some of great importance! Monin -wants to buy a house, and I have just what he wants." - -"Who's he? that little man who bet two sous at cart?" - -"The very same." - -"What! that fellow buy houses! I shouldn't have suspected it; his coat -was very threadbare--and patched on the elbows." - -"Oh! that means nothing in the country." - -"Never mind! you must admit that a man in a threadbare coat doesn't -promise great things--it doesn't give you a very exalted idea of his -wit. Oh! I have a keen glance, I have; and then, being used to seeing -only rich and well-dressed people,--I say, footman, just tell my people -to harness up, to put my horses to my calche." - -"I expect my milliner this morning," said Athalie; "she is to bring me -the sweetest bonnet. We must go at full speed, monsieur, for I am very -anxious to try on that bonnet." - -"You are aware, madame, that my steeds do not travel like cab-horses. I -feed them rather well, and they cost me so much that I can afford to -make them gallop." - -"Baptiste," Monsieur Destival called to his servant, who was leaving the -room, "you will hitch up too, do you understand?" - -"That's the way," muttered Baptiste, "no sooner out of the kitchen than -I must go to the stable!" - -"I say, Baptiste, while you're about it, tell my little Tony to put the -horse to my cabriolet," said Dalville, smiling at the pompous air of La -Thomassinire, who said, rubbing his hands: - -"On my word, it's very pleasant for each to have his own carriage; it's -very genteel; one is certain at all events that one is with _comme il -faut_ people. To be sure, you have only cabriolets, but everybody can't -have a calche, a coup and a landau, like me." - -"What, are you going too, Monsieur Dalville?" asked Madame Destival, -with a most expressive glance at the young man; "this is polite, -everybody abandons me!" - -"It is a fact, my dear fellow," said Destival, "that my wife relied on -you to keep her company, and----" - -"I never said that I relied on monsieur; most assuredly I should not -have dreamed of saying such a thing!" said Emilie, interrupting her -husband; "but as everybody else is going to Paris, I don't see why I -should stay here. Besides, you are to give a dinner this week, aren't -you, monsieur?" - -"Yes, madame, a large dinner. I shall have some influential -people,--government officials and distinguished artists. I count upon -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire, and upon friend Dalville too." - -Dalville bowed simply, but La Thomassinire replied: - -"We will see. I can't promise beforehand, because I may be invited to -other dinners by people high up on the ladder, and you must see----" - -"So we are all going to Paris," said Madame Destival. "My husband will -take Baptiste and Julie with him. Will Monsieur Dalville be kind enough -to give me a seat in his cabriolet?" - -"Why can't you come in our calche?" hastily inquired the -petite-matresse. - -"Oh! I am afraid that I should keep you waiting. I have several matters -to attend to, and you are in a hurry to see your milliner. Monsieur -Dalville will not object, I trust, to give me another half hour." - -Auguste realized that it would be discourteous to refuse; moreover, -although that arrangement upset his plans, although the fascinating -Athalie made an enticing little pout at him, and although Madame -Destival had said many unkind things about him, still, Emilie was a -good-looking woman none the less, and one forgives a good-looking woman -many things, even when one is no longer in love with her. - -They left the table. The carriages were ready. Madame de la -Thomassinire entered her calche, with a malevolent glance at Auguste -and Madame Destival. The speculator called his two servants, who -assisted him to climb in; then he threw himself back on the seat, -crying: - -"To my house in the Chausse-d'Antin, and go at full speed; drive -_furiously_, do you hear, Lafleur? But look out and not run into -anything." - -The calche flew away like an arrow. Madame Destival had hurried her -domestics to such purpose that Julie and Baptiste were soon ready to -start with their master. But madame still had divers matters to attend -to, for which she did not need Julie. Monsieur Destival shook hands -cordially with his friend and urged him not to drive his wife too fast, -because it was bad for the nerves; then he took his seat in the -cabriolet beside Julie, ordering Baptiste to mount behind, which he did, -muttering because they made him do all sorts of things. - -Bertrand and Tony stood by Dalville's cabriolet, awaiting the latter and -Madame Destival. But the little matters which the mistress of the house -had to arrange took nearly two hours. Bertrand fretted and fumed at -having to stand beside the cabriolet; but his master had ordered him to -await him there, and he did not leave his post. - -"Perhaps monsieur thinks we've gone," suggested little Tony. - -"No, no, he knows we're here." - -"But perhaps he don't mean to go back to Paris to-day." - -"Then he'll come and tell us so." - -"And suppose he don't think of it?" - -"We will stay here until somebody comes to relieve us from duty. I've -got my orders, that's enough for me." - -At last, about noon, Auguste appeared with Madame Destival on his arm. -She leaned tenderly upon him and her face expressed nothing save -satisfaction and the most amiable unconstraint. - -"It's strange!" thought Bertrand, "here's a lady that changes her face -three or four times a day. However, I ought to be used to it. I've seen -so many women like that. Everyone that comes to see monsieur as angry as -you please, rolling her eyes, and talking loud, is as mild and gentle as -a lamb when she leaves him; she hasn't the same face, nor the same eyes, -nor the same voice." - -"Come, Bertrand, get in," said Auguste, who was already in the cabriolet -with Madame Destival.--"You will be a little crowded, madame; but my -faithful Bertrand isn't built to ride behind." - -"Oh! I shall be very comfortable," said Emilie, bestowing a soft glance -on Auguste, and on Bertrand an affable smile; for nobody can be so -amiable as our fair friends when things are going to suit them! But when -you thwart them---- - -They drove away. When they passed the little path leading to -Montfermeil, Auguste put out his head and looked, saying to himself: - -"I shall not always have a lady to drive to Paris." - - - - -VII - -THE VILLAGE - - -Denise started to return to her village; but she did not sing as her -custom was, as she walked behind White Jean. Her heart was still heavy -because of what had taken place at Madame Destival's; and although she -had tried not to seem distressed, she did not forget the -word--_hussy_--that had been applied to her. To be called by such a name -as that, when she was virtuous, when she had nothing for which to -reproach herself, seemed very hard to the little milkmaid. It is said -that unmerited insults do not wound; but how can an honest and sincere -heart fail to feel outraged on receiving epithets usually reserved for -vice? It might much better be said that it is the vicious person who -does not blush and who laughs at anything that may be said to her, -because she retains no sense of shame. In my opinion the proverb "Only -the truth gives offence" is essentially false. - -"How unkind those city people are!" thought the girl; "the idea of -calling me a hussy! That sounds well from them! What did I do to deserve -it? I kissed that gentleman because he's got a kind heart, and because -he's going to look out for Coco; it seems to me that was no more than -natural, and I ain't ashamed of it. That Madame Destival, who came -rushing at me with such a scowl! I thought she was going to hit me.--The -idea of telling me that my cheeses are bitter, and that I put water in -my milk! Ah! I felt just like crying, but I did well to keep the tears -back, she'd have been too pleased to see them. And that other one, who -did nothing but laugh and make all sorts of faces and monkey tricks at -that young man! Mon Dieu! as if I had done anything to make such a fuss -about! Should I have refused that money when it was to help that poor -boy? No, indeed! and it would have made the gentleman angry, and I'd -much rather make the lady angry. He isn't wicked, he's only a flatterer. -Well! that ain't a crime--all one has to do is not to listen, that's -all. And he's very nice and polite. I clawed his face and he didn't get -mad. By the way, he didn't tell me his name. Why should he? I don't need -to know it. Perhaps he told Coco--I must ask him.--Go on, White -Jean!--Shall I show my aunt this purse? Yes, I'll tell her the whole -thing. But I didn't tell her yesterday about my fall, and what that -gentleman saw. When I think of that, it troubles me, and I want to cry -again. And that other gentleman, who calls him lieutenant, and who -whispered 'Look out for yourself!' when he passed me. His name's -Bertrand, I remember that. He looks like a good fellow, that Bertrand; -but what in the deuce did he mean with his 'Look out for yourself'?" - -Meditating thus, Denise arrived at Montfermeil, a pretty little village -where the people are not badly off; where there are several comfortable -bourgeois houses, and nothing to indicate want, because the occupant of -the humblest cottage works instead of begging. - -Denise's cottage was at the end of the village, on the bank of a little -stream that followed a winding course between rows of willows. It was of -two stories; the walls were sound, and the roof was covered with tiles, -which gave the cottage a certain air of elegance. There was a yard in -front, separated from the street by a low wooden fence; the stable was -at the right, and hens, chickens and ducks wandered about the yard, -which they seemed to look upon as their property, giving vent to all -sorts of cries when any other person than Denise or her aunt ventured to -enter. The garden was behind the house; it was about two acres in -extent, but there was no semblance of order; fruit and vegetables grew -in confusion, according to the custom of the peasant, who thinks first -of the useful. There were not many flowers, but as Denise was fond of -them, there were a few rose-bushes among the potatoes, and now and then -a syringa, its branches enlacing the trunk of a plum or an almond tree. - -It will be evident from these details that the cottage did not belong to -poor people. Everything about it indicated the possession of a -competence; and in fact Mre Fourcy, Denise's aunt, was one of the -richest peasants in the neighborhood; she owned two pieces of land, one -of which was on the other side of the stream that flowed by her house; -and Denise, who was her sole heir, was able by her activity and her -little trade in milk and cheese, to add to the income of her aunt, who, -although she was a worthy woman, was a little inclined to be miserly. -That is said to be a failing of the rich; indeed, how can you expect -those who have nothing to exhibit such a failing? - -White Jean entered the yard without guidance, and headed for his stable. -Denise was a little distance behind, having been stopped by some of her -neighbors, who, as the custom is in villages, talked with every -passer-by, because everybody knew everybody else. But the little -milkmaid, who was in no mood for talking, hastened after White Jean, and -relieved him of the baskets containing the milk and cheese that she -brought back. - -"What will my aunt say when she sees that I've brought these things -back?" Denise asked herself; and she could not restrain a sigh. But -Denise did not fear her aunt, for Mre Fourcy, knowing her niece's -virtue, and considering that she knew more than all the other people in -the village, always approved what she said and did, except when it was a -matter of lending money. That is why Denise, despite her fondness for -Coco, had been able to do very little for him. - -"His father's a drunkard," Mre Fourcy would say; "to give the child -money is just giving that good-for-nothing Calleux the means of -drinking." - -Mre Fourcy was a stout woman of fifty-five, who, despite her -corpulence, was active and alert; she heard her niece come in, and came -downstairs to help her unload her ass. - -"What have you got there, my child?" she asked. - -"The cheeses I made for Madame Destival." - -"Why didn't she take 'em?" - -"Because--because she didn't want 'em." - -"Oh! that's different.--What! all this milk too?" - -"Oh, dear! yes, aunt." - -"And I wouldn't let Monsieur Brichard have any this morning!" - -"Oh! we'll use it up, aunt." - -"Has Madame Destival taken her trade away from you?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"That's what makes you look so cut up then. Where does she expect to get -better milk?" - -"Oh! it ain't on account of the milk, aunt." - -"On account of something else, is it?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"That makes a difference. Tell me about this other thing, my child." - -Denise thought a moment, then replied: - -"You know, aunt, I told you yesterday that I met a fine gentleman who -asked me the way to Monsieur Destival's?" - -"Yes, my dear." - -"And that it was the same man who gave a lot of money to Coco's -grandmother, because Coco broke the soup-bowl?" - -"Yes, yes, I know. That sot of a Calleux will drink it all up." - -"Well, aunt, I saw that young man again this morning, at Monsieur -Destival's." - -"So he's a young man, is he? You said a gentleman yesterday." - -"Bless me! so he is, a gentleman who is young." - -"Oh! that makes a difference." - -"He was very pleasant and friendly with me, and when he learned from me -that Pre Calleux spent all the money, he gave me this purse and told me -to see that poor Coco has everything he needs. I took it, aunt; did I do -wrong?" - -"Of course not, my dear; as if you didn't always do right, dear Denise. -Well! you're a good girl too, and you don't let the men talk nonsense to -you." - -"No, indeed, aunt; but I let that gentleman kiss me." - -"Oh! that makes a difference. What did he want to kiss you for?" - -"To thank me for agreeing to look after Coco, for he's very fond of -him." - -"Well, I don't see any harm in all that, my child." - -"But Madame Destival did, for she came up to me in a rage and called -me----" - -"She called you----?" - -"Oh! I don't want to repeat the horrid word.--Well! she called me -a--a--hussy." - -"God in heaven! my niece, my Denise, a hussy! the virtuousest girl -within ten leagues! And you didn't jump at her face?" - -"No, aunt; I just said that it was horrible to believe--to think--then I -came home with my milk and my cheese." - -"You did right, my child, you did right; those folks don't deserve to -eat such good things." - -Denise did not tell her aunt what Madame Destival had said about her -milk and cheese, because Mre Fourcy would be just the woman to go to -the business agent and demand satisfaction for such an insult. The girl -did not like quarrelling and she wished never to hear Madame Destival's -name again. Mre Fourcy went to the village to try to find customers for -the milk and cheese. When she was alone, Denise took out the purse and -counted its contents in her apron. There were twelve twenty-franc -pieces, and six of five francs. - -"Two hundred and seventy francs!" exclaimed Denise, throwing up her -hands in amazement; "why, that's quite a lot of money. That gentleman -must be very rich to give away so much all at once. Perhaps I ought not -to have taken it all. But still, as it's for Coco--there's enough to -send him to school, to have him learn to read. Yes, but his father don't -want him to learn to read. That's a pity, I should like so much to make -Coco a gentlemanly, well-taught boy; it would please that gentleman when -he comes back--for he'll come to see his little boy; at least, he said -he would. Never mind, I'll be very careful of the money; and while I -have the time, I think I'll go to the cottage and see if they've done -what that gentleman intended they should." - -By taking crossroads, one could go in a quarter of an hour from -Montfermeil to the home of the Calleux family. Denise walked rapidly -along the paths, which were well known to her. She entered the wretched -hovel. Coco was seated at a table with old Madeleine. They were dining -without Pre Calleux, who, finding himself in funds, preferred the -wine-shop to his house. - -At sight of Denise, the child gave a joyful cry and ran to her. Denise -was so good to him! she always brought him something nice; she often -prevented his being beaten; in short, she showed great affection for -him; and children love those who love them; it is not always so with -men. - -"Good-day, little Denise!" said Coco, opening his arms to the girl. - -"Take care, good-for-nothing!" said old Madeleine; "you almost upset the -table and spilt my soup! I'd have given you a good licking, if you had!" - -Denise glanced about the hovel, and saw that the only change that -Dalville's money had wrought was the presence of a large new bowl, which -was in front of the fire. The child's bed was no softer than before. - -"See how fine I am, Denise!" cried the child, exhibiting the trousers -and the little brown jacket which replaced the ragged garments that -covered him on the preceding day. - -"Yes, I see," said Denise, scrutinizing the garments, "but none of these -things are new." - -"Pardi!" cried old Madeleine, "do you s'pose we was going to have 'em -made to order for him? The things are good enough for a brat as plays -all the time like him. You'll see in a day or two! they'll soon be full -of holes! Ah! he'd wear out clothes made of iron." - -"But why didn't you buy him a mattress, Mre Madeleine? I thought that -gentleman told you to when he gave you the money." - -"Because his father wouldn't have it; he says a boy hadn't ought to be -coddled so, because it keeps 'em from getting strong." - -"Still, when the money was given for Coco----" - -"For Coco? yes, and for us too, my girl; hadn't the parents ought to -come before the children?" - -"Is Pre Calleux in the field?" - -"In the fields! oh, yes! in the fields indeed! He's at Claude's -wine-shop. He took all there was left of the money that gentleman give -me, and told me he was going to put it into some great undertakin'. Oh, -yes! I know all about that; he'll undertake to drink it all up in a day, -if it's possible." - -"Would you like to have me take Coco away with me till night, Mre -Madeleine?" - -"No, my girl, no; I'm an old woman, and I don't want to be left alone. -Coco's got to stay with me." - -Denise kissed the child, who ran off to play and roll on the ground with -his goat; then she returned to the village, asking herself: - -"How shall I go to work to do what that gentleman wants done?" - -The next day was Sunday. No work in the village. The women paid more -attention to their toilet, they donned their prettiest gowns, and in the -evening the whole population assembled on a beautiful greensward shaded -by oaks and walnuts. There a wretched violin and a huge tambourine -played for the young men and women to dance; they considered the -orchestra divine, because it gave the signal for their enjoyment. Denise -was the favorite among the young men, and aroused some jealous pangs in -the hearts of her companions. The passions insinuate themselves -everywhere; there are envious and evil-speaking folk in the village as -well as in the city; but they are less skilled in disguising their -sentiments. - -Denise was the prettiest girl in the village and in the country -roundabout; that was what all the men said; but all the women did not -agree. Denise was no coquette, but she was a woman; and what woman is -there who is not conscious of a secret pleasure in the certainty that -she is attractive, that she can prevail over her companions? But Denise -did not play the coquette with the young men; she did not bestow a smile -upon this one, a glance upon that one, a word of hope upon the other; -but she laughed and joked and was pleasant to one and all alike; for she -was very fond of dancing, and she liked to have everyone invite her to -dance. - -On the Sunday in question, however, Denise, who had gone to the green -with her aunt, as usual, did not seem to enjoy herself so much as she -ordinarily did; she laughed less with the young men and seemed not to -take any pleasure in dancing. And finally, a thing that had never been -seen before, Denise, after four contradances, declared that she was -tired and would like to rest a while. - -"Is it because you're sick, my child?" Mre Fourcy asked her niece, when -she came and seated herself by her side. - -"No, aunt, I ain't sick, but I'm tired." - -"Tired! you! the greatest dancer in the whole country!" - -"Well! I guess one gets tired of everything, aunt. I don't feel in the -mood to-day." - -"That makes a difference." - -"Come on, Mamzelle Denise, come and have a dance," several young men -said to the little milkmaid. And one of them pulled her arm until he -almost dislocated it, another struck his palm against hers with all his -might, and a third, while saluting her, trod on her feet. With such -delicate attentions it is customary to pay court to a village belle, who -sometimes retorts by a ringing slap on the gallant's face, thereby -indicating that he is in her good graces. - -But Denise distributed no slaps among the youths who surrounded her; she -simply sent them away, saying: - -"Let me alone, when I tell you that I don't want to dance." - -"Oh, yes, you do! oh, yes! She'll dance--you'll dance--she's joking when -she says that." - -But Denise held her ground, and when the dancers had taken their leave, -she said to her aunt: - -"Bless my soul! how stupid they all are!" - -"Who, my girl?" - -"Why Gros-Jean and Lucas and Bastien." - -"They're the sharpest fellows in the village! What are you thinking -about, to say that? Gros-Jean, who's so funny when he dances and always -mixes up the figures on purpose! Lucas, who's taken the prize at _goose_ -three years running! And Bastien, who's been to Paris twice and learned -to play at quarter-staff! And you call those boys stupid!" - -"Bless me! aunt, it seemed to me that they didn't say anything to me but -things that didn't amuse me." - -"But you used to laugh so loud with 'em! I tell you you're sick, my -child; when we go home, I'm going to make you eat a good dish of peas -and pork before you go to bed; that'll do you good." - -Denise did not feel sick; she did not herself know why she was not -enjoying herself. At last the hour for retiring arrived, and the girl -was secretly well pleased to return to the cottage and leave her -companions, who glanced sneeringly at her and said to one another: - -"Something's the matter with Denise, that's sure! At all events, if -she's always the way she is to-day, the fellows will soon give up liking -her and making love to her." - -In spite of, or perhaps because of, the dish of peas and pork, Denise -slept little. She thought, not precisely of the fine gentleman who had -flattered her and kissed her and picked her up after her fall, but of -the one who proposed to take care of poor Coco; of the money of which -she was the depositary, and of the means of making the child happier. - -At daybreak she left her bed. After completing her morning chores, she -made her escape and hurried to the Calleux cabin. She saw the child -playing in front of the door and was delighted to speak to him without -witnesses. - -"Where's Madeleine?" she asked. - -"She's asleep, my little Denise," the child replied, throwing his arms -about the girl's neck. - -"And your father?" - -"Papa Calleux, he didn't come home last night. Grandma says he slept at -the wine-shop." - -"Coco, do you love that gentleman who came here and left money for you, -and kept you from being beaten for breaking the bowl?" - -"Oh, yes! I do love him, just. He's got a pretty vest and a pretty -ribbon hanging on it. He's coming to play with me again, ain't he?" - -"Yes, he said he'd come again. Do you know his name?" - -"He's my dear friend." - -"But his name--did he tell you that?" - -"No, but he knows my name's Coco, and Papa Calleux----" - -"You must love that gentleman dearly, for he means to do ever so much -for you. Would you like to learn to read and write?" - -"Oh, yes! so's to read pretty stories in the books with pictures in 'em, -like you've got. But papa won't let me go to school." - -"I'll speak to him and try to make him consent----" - -At that moment old Madeleine's shrill voice was heard, calling the -child. He kissed Denise and went into the cabin, while the girl walked -rapidly back to the village. - -Pre Calleux, after passing three days at the wine-shop, resumed his -spade and watering-pot; but he would not consent to let Coco go to -school, although Denise told him that it would cost him nothing; and old -Madeleine would not allow the child to go any farther than the field -where his father worked. Denise went to the hovel every morning; she -always carried something secretly to the child, but she did not touch -Dalville's money. - -"He won't come back," said Denise to herself; "here's a week gone -already! Psha! he's forgotten all about--Coco; still another reason for -saving that money. Some day the little fellow will be very glad to have -it. And yet that gentleman seemed to want to come again. Of course he's -been to Madame Destival's, and he didn't go through our village! What -liars they are, those young men from Paris! Still that one has some good -qualities. But why did that Monsieur Bertrand tell me to look out for -myself?" - -The dancing days came around in due course, but Denise's good spirits -did not return, although she did her utmost to appear as of old, and -often danced when she felt no desire to do so, and tried to joke with -the young men. Her greatest pleasure now was to sit alone under a great -oak in her garden, or to go to the cabin and embrace Coco, to whom she -talked constantly of the handsome gentleman, who meant to do so much for -him. - -A month had passed since Auguste's meeting with Denise, when one -morning, as she was about to start for the cabin, a peasant informed her -that old Madeleine had died during the night. The little milkmaid ran to -the child at full speed. The old woman's remains had not been removed; -and as Calleux was poor and was not liked in the neighborhood, the child -was watching alone by the body, while his father made the necessary -arrangements for the burial. - -Denise halted in front of the solitary hovel, the aspect of which seemed -to her more wretched than ever, because Death casts a dark pall over -everything wherever he passes. The girl was surprised to find nobody -about; she drew nearer and bursts of laughter fell upon her ears. She -concluded that the person was mistaken who had told her of the -grandmother's death, and she put her head in at the door. She saw the -death bed, beside which a lamp cast a dim light; and close by she saw -the child playing with his goat on the straw, and greeting with shouts -of laughter Jacqueleine's antics and caresses. - -That picture caused Denise a peculiar sensation. She entered the cabin -and walked toward the child, saying: - -"What's this, my dear? playing beside your dead grandmother?" - -"Will that make her mad?" queried the child, with an artless glance at -Denise. - -"No, for she can't hear you; but you ought to be sorry for her death." - -"Someone told me she wouldn't whip me again." - -"Didn't you cry when she died?" - -"No, Denise." - -"Then you didn't love her?" - -"Oh! I was awful 'fraid of her!" - -"My dear, it isn't nice not to have any feeling." - -"Oh! if my goat died, Denise, I'd cry hard enough; Jacqueleine's so good -and she loves me so!" - -Denise could think of no answer to make to the child; she sent him -outside with his goat. On Pre Calleux's return, she obtained his -permission to take Coco with her for a few days, and Coco took with him -his darling goat, from which he refused to part. - -Denise was anxious to keep the child with her; Mre Fourcy was -kindhearted, and Denise showed her that as he grew up Coco would be of -use to them, and that the money left by the gentleman from Paris would -be more than sufficient to educate him. Pre Calleux, who realized that -his son could not make his soup, consented to leave him with Denise for -the present, and the girl was overjoyed. - -Behold, then, Coco a member of the little milkmaid's family, and leading -a pleasant life. Denise, who knew how to read,--not a rare -accomplishment in our villages nowadays,--determined to educate her -little protg, and did not fail to speak to him every day of the -handsome gentleman who had paid so generously for his bowl. - -But another month passed, and the gentleman from Paris did not come -again. Denise, who still loved to muse beneath the great oak, often said -to herself: - -"It was quite right to think that he didn't mean a word of all those -fine things he said to me. But, when he wasn't coming back, it wasn't -worth while for that Monsieur Bertrand to say: 'Look out for -yourself!'" - - - - -VIII - -A BACHELOR'S MORNING RECEPTION - - -"Is Auguste in, Monsieur Bertrand?" inquired a young woman of -twenty-four, slender and graceful, with fine brown eyes, very black -hair, pale complexion, white, even teeth, and a somewhat fatigued -expression; a face, be it said, which was enlivened and made most -attractive by a mischievous smile. This young woman was a certain -Virginie, of whom mention was made in the cabriolet on the way to -Monsieur Destival's; she had just rung the bell at the door of Auguste's -apartment, although it was only eight o'clock in the morning. - -"Monsieur Dalville has gone out," replied Bertrand, with a very slight -nod to Mademoiselle Virginie, which did not deter her from entering the -apartment. - -"That's impossible, Bertrand; you say that because there's somebody -here, I suppose, and those are your orders. We know all about that. But -I must see him; I have something very important to say to him. Really, -my little Bertrand, I'm not joking." - -"I give you my word, mademoiselle, that Monsieur Dalville has gone out; -or, rather, that he hasn't come in. He went to a grand ball last night, -and it seems to have lasted a long while." - -"Great heaven! what actions! Why, it's shocking. That young man is -destroying himself. Bertrand, you don't keep a sharp enough lookout over -him; it isn't right. You ought to preach at him." - -"In the first place, mademoiselle, Monsieur Dalville's the master; in -the second place, when I try to talk reason with him, he refuses to -listen to me, or sends me to the devil." - -"That's very wrong! Ah! if I were only his mother or sister, you'd see -how good I'd make him! I'm going to wait for him, Bertrand, for he must -come in soon. Still at a ball at eight in the morning! Oh! I don't take -any stock in that yarn." - -Mademoiselle Virginie, who was perfectly familiar with the apartment, -opened a door leading to a small salon in which she installed herself, -placing her hat on one chair, her shawl on another, and throwing herself -on a couch. Bertrand quietly followed her, and as if accustomed to such -performances from her, continued to eat the bread and cheese which he -had in his hand when she rang the bell. - -"I certainly do not care for Monsieur Auguste any more," said Virginie, -after a moment; "I must be a confounded fool to care for a man who has -thirty-six mistresses; hasn't he, Bertrand?" - -"Oh! mademoiselle, I can't say----" - -"Yes, yes, he has thirty-six! I don't say all at once; he would have to -be a northern Hercules. And yet--if it could be--It isn't worth while; -one man's no better than another. I know them so well! Don't you think -I'm right, Bertrand?" - -"Oh! as for that, there have been men who--the great Turenne, for -instance." - -"Bah! what an ass the man is with his great Turenne! Does he take me for -a sentry-box? I don't know ancient history, Bertrand; I don't care about -anything except my own time, and I tell you Auguste's a rake. In the -first place, he played me a shameful trick three weeks ago. Think of -it! he made an appointment with me, and we were to pass the day together -and go to Feydeau in the evening; and monsieur left me to cool my heels -and went off into the country, to his Monsieur Destival, business agent. -He's another fox, that fellow! He'd better attend to what goes on in his -own house, eh, Bertrand?" - -"In his own house, mademoiselle? Do you mean----" - -"Yes, you understand well enough! That is, unless he likes it. Bless my -soul! there are husbands whom that sort of thing just suits! Did you -spend the night at that place?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle." - -"Mon Dieu! how rural! Did you stay there several days? Come, Bertrand, -speak out--you have time enough to eat; you know that I haven't set foot -inside this door for an age, and Monsieur Auguste hasn't so much as had -the decency to come to inquire for my health. And yet I've been very -ill; I nearly died! I am ever so much changed, am I not, Bertrand?" - -"Why, no, mademoiselle, I don't see that----" - -"Oh, yes! the whites of my eyes are yellow yet. To be sure this dress -isn't becoming. It's too high, it cramps me.--Well, Bertrand, what did -you do in the country?" - -"I taught Monsieur Destival the manual, mademoiselle." - -"Oho! is he going to enlist in the voltigeurs? How about his wife--does -she do the manual too? She ought to learn to drum so that she can march -in front of her husband when he goes out to fire his gun." - -"I don't know what madame was doing, mademoiselle." - -"Of course not; it was your business to keep the husband busy, while -Monsieur Auguste dallied with madame in the thick shrubbery! I can see -that man firing at crows while his wife hunts strawberries! Ha! ha!" - -Mademoiselle Virginie laughed so heartily that it was several minutes -before she could speak again. Meanwhile Bertrand paced the salon floor, -continuing his breakfast. - -"Oh dear! it hurts to laugh like that.--Tell me, Bertrand, when did you -come back?" - -"The next day, mademoiselle." - -"And Auguste hasn't been there again since?" - -"No, mademoiselle; he's often wanted to go, but he hasn't had time." - -"Oh! of course not; he has so much to do! And he hasn't been to see me -once in the last fortnight! He leaves me sick, almost dying! And I am -not well yet. Oh, no! I am still suffering terribly.--What's that you're -eating, Bertrand?" - -"Just plain Roquefort cheese, mademoiselle." - -"It's queer to watch another person eat; it makes me want to eat too; -you see, I always have to do what I see others do. You may as well give -me some breakfast, my little Bertrand, because, you see, if I should -whine and cry till to-morrow, it's all nonsense, and my calf wouldn't be -any bigger for that; would it, Bertrand?" - -"Mademoiselle, if you----" - -"He's a good fellow, this Bertrand; I love him a lot, I do; yes, I'm -very fond of him, although he's a bit of a traitor, like his master." - -"Oh! as for that, mademoiselle, when you talk about being honest, I -flatter myself----" - -"All right, Bertrand; I only said that for fun. But I'm not going to -breakfast on honesty. What are you going to give me?" - -"If mademoiselle would like coffee, I'll go down and have some sent up." - -"Coffee! oh! that makes a hole in my stomach, it's no good. Haven't you -got anything to eat here?" - -"We have the remains of a pie, a bit of fowl, and some Lyon sausage." - -"Ah! I like those better than coffee; bring 'em all, my little Bertrand; -just to pass the time till Auguste comes back." - -Bertrand moved a small tea-table to the couch, and lost no time in -laying it for Mademoiselle Virginie's breakfast, who assisted him by -going to the sideboard herself for whatever she needed, saying: - -"I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Bertrand." - -"You are joking, mademoiselle." - -"Where's little Tony?" - -"He's with monsieur; he has to have somebody on account of the -cabriolet." - -"That boy's a sly little rascal; he'll never tell me anything, whereas -you, Bertrand, you do at least talk; to be sure, I know that you don't -tell me everything. After all, you're right; there are some things I -ought not to know, they'd make me too unhappy. Meanwhile, I'll have my -breakfast." - -Mademoiselle Virginie took her place before the breakfast, and, while -repeating from time to time that she was still sick, speedily caused the -cold fowl to disappear, and made a vigorous assault on the pie and the -sausage, washing them down with claret, in which she did not deem it -necessary to put water. - -But, while she was eating, Virginie glanced at a clock in front of her -and cried: - -"The rascal! Why doesn't he come home? You must admit, Bertrand, that -people don't stay at a ball till nine o'clock in the morning. I know -myself that bourgeois balls always end by five; my aunt used to give one -sometimes. Poor aunt! I shall have to make up with her now!--I say, this -pie isn't half bad.--You see, Bertrand, my aunt's a woman of your sort." - -"I understand--a tall woman, five feet six inches, like me, eh?" - -"No, no! what a donkey you are with your six inches! Still, it would be -rather nice[C] if my aunt had six of 'em. When I say of your sort, I -mean a fine woman, a respectable woman. Oh! she preaches to me, I tell -you, she does! She used to say such touching things to me that I wept -like a Magdalen while I was listening; but once outside--prrr!--I forgot -all about it.--A body could eat a two pound loaf with this devilish -sausage!--That wretched Auguste! Ah! he shall pay me for this. In the -first place, I don't propose to go till he comes back, if I have to stay -here till to-morrow. It don't make any difference to me, I'm my own -mistress." - -[C] The joke consists in the fact that the same word--_pouce_--means -"inch" and "thumb." - -At that moment the bell rang softly. - -"Ah! there he is!" cried Virginie; "don't tell him I'm here, Bertrand, -do you hear? I want to surprise him. Shut the door of the salon." - -"Very well, mademoiselle; but I have an idea that it isn't monsieur; I -didn't recognize his ring." - -Having closed the door of the salon, Bertrand opened the one leading to -the hall; whereupon, instead of Auguste, he saw the pretty neighbor of -the third floor to whom he had restored the poodle. - -The pretty neighbor was a blonde, with blue eyes and a pink complexion; -her voice was low and sweet, her manners and her bearing savored of -affectation; but she was pretty, and her natural charms won forgiveness -for those which she tried to impart to herself. - -"Isn't my little Lozor in your rooms, Monsieur Bertrand?" asked the -young blonde in an undertone, with a furtive glance about the apartment. - -"I have not had the honor to see him, madame," replied Bertrand, still -holding the door only partly open; which fact did not prevent the -neighbor from stepping farther into the room. - -"That is strange; he went out this morning; my maid is at market, and I -hoped to find him here." - -"If the deserter appears, madame, I shall have the pleasure of bringing -him back to you at once." - -"Poor Lozor! I am really anxious about him." - -And the neighbor, advancing step by step, found herself in the centre of -the reception room, while Bertrand still held the door ajar, hoping thus -to induce her to go away. - -"Monsieur Dalville went out last night in full dress, didn't he, -Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"I happened to be at my window and I saw him. I would have liked to say -a word to him, to ask him for a book that he promised to let me have -to-day. But he went away so fast! If it wasn't so early, I would ask him -to be kind enough to give it to me now. But that would disturb him -perhaps?" - -The neighbor seemed to await a reply, but Bertrand kept silent and -contented himself with swinging the door back and forth. - -"Is Monsieur Dalville still in bed?" inquired the pretty blonde at last, -bestowing upon the ex-corporal a glance as tender as her voice was -sweet. He was about to reply when the door of the small salon was -abruptly thrown open, and disclosed Virginie, who came forward with an -air of deliberation, saying: - -"Well! is it coming off to-day, Bertrand? Are we playing hide-and-seek?" - -When Virginie appeared, Bertrand closed the hall door and sat down, -muttering between his teeth: - -"Fight it out; it's none of my business." - -At sight of Mademoiselle Virginie, the neighbor turned a little pinker -than she was, and her eyes lost their usual soft expression. Virginie, -for her part, scrutinized the neighbor from top to toe, contracting her -dark eyebrows, and allowing a scornful smile to play about her lips. -Bertrand alone seemed unmoved; and while the two ladies eyed each other -from head to foot, he calmly swallowed a glass of wine, to wash down his -Roquefort. - -"You didn't tell me, Monsieur Bertrand, that Monsieur Dalville had -company," said the neighbor at last, in a voice which she strove to make -as soft as usual, but in which one could detect a note of something -resembling anger. "If I had known, I certainly would not have ventured -to disturb him." - -"Does madame want to see Auguste, Bertrand?" inquired Virginie -carelessly, smiling with a sly expression. - -The familiar manner in which the pretty brunette referred to her -neighbor seemed to confound Madame Saint-Edmond, who did what she could -to conceal her agitation, saying: - -"Yes, madame, I wish to see Monsieur Dalville." - -"If it is anything that someone else can say to Auguste, I will -undertake to do so, madame." - -"You are too kind, madame, but I wish to speak to Monsieur Dalville in -person." - -"Ah! I understand. Auguste is already acquainted with madame, I -presume?" - -"Yes, madame, I have the honor of Monsieur Dalville's acquaintance." - -"As Auguste tells me all his business, I might be able to answer madame, -if she cared to explain the purpose of her call." - -"Am I to understand that madame is now commissioned to receive the -persons who may call on Monsieur Dalville?" - -"That may be, madame." - -"Monsieur Bertrand, you ought to have told me--to have spared me--But I -absolutely insist on speaking to Monsieur Dalville. Let him know that I -have just a word to say to him. Then I will leave him at peace with -madame." - -"If I had had a chance to answer sooner, madame, I'd have told you -before this that my lieutenant hasn't come home from the ball yet; -that's why madame was waiting in the small salon." - -"Very well! I am going to wait for him too," said the neighbor, whose -voice was no longer of the most honeyed kind; and as she passed Bertrand -on her way to the salon, she whispered to him: - -"I don't know who this woman is, but she's very bad style!" - -Virginie stayed behind in the reception room a moment, to say to -Bertrand: - -"Who's that little jackdaw? Don't lie to me, my little Bertrand, or I'll -make a row." - -"She's a lady who lives in the house." - -"Aha! lives in the house, does she? That's very convenient! She looks -like a regular slut! Has Auguste known her long?" - -"Why, no; about six weeks." - -"Does he love her?" - -"How do you expect me to know that? Do you suppose I ask my lieutenant: -'Do you love So-and-So, or Such-a-One?'" - -"All right! you're a villain. I can only say that Auguste shows poor -taste! She's a homely creature, that woman; she has red rims about her -eyes, just like a rabbit's, and she has an ugly mouth, hasn't she, -Bertrand?" - -"Why, I don't think so." - -"As if you knew anything about it! I tell you that she's a horror, with -her princess's airs! Ah! if she expects to impose on me, she's very much -mistaken. The sinner, to insist on speaking to Auguste in private! Just -to tease her, I'm going to eat some more pie, even if I die of -indigestion." - -Virginie returned to the salon, resumed her seat on the couch and -attacked the breakfast once more. The neighbor seated herself on a chair -at the other end of the room, and while making a pretence of looking out -into the street, watched Virginie's every movement from the corner of -her eye. Bertrand meanwhile remained in the outer room, leaving the -ladies to adjust matters as they chose. As she ate, Virginie hummed -snatches of comic opera airs; Madame Saint-Edmond did not make a sound. -This situation lasted for some time. At last Virginie, beginning to lose -patience, called Bertrand and said to him: - -"Your pie isn't at all nice; the last time I breakfasted with Auguste, -we had a much better one." - -Bertrand simply removed the scanty remains of the pie, saying to -himself: - -"I'd have sworn that she found it good!" - -"Bertrand," said Virginie, after a moment, "will you give me a little -water and some sugar, please? It will do me a lot of good." - -"She must need it," said the neighbor to herself, with a sarcastic -smile. - -"By the way, my little Bertrand, you have some orange flower water, -haven't you? It will allay nervous excitement." - -Virginie laughed when she said this, and was evidently making fun of -Madame Saint-Edmond; but that lady seemed to pay no heed to what she -said. - -"Upon my word, I am very sorry that I disturbed you, Bertrand," resumed -Virginie, preparing some sweetened water for herself; "I might just as -well have gone to get it myself, for I know where everything is. I am -perfectly at home here. But you are so good-natured!" - -"I do my duty, mademoiselle," said Bertrand, with a military salute. - -"I know, Monsieur Bertrand, how attached you are to Auguste," said -Virginie, assuming a sentimental tone. "And so, whenever I mention you -to him, I am very glad to speak in terms of praise. That's no more than -justice, that's sure. Auguste, who has every confidence in me, will -follow my advice, I trust, and you'll find, Monsieur Bertrand, that I am -not capable--of--of never doing----" - -Virginie always became entangled when she tried to talk sense or to be -sentimental. Bertrand confounded himself in reverences, awaiting the end -of a speech which he did not comprehend; but luckily for Virginie, the -bell rang. - -"There's Auguste!" she cried, while Bertrand went to the door. - -Thereupon there was a great commotion in the salon. Virginie rose, all -ready to rush to the door, glaring at the blonde lady with an expression -of defiance. The latter, too, had risen; but she did not look at -Virginie, and did her utmost to maintain a calm and indifferent -attitude. - -But their hopes were blasted once more. It was not Dalville who had -rung, but Tony, his diminutive groom, who came to inform Bertrand that -after the ball, which was at Madame de la Thomassinire's, the -resplendent Athalie had carried away a part of the company to breakfast -at her country estate. Auguste was among the number; his hostess had -refused to allow him even a moment to return home and change his -clothes. But, as Auguste had emptied his purse at cards during the -evening, he sent his little jockey, with the cabriolet, to obtain some -money, which he was to deliver to his master at Madame de la -Thomassinire's estate. - -As Virginie had held the salon door ajar, both ladies heard what the -little groom said to Bertrand. - -"You see, mesdames, it is useless for you to wait any longer," said -Bertrand, returning to the salon; "monsieur's off to the country; he has -sent for something and that means that he isn't likely to return very -soon." - -"Yes, he has sent for money," said Virginie, with a sigh. "God! how the -man does throw it away! It's frightful! If he only gave me a quarter of -what he----" - -Virginie checked herself; she realized that she had made a mistake. -Madame Saint-Edmond cast a contemptuous glance at her and left the room, -saying to Bertrand: - -"All that I ask you, monsieur, is to be kind enough to let me know when -Monsieur Dalville returns." - -"I shall not fail, madame," replied the corporal, escorting the neighbor -to the door. In the reception room she said to him: - -"I don't know who this hussy is that I found installed in Monsieur -Dalville's apartment; but she acts like a fishwoman, and her manner is -so insolent that I wouldn't have her for my cook." - -When the neighbor had gone, Virginie concluded to resume her hat and -shawl. - -"Well," she muttered, "I may as well go, as that good-for-nothing isn't -coming home. It's a nuisance, though, for I really needed to see him. I -wanted to ask him--That idiot of a landlord is always in my rooms! Oh! -how he tires me! He's furious because he tried to make love to me and I -wouldn't listen to him. Think of it--a little seducer of fifty-five! -What do you suppose he did, Bertrand, in the hot weather? He came to see -me in the morning in his dressing gown; but one day, when the wind blew, -I saw that my gentleman was dressed underneath like--like a -Scotchman!--'Come, come,' said I to myself, 'this is too free and easy! -If he comes here that way for the purpose of seducing me, just a -minute!'--He wouldn't go away, so I called the concierge and had the -landlord put out of my room. Since then, he's as ugly as sin. Well, I'll -come back very soon.--Ah! I know where I'll go. Yes, that fat -Englishman, who was willing to set me up in business, on condition -that--Good! I'll go and tell him that I've found a linen-draper's shop. -After all, I am tired of living this way; I mean to have a shop. I -wouldn't look so bad behind a counter, would I, Bertrand?--I say, the -neighbor was pretty well stirred up, wasn't she? She went before I did; -in fact, she'd have had to carry me to make me go first, because when I -take a thing into my head, I don't--Adieu, my little Bertrand." - -Mademoiselle Virginie slipped through the door and downstairs, humming. - -"Gad!" said Bertrand to himself as he looked after her, "if my -lieutenant had come home, I don't quite know how things would have -turned out. This one's a regular demon, and the other, with her die-away -voice, was beginning to make eyes like pistol shots, too! Never mind, I -got out of it pretty well; at all events nobody fainted this time, and -that's what I am always afraid of. Thunder and guns! I'd rather have ten -raw recruits to lick into shape than one fainting woman to bring to. In -fact, there are some of 'em that are quite obstinate about it." - -"Whenever you're ready, Monsieur Bertrand," said little Tony, following -the ex-corporal into the salon. - -"Ah! to be sure, my boy; I forgot all about it. He must have money, -always money! Well, come with me, and we'll go to the strong-box. -Sacrebleu! it makes me feel bad to keep taking out and never putting -back. When I tell monsieur so, he says: 'Go to my notary.'--That's all -right; I know that the notary always gives me money; but by giving and -giving--However, the lieutenant's the master, and I must obey.--How much -does he want, Tony?" - -"Fifty louis, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"Fifty louis! he had that much in his purse yesterday when he started -for that ball! What in the devil do they do at these swell parties, to -get rid of so much money in one evening? It seems that he's no luckier -at these Thomassinets--Thomassinires'--than he is anywhere else!" - -"Oh! it was very fine, Monsieur Bertrand!" - -"Ah! so you saw it, did you?" - -"Yes, I went up to the servants' quarters. They gave me ices and punch -and cakes." - -"Oho! I can understand that you liked that! But do you know that with -the twelve hundred francs that monsieur lost at cards, we could have had -some famous cakes here?--Here, my boy, here's the yellow boys; look out -not to lose them." - -"Oh! don't be afraid, Monsieur Bertrand, the cabriolet's waiting for me -at the door." - -"And don't drive Bbelle too fast, d'ye hear?" - -The little groom had already gone. Bertrand was still standing in front -of the strong-box, which was open. He counted the remaining contents, -and frowned; he seemed terrified by the rapidity with which Dalville was -spending his money. He closed the desk at last, with a shake of the -head, saying: "It's his; he has the right to dispose of it." And to -dispel his melancholy thoughts, Bertrand went down to the cellar and -brought up a bottle of old burgundy, because, being entrusted with the -duty of watching the wine, he wished to be sure that it did not run -away. - - - - -IX - -MADEMOISELLE TAPOTTE AND THE MARQUIS - - -We have heard little Tony say that his master was at Madame de la -Thomassinire's ball; whence we must conclude that, since the day at -Madame Destival's country house, Dalville and the wealthy speculator had -become more intimate. Auguste, being invited by the gushing Athalie, had -not failed to accept her invitations, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire, -seeing that Dalville joined in all the pleasure parties without -calculating the expense, that he played for high stakes, and lost with -the best grace imaginable, agreed with madame that the young man was of -the sort to go all lengths. - -Madame Destival was secretly furious to see Dalville amid the throng of -Madame de la Thomassinire's adorers; but that did not prevent her from -continuing to call that lady "my love" and "my dear," because she would -have been sorry not to be invited to the gorgeous parties given by the -capitalist; and although she went to his house solely to seek subjects -for criticism, and although Monsieur Destival could not eat his dinner -for wrath at seeing a table much better served than his own, they were -very glad to subject themselves to these vexations. - -Is it surprising that Dalville, in that whirlpool of dissipation, and -constantly in the company of charming women who chose him for their -escort--is it surprising that he should have forgotten the milkmaid of -Montfermeil? However, the memory of Denise was not altogether effaced -from his mind, and on several occasions he had formed the plan of going -to the village to see the child and the young woman; but when he was on -the point of carrying out his plan, some new invitation, some festivity -that he could not miss, detained him in Paris, where the time passes so -quickly for happy people. - -It was to her country estate, at Fleury, that the charming Athalie -conveyed Auguste and three other gentlemen who had been at her ball. -Madame had devised the party while dancing a quadrille, and had -determined that they would eat fresh eggs on the grass, while walking -through the "ladies' chain." Auguste and the other three young men were -invited and they instantly accepted. Madame de la Thomassinire, who -displayed no less activity in her amusements than variety in her -costumes, issued her orders at once. Her husband alone knew nothing of -the excursion; and at eight o'clock in the morning, when the four -gentlemen were finally induced to leave the cart table, madame gave -them seats in her calche, laughing like a madwoman at the idea of -abducting thus four cavaliers in full dress. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was in bed, but his valet was instructed to inform him -when he woke where he could find madame, in case he should desire to -join her. - -A word or two that Madame Destival had heard during the night had -apprised her of the delightful project for the morning; and as she and -her husband were not of the party, they returned home in very ill humor. - -"Always some new form of dissipation!" said Madame Destival, with a -bitter smile. "That Madame de la Thomassinire is at her wits' end to -invent something that will ruin her husband." - -"If she only would ruin him!" exclaimed Destival; "but no; that man has -the greatest luck! Everything succeeds with him. However, he doesn't -shine by his wit, that's sure enough! But he has just made sixty -thousand francs in a transaction that I had in view." - -"Well, monsieur, why didn't you carry it out?" - -"I hadn't funds enough to buy the debt, madame." - -"You should borrow, find the money. Really, monsieur, you ought to blush -for shame when you see the show of magnificence that that Thomassinire -makes, and you do not outshine him. Those people have eight servants, -and I have just one wretched maid and an ill-tempered footman who does -everything!--I want a lady's maid, monsieur; I insist upon having one!" - -"Before long, madame, I hope----" - -"They have a calche and a landau and a coup, and we have only a very -shabby cabriolet! But monsieur must needs learn to drill, instead of -giving his attention to making money!" - -"I have several affairs under way, madame. If I sell Monin that -house----" - -"Well, come to some conclusion about it, monsieur. I tell you that I -can't live like this any longer; I must have two new cashmeres, a lady's -maid, a calche, and a country house where I can give parties; not like -that old barrack at Livry, which I can't endure now." - -"Never fear, madame. I must have a clerk, a man cook, and a negro -servant. I am going to venture into some new schemes, and you will see -that we will soon crush that miserable parvenu, who murders the language -with an assurance that suffocates me." - -The calche, drawn by two spirited horses, bore away Athalie and the -four young men of fashion, among whom was Dalville. Each of the four -paid court to the petite-matresse, who had the art of distributing a -word, a smile, a glance, to each in turn, and revelled deliciously in -the homage that was laid at her feet. Is there a greater joy for a true -coquette than to be surrounded by men who wear her chains? Athalie was -vivacious and playful; they knew that, to please her, they must be -overflowing with hilarity, and the four gentlemen vied with one another -in doing and saying the most extravagant things. Among all the _bons -mots_ that were made, there were some very bad ones; for the more one -tries to be witty, the less success one has. But Athalie, grateful for -the efforts they made to entertain her, greeted them all with bursts of -laughter; and the gentlemen zealously followed suit, although they would -have been sorely puzzled sometimes to say what they were laughing about. -In the midst of this running fire of nonsense, the light vehicle arrived -at the country house. - -Madame de la Thomassinire's property at Fleury was a charming abode, -which, in truth, left the little country house at Livry a long way -behind. There, everything witnessed to luxury and elegance: spacious -courtyards, cardrooms, ballrooms and banquet-halls; peristyles of a -severely simple style of architecture led to daintily furnished -apartments; nothing had been forgotten that could increase the comfort -and pleasure of the occupants of that charming abode. In the gardens, -which were of vast extent, you found summer-houses for reading, for -work, or for repose; cool grottoes, shady walks, dense shrubbery, -labyrinths where one could lose oneself, delicious nooks where the -rippling murmur of a brook invited one to dream or to do something else; -and over that enchanting spot a lovely woman of twenty years reigned -supreme and gave no thought to anything save the invention of new forms -of amusement. - -While the mistress of the house gave orders for an out-of-door -breakfast, the gentlemen strolled about the gardens and admired their -manifold beauties. Auguste walked alone toward a hedge between the -garden and the orchard. It was a part of the garden where no one ever -walked. Why, then, did Auguste turn his steps in that direction? Because -he had caught sight of a short skirt and a little cap beyond the hedge, -and an irresistible fascination drew the young man toward whatever -suggested anything feminine. - -Auguste entered the orchard, therefore, and saw a young woman picking -apricots. She had neither the refined features nor the charm of Denise. -She was simply a rosy-cheeked, fresh, buxom damsel; but there are men -who prefer that to waterfalls, grottoes and labyrinths constructed at -vast expense; Auguste was one of them. Who would believe that a simple -petticoat may be awarded the preference over the marvelous creations of -art; that it may disturb the peace of an empire, overturn a republic, -crush a whole people, astound the universe, ordain laws, and cause half -of mankind to lose their senses? O Cleopatra, Elizabeth, Delilah, -Judith, Ninon! your petticoats wrought all these miracles! To be sure, -it was not your petticoats exactly to which your thanks were due. - -The stout girl was standing on a ladder that rested against the tree, -and was plucking the ripest fruit. Auguste walked to the ladder and -looked up; I presume that he was looking at the apricots. - -"I say! what are you doing there, monsieur?" said the girl, when, upon -turning her head, she discovered the young man. - -"My dear girl, I am admiring. I am a great lover of the beauties of -nature, and I am as well able to appreciate them in sackcloth as in -silk." - -The stout girl, who did not understand this language, concluded that the -gentleman was fond of apricots, and offered him one, saying: - -"Here, monsieur, here's one that's good and ripe." - -Auguste took the apricot and walked still nearer the ladder. - -"I'm afraid that you'll fall," he said to the gardener; "I'll hold the -ladder." - -"Oh! it ain't worth while, monsieur, thanks; I know how to do it; anyway -I can cling to the branches." - -However, Auguste remained at the foot of the ladder, and as the girl was -on the fourth rung, the young man's hand naturally found itself in close -proximity to her leg, and, naturally again, that hand caressed a woolen -stocking encasing a calf with which a dancer at the Opra would have -been content. - -The gardener continued to gather fruit while Auguste patted her calf. - -"On my word!" he thought, "here's a peasant who knows what's what, who -is learned in the ways of the world. She is not precisely one of -Florian's shepherdesses. This leg reminds me rather of Teniers's Flemish -women; but at all events, it doesn't scratch, and that's very lucky, for -with such calves as these, the scar would be lasting." - -"When I heard someone coming behind me," said the girl, "I thought at -first 'twas monsieur." - -"Monsieur! what monsieur?" inquired Auguste. - -"Pardi! monsieur le bourgeois, my master." - -"Ah! Monsieur de la Thomassinire?" - -"Why, yes." - -"So he comes into his orchard sometimes, does he?" - -"Oh, yes! he comes here." - -"Does he like apricots?" - -"Oh, yes! apricots, and something else." - -"Does he take hold of your leg too, my child?" - -"Does he! pardi! rather! Catch him holding back!" - -The stout girl chuckled, and Auguste said to himself: - -"It seems that Monsieur de la Thomassinire, who talks of nothing but -the duchesses, countesses and baronesses he courts, dances attendance on -and deigns to be tender with his gardener. How many men try to take -credit in society for brilliant conquests, when they have triumphed over -nobody but their cook! However, there are many baronesses whose calves -aren't as firm as these." - -While he indulged in these reflections, the young man continued to pat -the leg, and the stout girl to laugh. Her basket being full, she began -to descend the ladder, and, as Auguste did not lower his hand, that -member necessarily found itself above the calf, where there was still -much to pat, and the stout girl laughed louder than ever. - -"Does Monsieur de la Thomassinire permit himself to embrace you also?" -Auguste asked, looking the gardener in the face. - -"Well, I say! well, pardi! Well, well, but you make me laugh!" - -At that moment Auguste saw Athalie's pretty cap over the hedge, as that -lady approached the orchard. He ceased instantly to make the stout girl -laugh, and asked her hastily: - -"Your name?" - -"Tapotte." - -"And your room?" - -"Over there, at the end, by the shed where they keep the hay." - -"Good; adieu--I'll see you again." - -With that the young man walked quickly to the entrance to the orchard -and passed through at the very moment that Athalie reached the hedge. - -"Where have you been hiding, monsieur?" she asked, with a smile. - -"Why, madame--I went in here, you see, not knowing that it was the -orchard, and, to tell you the truth, I have been eating your fruit." - -"Before breakfast? that is very wrong. I am a wee bit selfish; I don't -like anybody to take any pleasure without me. I supposed that you had -found some milkmaid here on my place, some peasant girl, whose--ruddy -complexion had taken your fancy." - -"Oh, madame!" - -"I do not think, however, that this establishment contains any rustic -beauties worthy of your homage; for I assume that you still have some -taste, and I agree that the little milkmaid was not bad-looking." - -"True, true, she was very pretty; and you remind me----" - -"Nonsense, monsieur; give me your arm and come to breakfast; everything -is ready on a plot of greensward shaded by honeysuckle. The other -gentlemen are waiting for us, and it is an unheard-of thing that I -should have to come in search of you." - -"If you would allow me to find you sometimes, madame, you would not have -that trouble." - -"Oh! no sentiment, monsieur, I beg; remember that we came here only to -be foolish." - -They reached the shady nook where a dainty repast was spread. A -petite-matresse puts coquetry into everything, and the open-air -breakfast, although it consisted simply of milk, eggs, butter, fruit and -excellent wine, seemed far richer when served by a lovely woman, in -china decorated with lovely landscapes. Daintiness never spoils -anything; it often enhances the value of the simplest things, and a -certain wine which has a most delectable flavor in an artistically cut -glass, might seem poor stuff in a beer mug. - -They had been at table a quarter of an hour, talking, laughing, and -eating heartily, because dancing, enjoyment and the fresh air sharpen -the appetite, when they heard Monsieur de la Thomassinire's voice in a -path near by. - -"There's my husband," said Athalie; "I was sure that he'd come; he's -very fond of this place. But he has brought somebody with him." - -"Let us pray that it isn't some horrible bore," said one of the young -men. - -"Oh! what does it matter? If it's anyone who bores me, I shall pay no -attention to him, and you must do as I do, messieurs." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire appeared with a man of mature years, but -dressed in the latest fashion, whose gait and manners, and even his -voice, were affected. He had a distinguished face, but his look was a -little deceitful; he smiled almost constantly, and frequently raised to -his eyes an eye-glass, through which he admired the flowers, trees and -shrubs. - -"Here they are!" said Monsieur de la Thomassinire, when he caught sight -of the little party. "My valet did not deceive me, and my concierge's -information was accurate. This way, monsieur le marquis, this way." - -"What's this? my husband has brought a marquis to see me!" exclaimed -Athalie; "come, messieurs, we must make a little room for him. Really, -Monsieur de la Thomassinire is as rattle-brained as I am! The idea of -not letting me know!" - -"This is exquisite, enchanting! It is all in the most perfect taste!" -exclaimed the marquis, going into ecstasies over everything he saw. When -he caught sight of the little party of five, he made a very low bow to -the mistress of the house, who had risen to receive him; while Monsieur -de la Thomassinire, who felt two feet taller since he had brought home -a marquis, bestowed a patronizing nod on the young men, and said to his -wife, taking his companion's hand: - -"Madame, this is Monsieur le Marquis de Cligneval, who has been kind -enough to condescend to allow me to bring him to call upon you. He came -to see me at my house this morning about a _consequential_ matter. I -said to him: 'We can talk about this just as well at my place in the -country.' That suited him, and gad! I had my dapple-grey horse put in -the cabriolet, monsieur le marquis got in with me, I gave the beast a -cut with my whip, and zeste! we were off like the wind.--My dapple-grey -goes prettily, eh, monsieur le marquis?" - -"Like an angel, my dear fellow.--Pray excuse me, madame, for appearing -in morning dress." - -"One is always suitably attired in the country, monsieur; and these -gentlemen, you will observe, are dressed just as I brought them away -from a ball, without giving them time to change their clothes. But you -will breakfast with us, I trust?" - -"With pleasure, madame." - -"Oh, yes!" said La Thomassinire, shaking Monsieur de Cligneval's hand; -"oh, yes! the marquis will have some breakfast; he promised. I'll have -some, too." - -"Take your seats then, messieurs, and be content with what I have to -give you." - -Madame gave the marquis a seat by her side; Monsieur de la Thomassinire -would have liked to sit on the marquis's other side, but he was obliged -to be content with a seat opposite him. Monsieur de Cligneval did full -justice to the breakfast; he declared everything excellent, delicious, -exquisite, although La Thomassinire exhausted his breath saying to him: - -"Oh! I usually have much better things to eat. But we didn't know, -madame was not notified. I hope to treat you much better another time. -This is an unpretentious repast; but when I choose, I do things very -nicely." - -While praising the food, Monsieur de Cligneval found time to bestow -compliments on the hostess. The marquis was well bred; he carried a -little too far perhaps the determination to make his good breeding -apparent; but he was agreeable and witty, and the whole party was soon -in high spirits, even Monsieur de la Thomassinire, who never laughed -because he thought it bad form, but who laughed very loud now in order -to copy monsieur le marquis. - -When she passed the fruit, Athalie found several that were not ripe. - -"These apricots are good for nothing," she said to a servant. - -"We must have some better ones than these," cried La Thomassinire. -"Tell the gardener to bring some at once--the best she can find." - -The servant obeyed, and Mademoiselle Tapotte soon arrived with a basket -filled with superb fruit, which she handed to Athalie, keeping her eyes -on the ground as if she dared not look at the guests; whereas, on the -contrary, the young men scrutinized the buxom creature, making comments -in undertones, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire cast furtive glances at -her. - -"That is right!" said Athalie, as she took the basket, "these are fine. -See, messieurs, they have just been picked; they look much -better.--Another time, Tapotte, don't send me green fruit." - -"No, madame," said the gardener, with a very awkward curtsy; then she -took her leave, much redder than when she came. - -"What did you call that stout damsel, madame?" inquired one of the young -men. - -"Tapotte, monsieur." - -"Indeed! that's a queer name." - -"It's amusing," said the marquis. - -"Yes, very amusing," rejoined La Thomassinire. And Auguste reflected -that the name was well deserved. - -"She's not a bad-looking girl," said one of the young men. - -"Oh! what can you see that's attractive in that creature?" cried -Athalie; "she's heavy and awkward and vulgar." - -"Mon Dieu! she's a huge mass of flesh that moves, and that's all," said -the marquis. - -"Yes, yes," assented La Thomassinire, blushing slightly, "she moves, -she moves, and, as monsieur le marquis says, she knows how to do nothing -else." - -"What are you laughing at, Monsieur Dalville?" Athalie asked Auguste; -"at Mademoiselle Tapotte? You have said nothing about her." - -"I'll bet that monsieur agrees with me," said the marquis, "and that he -sees nothing about her that deserves to be looked at a second time." - -"He!" rejoined Athalie; "oh! you don't know him, monsieur; he detects -charms under round caps and calico dresses." - -"I don't deny it, madame, and I do not think that it is necessary to -wear fine clothes in order to be beautiful. As for your gardener, -certainly she has neither pretty features nor a pretty figure; but, for -all that, her freshness and bloom, her good-natured appearance----" - -"Fie, fie, monsieur! fie! hold your tongue! for you are quite capable of -perverting these gentlemen. But we have devoted quite enough time to -Mademoiselle Tapotte; I hope that monsieur le marquis will do me the -honor to come and look at my garden; and if he could be induced to give -us this day----" - -"Madame, I am too pleasantly situated here to summon courage to refuse, -and although I am expected to dine with a Bavarian prince, I cannot -resist your charms." - -"I count upon you also, messieurs," said Athalie, addressing her other -guests; "you must pass the whole day here. Oh! no refusals! you must do -it, or you and I will have a falling-out. I have rooms to give you -to-night, and to-morrow morning I will drive you back to Paris in my -calche." - -"Yes," said La Thomassinire, "as the marquis is to stay, you other -gentlemen must stay too. There will be more of us, and it will be more -amusing. I have some matters to attend to; but, faith, when one has the -honor of having a marquis under one's roof, the devil may take the -rest." - -The young gentlemen attempted to raise some objections on account of -their clothes; but the fascinating Athalie once more announced: "I -insist upon it!" at the same time bestowing upon them one of the smiles -which it is so hard to resist; and that levelled all obstacles. Auguste -made no objection at all, being by no means ill pleased to pass a night -at Fleury, and smiling already at certain thoughts that passed through -his mind. - -They left the table. La Thomassinire seemed determined not to leave the -marquis's side for an instant; but that nobleman offered his arm to -Athalie for a stroll about the garden, and La Thomassinire, as he could -not take the marquis's other arm, walked on the other side, keeping -close at his elbow, and talking constantly to him, although most of the -time the marquis made no reply because he preferred to talk with madame. -Auguste took a seat in a grotto made of shells, not daring to return to -the orchard during the day. The other young men had taken possession of -the billiard room. - -But Athalie, having arrangements to make for the entertainment of her -guests, and being determined that the dinner should make them amends for -the frugality of the breakfast, soon left Monsieur de Cligneval with her -husband. La Thomassinire instantly seized the marquis's arm and walked -on with him, saying: - -"Now, let us talk business, monsieur le marquis, for that is my strong -point,--business,--especially large affairs, speculations, and--What do -you think of my labyrinth?" - -"Charming!" - -"And my pond?" - -"Superb!" - -"The waterfall is mine, I invented it. Formerly the water used to fall -straight down. That was too commonplace! I had rocks arranged -zigzag--that's very much prettier." - -"Yes, it does you credit." - -"You are very kind. Now I am going to take you into my woods, thence -into my fields, where I have some thoroughbred merino sheep. Another -invention of mine. Then we will go into my desert; you shall see my -deer--ah! they are superb creatures, my deer! almost like stags." - -"Have you no stags?" - -"No; I wanted one, but Madame de la Thomassinire declared that it was -unnecessary, that we had enough tame beasts. I will take you to my -summer-house too; we have enough fine things to see to take up two or -three hours." - -The marquis, who was beginning to be weary of the tte--tte, announced -that he was fatigued, and as they were then near the grotto where -Auguste was seated, they took seats beside him, La Thomassinire having -said that he was tired as soon as Monsieur de Cligneval spoke of -resting. - -"I have an estate of this sort," said the marquis, reclining on a mossy -bank, "in Bourgogne, a very fertile province. I have another in Berry, -where my grandfather owned a very handsome chteau." - -"I have three farms in the department of Seine-et-Oise," said La -Thomassinire quickly, smoothing his chin; "I own two houses in Paris, -and I am on the point of buying a third." - -"My grandparents were enormously rich!" said the marquis. "I haven't a -very clear idea how much I have left! I worry very little about it. When -a person has credit and is in favor at court--Why, if I wanted half a -dozen offices, I should only have to say the word!" - -"My credit is unlimited! My paper is eagerly sought after at the Bourse! -I am swamped with business. I receive the very best society at my house, -and my guests play for infernally high stakes!" - -"Pardieu! that reminds me that I lost three thousand francs at cart -the day before yesterday," said the marquis carelessly. - -"I won four thousand two days ago, at the house of a banker, who's a -friend of mine," replied La Thomassinire instantly. - -"Oh! that's a mere trifle! When I play, I do it for the sake of doing -something!" said the marquis. - -"To be sure," said La Thomassinire; "I am not sure that I didn't forget -to take the four thousand francs from the table, I pay so little -attention to money!" - -"But a month ago," said the marquis, "I was in a really serious -game--the stakes were no less than eighty thousand francs." - -"I staked a house last winter," rejoined La Thomassinire; "it was not -built, to be sure, and unluckily the contractor failed the next day, for -the third time." - -Auguste listened in silence to his two neighbors, as they tossed the -ball back and forth. But at last La Thomassinire, fearing that he might -be unable to think of anything with which to cap the marquis's next -boast, changed the subject. - -"What do you think of this view?" he asked. - -"Very pretty," the marquis replied; "but why not have embellished it -with some picturesque ruins--_fabriques_--here and there?" - -"Oh! I didn't want any factories--_fabriques_--on my property! The idea! -Workmen are noisy, always singing, and I don't choose to have anything -to do with that sort of people." - -The marquis glanced at Auguste with a smile, and they left the grotto -for the billiard-room, where Monsieur de la Thomassinire missed every -shot, and exclaimed after every stroke that he misplayed: - -"The trouble is that I've got a crooked cue; I can't see straight -to-day; it's the fault of the table; my head aches; something's the -matter with me; I'm not in the mood for playing; but if I were, you -would be nowhere." - -Little Tony had arrived long before and had handed his master the fresh -supply of funds. When the marquis saw that Dalville had a cabriolet, he -manifested great friendliness for him, and declared that there was -sympathy between Auguste's tastes and his--a sympathy which Auguste had -not observed, although that fact did not prevent his responding to -Monsieur de Cligneval's advances. - -The dinner-hour arrived, and they went to the table, where Athalie did -the honors with much grace. Not to depart from his custom, La -Thomassinire did not appear in the dining-room until the soup had been -removed; but he was delighted to say before the marquis that he had ten -important letters to write. - -The dinner was even more agreeable than the morning repast, because they -knew one another better, and delicious wines heated their brains and -urged them on to folly. Athalie had the knack of keeping the party in -good humor by her sallies. The marquis thought her divine, entrancing, -and confounded himself in compliments. The petite-matresse was not -ambitious to fascinate a man of fifty, but she was very glad to earn the -praise of a marquis; and the young men were not jealous of the marquis; -so that there was nothing to mar the general jollity. They allowed La -Thomassinire to talk endlessly of his farms, his wealth, his -speculations; but they applauded him when he extolled his wines and his -cook. - -They left the table as merry as well-bred people can be. Athalie went to -see if her harp was in tune. The men went into the garden for a breath -of fresh air. It was not dark as yet, but the light was fading. - -The marquis had sauntered away, and Auguste was left alone with La -Thomassinire, who also claimed to be congenial to him, when, as they -strolled along a shaded path which was quite dark, and which skirted the -orchard, they heard the report of a hearty kiss. Auguste halted, curious -to know what was going on. La Thomassinire followed suit, with an air -of amazement. - -"Did you hear?" he asked Auguste. - -"Yes," was the reply, "I heard very distinctly." - -"What was it?" - -"If you didn't recognize the sound, it is useless for me to tell you -what it was." - -"Why, it seemed to me--but in the dark one may be mistaken." - -"Indeed! do you think that one doesn't hear as well by night as by day?" - -"The fact is that I can't believe that anybody on my premises would -venture----" - -The sound of the second kiss interrupted him. The two gentlemen walked -toward a clump of shrubbery near by, and saw Mademoiselle Tapotte in the -marquis's arms, defending herself very feebly, as her custom was; while -the marquis, with flushed face, gleaming eye and thick voice, said to -her: - -"On my honor, you are a rose-bud, and I will have an assignation." - -But the rustling of the foliage caused the marquis to release his hold; -Tapotte ran away, and Monsieur de Cligneval returned to the house, while -Auguste said laughingly to La Thomassinire: - -"It seems that your champagne changes the aspect of things: that mass of -flesh has become a rose-bud." - -"Oh! that is court language. The marquis was joking, no doubt. However, -I should have been terribly sorry to have him see us! A marquis, you -know! I ought not to have seen anything! Monsieur Dalville, I urge you -to maintain absolute secrecy about this matter; it is very important." - -"Never fear!" - -"I ask you to promise me." - -Having quieted his host's fears, Auguste returned to the house with him. -Athalie took her place at the harp; the gentlemen seated themselves at a -card-table, and, while listening to the harmonious strains that the -young woman extracted from the instrument, they did their best to win -their opponents' money. Tea was served, then punch. The marquis won from -everybody; but he was so courteous, his manners were so amiable, that -one was almost tempted to thank him for condescending to take one's -money. Athalie, fatigued by the ball of the preceding night, retired -early; and ere long all the guests withdrew to their rooms. - -The weather was superb and the soft moonlight seemed to invite one to -enjoy the cool evening air. Auguste stole quietly downstairs, dressed in -an ample robe de chambre which he had found in his room, and walked -through the garden toward the orchard. I am not sure whether he went -there solely in search of coolness, but when he reached the grove of -fruit trees, where it was very dark, he vanished among the plums and -cherries. At last, after wandering about for some time, he found -himself before the building which the gardener had pointed out to him. -He drew near; he heard voices and recognized La Thomassinire's. The -young man concluded that he had arrived too late; however, he listened -to what his host had to say to Mademoiselle Tapotte. - -"Monsieur le marquis kissed you, my dear girl." - -"Me, monsieur! oh, nenni! nobody didn't kiss me." - -"Remember, Tapotte, that I am your master, and that I have a right to -know everything." - -"I don't know what you want to know!" - -"Monsieur le marquis kissed you." - -"What's a marquis?" - -"A magnificent man! rather short and fat, almost bald, about fifty years -old, and with an eye-glass--_lorgnon_--on one side." - -"Oh! he's a marquis, is he? I don't know whether he had an -onion--_ognon_--on one side, but he smelt pretty strong of liquor--I -know that." - -"Don't think that I mean to scold you, Tapotte; far from it! I simply -want to know what he said to you, so as to do it like a marquis, when I -have the opportunity." - -"Why, bless me, he went about it the same way they all do. In the first -place, he squeezed me." - -"Good." - -"Then he squeezed me again." - -"Good." - -"Oh, yes! good! good!--I yelled." - -"You did wrong, he was a marquis!" - -"I don't care, when he hurt me. And then--well since it amuses you, why, -he kissed me." - -"Good." - -"He wouldn't let me go; he swore I'd got to say I'd meet him; but I -wouldn't." - -"You were wrong! You're a fool, Tapotte! You shouldn't have refused -monsieur le marquis." - -"Bah! get along with you! He's old and he's ugly!" - -This conversation suggested an idea to our hare-brained youth; he -wrapped his head in his handkerchief, and began to cough and spit, -imitating the decidedly nasal notes of the marquis. - -"Mon Dieu! there's some one outside!" cried La Thomassinire. - -"Yes, some old fellow coughing," replied Tapotte. - -"Why! it's he--it's the marquis. Fool that you are! Why didn't you admit -that you told him where you lived?" - -"I swear, monsieur, that I----" - -"Hush! hold your tongue! he's there and he's getting impatient." - -"Jarni! he's got the catarrh, that man has!" - -"Faith, I cannot hesitate.--Monsieur le marquis! What an honor! I will -jump out of this window in the rear." - -"But don't I tell you, monsieur, that I didn't say I'd meet him----" - -La Thomassinire was no longer listening; he had opened a window and -jumped out, and was in the garden. At the same moment, Auguste opened -the door, and entered the gardener's abode. When she saw that it was not -the marquis, she uttered a cry of surprise; but Auguste whispered to her -to keep quiet, and Mademoiselle Tapotte did whatever the young man -wished, much preferring a tte--tte with him to one with monsieur le -marquis. - -La Thomassinire walked about under the apricot trees, presuming that -the marquis would not remain long with Tapotte; but after half an hour, -as his guest did not leave the gardener's house, our financier decided -to go to bed. - -"The deuce!" he said to himself; "the marquis seems to have had a long -story to tell her. I must try to make my interviews last as long as -monsieur le marquis's." - -The next day the company assembled preparatory to starting for Paris. -Athalie was fresher than on the evening before, the marquis less -flushed. Auguste seemed fatigued and La Thomassinire's expression was -very sly as he looked at the nobleman. Mademoiselle Tapotte alone was -just as usual. - -They entered their carriages and left the charming retreat at Fleury. -Let us follow their example, and return to Paris. - - - - -X - -THE INN - - -To console himself in his master's absence, Bertrand had sent for the -concierge to come up and keep him company. This concierge was an old -German named Schtrack, who had come to France to make trousers, and, -having found employment as a concierge, passed his time in drinking, -smoking, and in beating his wife. He was by no means capable of carrying -on a conversation, even with a cook; but he would drink, and listen with -imperturbable stolidity to Bertrand's stories of his campaigns, and to -the minute details which the ex-corporal delighted to repeat, often for -the twentieth time. Schtrack always seemed to take the same deep -interest in them, keeping his eye fixed on the narrator, moving his -head or frowning when the battle waxed hot, and emitting a cloud of -tobacco smoke and a _sacreti!_ when Bertrand paused for breath. - -After assuring themselves that the burgundy was not spoiling, they had -subjected the claret and the madeira to the same test. The more Bertrand -talked, the thirstier he became; now he must have been exceedingly -thirsty, for he had talked steadily from the preceding evening; the two -worthies having passed the night doing what they called "tasting the -cellar," and Schtrack having left Bertrand's side but twice, to -administer chastisement after the German style to his wife, who presumed -to find fault because her husband did not come down to his lodge. - -Bertrand sometimes interrupted the narrative of his campaigns to talk -about Auguste, to whom he was devotedly attached, and to confide to -Schtrack his anxiety on account of his lieutenant's senseless -extravagance and his penchant for women; and Schtrack listened to it as -he listened to the story of Austerlitz, ejaculating _sacreti!_ from -time to time. - -Although his patience was tried by hearing nothing else all night, -Bertrand nevertheless said to Schtrack: - -"Tell me, old fellow, what can I do to keep Monsieur Dalville from -ruining himself?" - -Schtrack, who had never before been questioned by Bertrand, reflected -fully five minutes before he replied: - -"Sacreti! let's take a drink." - -"Yes, let's take a drink, that's well said," rejoined Bertrand, touching -the concierge's glass with his; "but it doesn't answer my question. I -love and respect Monsieur Dalville; I would jump into the fire for him; -but, thunder and guns! it breaks my heart to see him pay out money for -this one, lend to that one, play for infernally high stakes, spend money -in foolish extravagance, and, last of all, injure his health; for what -man could stand such a life? And most of those pretty hussies deceive -him, I'll bet! But he won't listen to me. The heart is all right, oh! -the heart is first-class, but the head----" - -"Sacreti!" said Schtrack, emptying his glass. - -"For instance, that little woman who lives in this house, for all her -soft voice and her eyes always on the floor, and although she's fainted -three times on learning of my master's perfidy, I wouldn't swear--I have -imagined several times that I've seen a little man rushing upstairs as -if there was a squad of police at his heels.--Do you know who I mean, -Schtrack?" - -"Ya! ya!" - -"Well, who is that little man?" - -"I don't know." - -"As concierge, you should know." - -"You'd petter ask mein vife." - -The sound of Dalville's carriage wheels put an end to the conversation. -Schtrack went down to his quarters, and Bertrand tried to assume a -sedate air with which to receive his master. - -"Here I am, my dear Bertrand," said Auguste, as he entered his -apartment; "I passed a delightful day yesterday. Oh! don't scold me; I -was virtuous--that is, so far as circumstances allowed me to be. Has -anybody been here during my absence?" - -"Yes, monsieur: in the first place, Mademoiselle Virginie." - -"Poor Virginie! she must be angry with me for neglecting her for more -than three weeks." - -"She says that she shall die of grief." - -"Oh! she has said that to me so often!" - -"She breakfasted here; she ate cold fowl and pie." - -"Very good; evidently her grief isn't dangerous as yet." - -"While she was breakfasting, your neighbor, Madame Saint-Edmond, came to -ask me if I'd seen her poodle; she wanted also to speak to monsieur -about a matter that she said was important. She came in, and the two of -them waited a long while for you." - -"What! were they here together?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Gad! that must have been amusing!" - -"Amusing, if you choose to call it so! I was afraid for a minute that it -was going to be serious." - -"Oh! you see the dark side of everything." - -"I assure you, monsieur, that those ladies didn't look at the bright -side, either of 'em. They went away at last. Mademoiselle Virginie went -to see an Englishman, who is to buy a linen-draper's shop for her." - -"Bertrand, you're a slanderer." - -"I am simply repeating what she said, monsieur." - -"I will go up to-night and see Lonie. What next?" - -"Monsieur Destival came to see you; he seemed full of business." - -"Oh, yes! he has spoken to me very often lately about an excellent -investment in which I can get ten per cent for my money." - -"I advise you to get as large a per cent as you can, monsieur; for we -are running through the funds pretty fast." - -"That is true; I must put my affairs in a better condition." - -"Yes, that wouldn't be a bad idea." - -"I have been obliged to sell a farm already." - -"Poor farm! When I think of it, it makes me feel sad." - -"Don't be alarmed, Bertrand, I propose to cut down my expenses after -this. I will see Destival, and if he can still find a profitable -investment for my money, I shall recover what I have thrown away. Come, -my old comrade, no moping; it does no good. I am young and rich. You -must agree that I have no reason to despair as yet." - -"That is so, lieutenant; that's what I said to myself when Schtrack and -I were inspecting the cellar, to make sure that everything was all -right." - -"You did very well, Bertrand; inspect, superintend, manage everything to -suit yourself. I am going to change my clothes; then I will go up to see -my neighbor; and to-morrow I will attend to more serious affairs." - -"Excellent young man!" said Bertrand, following Auguste with his eyes. -"He leaves me in control here. But tasting his wines isn't the whole -thing; that isn't enough; I propose to make myself useful to him in -spite of him, and I will go down and have a talk with Madame Schtrack -about the little man who goes up to our neighbor's room." - -Madame Saint-Edmond greeted Auguste with an offended air; she was -melancholy, her eyes were red, she still held her handkerchief in her -hand. It is true that, as she had learned of Auguste's return, she was -expecting a call from him. Dalville inquired sympathetically what the -cause of her depression might be; she refused to confide in him; but she -let drop a word or two concerning the woman she had met in his rooms; -these words were followed by stifled sighs and sarcastic laughter, and -Madame Saint-Edmond added to each of her comments: - -"You are entirely at liberty, monsieur, to receive whomever you choose." - -Auguste, touched by Lonie's apparent suffering, succeeded in -tranquillizing the pretty blonde, who consented at last to make peace -with her neighbor on condition that she should never again meet in his -rooms that woman who had made impertinent speeches to her, and the mere -sight of whom would throw her into hysterics. Auguste promised; in love, -as in politics, one always makes more promises than one intends to keep. - -But Lonie was still pensive and preoccupied. - -"Something is troubling you," said Auguste. - -"No; oh, no! nothing, I assure you," replied the pretty blonde, in a -tone which meant the exact opposite. - -"But it is perfectly evident to me that you are concealing something -from me." - -"Why, no, you are mistaken; at all events it doesn't concern you at -all." - -As we are always anxious to know what does not concern us, Auguste -became more insistent; he demanded that she should tell him all, -whereupon Madame Saint-Edmond confessed in a low, silvery voice that a -milliner, to whom she had owed two thousand francs for a long time, had -forced her to give him a note; that that note would come due in two -days, and that she was sorely embarrassed about paying it. - -Auguste regretted that he had been so inquisitive; but it was too late -to retreat; besides, he was too fond of obliging his friends not to come -to his neighbor's assistance. - -"Send the holder of the note to my apartment," he said; "Bertrand will -pay it." - -Lonie refused; she was afraid of inconveniencing Auguste; she would be -terribly distressed to have him think that her selfish interests had -any influence upon the sentiment he aroused in her. But Auguste -insisted, he did not choose that she should have recourse to others; and -Lonie consented at last to allow herself to be accommodated, on -condition that it should be considered a loan, which she would repay to -her friend. - -Bertrand leaped backward when Auguste said to him next day: - -"You will pay Madame Saint-Edmond's note for two thousand francs which -the holder will present here." - -"Two thousand francs for that little minx!" cried the ex-corporal, -beating his brow in desperation. "Ah! lieutenant, if this is the way you -put your affairs in order!" - -"No comments, Bertrand; I am only lending Lonie the money, and if I -ever find myself in difficulties, I am sure that there is no sacrifice -of which that woman would not be capable, to oblige me." - -"You may believe that, monsieur, but I----" - -"You will pay the note, Bertrand." - -"I will pay it, lieutenant." - -Auguste went out singing, and Bertrand went down to his friend -Schtrack's, to question his wife. - -Bertrand paid the note and Lonie was more loving than ever with -Auguste. But one morning, when she did not expect him, Dalville found in -his neighbor's room a little man, who instantly took his leave with a -very low bow, which Madame Saint-Edmond barely acknowledged, dismissing -her gentleman in a very curt tone. - -"Who is that man?" Auguste inquired when the stranger had gone. - -"Mon Dieu! that is a very ridiculous individual, whom one of my aunts -sent to me. He is fresh from the provinces and is seeking employment. -But, as he is a terrible bore to me, I receive him in such fashion that -he soon brings his visits to an end. He's as stupid as he is ugly." - -"Why, he didn't strike me as being so very ugly." - -"Bah! how did you look at him? He is horrible! A hideous nose and sunken -eyes, and such an awkward, ridiculous figure! Oh! I can't endure the -man." - -Auguste pushed his questions no farther and said no more about the -little man; but he was secretly vexed to hear her speak so ill of him, -because he knew the tactics of ladies of her stamp, who often employ -that method to conceal their intimacy with a person. - -On returning to his own rooms, Auguste noticed that Bertrand looked at -him with a sly expression, and hovered about him as if he were seeking -an opportunity to speak to him. - -"You want to tell me or ask me something, I see, Bertrand," said -Auguste, stopping in front of the corporal. "Speak, for heaven's sake, -instead of prowling about me in this way. You have no comprehension, my -old friend, of the little wiles of the ladies, who, when they have -anything to say to us, have the art to force us to question them." - -"True, lieutenant, you're right; it's better to go straight to the point -without countermarching. You must have met a certain little man at the -neighbor's, for I saw him come down just after you went up." - -"Well, yes, I did see a gentleman there; what of it?" - -"What of it! Is this the first time you've met him?" - -"Yes." - -"He goes there often, however." - -"Who told you that?" - -"Madame Schtrack, the concierge." - -"What, Bertrand! do you chatter and talk gossip with a concierge?" - -"Gossip! no, lieutenant; ten thousand cartridges! I! gossip! Do you call -what I've just told you gossip, lieutenant?" - -"Why, pretty nearly. Is not Madame de Saint-Edmond at liberty to receive -visits? Does she owe me an account of all her callers? What right have I -to set spies on her acts? and if anyone should give her a faithful -report of mine, do you think that she would have no reason to reproach -me?" - -"True, lieutenant; I am in the wrong. I'll go on drinking with Schtrack, -but I won't talk with his wife any more, because I don't want it said -that an old moustache like me talks gossip." - -Although he had scolded Bertrand, Auguste remembered Madame Schtrack's -statement; and, when he thought of the abuse Lonie had heaped upon the -little man, he could not avoid conceiving some suspicions. We may agree -that we do not deserve a faithful mistress, but we can never forgive her -for her infidelity. - -"Lonie must be horribly false, horribly treacherous!" said Auguste to -himself. "Why need she pretend to love me, unless she retains her hold -on me for selfish reasons, or unless she loves two men at once? Such -things have been known." - -As he walked down Boulevard Montmartre, Auguste felt a light touch on -his arm. He turned; Mademoiselle Virginie stood before him. - -"I am very lucky to meet you, monsieur," she said, looking at Auguste -with a certain expression in which there was something most seductive; -indeed, Mademoiselle Virginie made many conquests, because she had -adopted the habit of imparting that alluring expression to her eyes; -and although Auguste knew her glances by heart, he still took delight in -looking at her, especially when it was a long time since her lovely -black eyes had been fastened upon him. - -"Oh! although you look at me with a smile," she continued, "that doesn't -prevent me from being horribly angry with you." - -"Really? you are angry with me?" - -"Monsieur, I beg you not to address me so familiarly! Have we ever been -on intimate terms?" - -As she spoke, Mademoiselle Virginie burst into a roar of laughter that -caused several passers-by to turn their heads; for in Paris very little -is required to attract the attention of the passers-by. In fact, there -was one man who stopped, and who, presumably because he had never in his -life heard anyone laugh, was about to ask Virginie what the matter was; -but a glance from Auguste led him to walk on. - -"You make me laugh, when I haven't the slightest inclination to," said -Virginie, suddenly assuming a most serious air. - -"What's the matter with you? Come, tell me your troubles; you know very -well that I am your friend." - -"My friend! oh, yes! You are just nothing at all! A pretty friend, to go -two months without seeing me!" - -"It wasn't my fault--I have been busy." - -"Indeed! busy, eh? I know what kind of business. The blonde of the third -floor, and the lady in the country, and this one, and the other one! -It's no use talking, you're a thorough scamp, you're not a bit agreeable -any more! You used to be agreeable to me now and then." - -"Why didn't you come to see me?" - -"Oh! I say! do you think I haven't anything else to do but that? Don't I -have to work?" - -"Ah! you work, do you?" - -"Indeed I do; I have reformed now, I never go out." - -"Do you still live in the same place?" - -"No, I have moved." - -"Why, you do nothing but move." - -"Really, my dear, I have sold my furniture." - -"Sold your furniture? What a pity!" - -"Listen to me; I couldn't live on nut shells, could I?" - -"No, they wouldn't be good for the stomach; but as you are working----" - -"Oh, yes! it's very amusing; work a whole day to earn fifteen sous! Mon -Dieu! how I wish I were a man!" - -"What for?" - -"So as not to be a woman. I know that there are some women who are -happy, who swim in pleasure, who have feathers and velvet caps! Ah! a -velvet cap's becoming to me; I tried one on at a friend's. I propose to -have one this winter, all velvet, with gold tassels." - -"With your fifteen sous a day?" - -"Go on! No, but I sold my furniture because I owed some money; I was -four terms behind with my rent, and I had to pay." - -"Why, I should say that, the term before the last, I----" - -"No, I used that for something else. I am living with a friend until I -get more furniture. Oh! you can't imagine----" - -"What, pray?" - -"I am going to be married." - -"Nonsense! really?" - -"Faith, yes! It's a man who's mad over me; he adores me; he's turning -yellow with it." - -"Try to marry him before he gets too dark." - -"No, I was joking; but really, joking aside, he's a very good match--a -magnificent man!" - -"How old?" - -"Forty." - -"What does he do?" - -"He's a government clerk; he has a very fine place." - -"Well, my dear girl, marry at once; it seems to me that that is the very -best thing that you can do." - -"Ah! how happy I would make that man, if I married him!" - -"Well said; that purpose does you honor." - -"Oh, no! that's not it; you don't understand me. I mean that he would be -enchanted if I would consent to take him for my husband." - -"Ah! that makes a difference. But what deters you?" - -"The trouble is that I don't love him." - -"What's that? such a magnificent man!" - -"Yes, but his legs are a little bowed." - -"You must make him wear a frock coat." - -"And then he has a nose of such length--my dear, you can't conceive what -it is! His nose frightens me." - -"I never knew you to be so timid." - -"The fact is, I don't want to marry. Later, we'll see about it. Do you -know, I am strongly inclined to go on the stage?" - -"Ah! that's something new." - -"Tell me, do you think I'd be very bad? You see, I have a good voice -when I choose. Do you know that I'm as pretty as a love, on the stage?" - -"You have no need to be on the stage for that, madame." - -"Dieu! how genteel! But really, no joking, rouge and the bright light -and the footlights--all those things make me a dazzling sight. I have -tried on Iphignie's costume, and it's surprising how becoming it is. I -had an offer to go into the chorus at the Vaudeville, but that didn't -tempt me much." - -"Not to play Iphignie?" - -"No; how stupid you are! It was to get accustomed to the boards and the -audience, as they say, and to looking into the auditorium. What do you -advise me to do?" - -"I? nothing; do what you choose; but, if you really have a chance to -marry, that would be much better than going on the stage." - -"Bless my soul! you talk like my aunt. But it's true that I could never -be an actress; if I went on the stage and saw all those faces looking at -me, I know that I should laugh like a lunatic. But I say, are we going -to stand on this same spot till to-morrow? People will take us for -spies. Where are you going?" - -"I am going to Monsieur Destival's on a matter of business." - -"He is that tall, lanky, ugly creature I've seen you with sometimes in a -carriage?" - -"It is quite possible." - -"Ah! what a funny face he has! That man reminds me of one of Sraphin's -marionettes--you know, the one that sings _tire lon pha_ in _Le Pont -Cass_." - -"You will always be the same, won't you?" - -"Why, a body must laugh once in a while. Look you, Auguste, you can go -to your Monsieur Destival's another day; to-day I don't propose to leave -you." - -"But, really, I have some business." - -"So much the worse! It makes you very unhappy to think of passing a day -with me, don't it?" - -"No, of course not; but there is to be a musical party at Madame de la -Thomassinire's this evening, and I promised to be there." - -"You can sing when you get up to-morrow, if you like music so much; but -to-day, monsieur, you stay with me; we will go into the country to -dinner, and to-night you will take me to the theatre; you've been -promising me this for a long while." - -It was impossible to resist Mademoiselle Virginie, and Auguste yielded -with a good grace. - -"We will take a cab," he said, "and go wherever you choose in the -country." - -"Why not take your cabriolet? why go in a cab with wretched nags, when -you have a lovely horse that goes like the wind?" - -Auguste, who chose to remain incognito with Virginie, preferred a cab, -in which he would not be seen. There was a stand nearby; he helped his -companion in, saying: - -"Where shall we go?" - -"Where you please." - -"It makes no difference to me." - -"Nor to me." - -"But we must decide. Shall it be the Champs-Elyses?" - -"Oh! there are too many people there." - -"Vincennes?" - -"Too far." - -"Vaugirard?" - -"A pretty kind of country, with not a tree anywhere about!" - -"Sceaux?" - -"Too fashionable! I am not dressed." - -"Montmartre?" - -"To look at quarries and donkeys?" - -"Saint-Denis?" - -"There's nothing nice there but cheese-cakes, and I prefer the ones in -the Passage des Panoramas." - -"Belleville?" - -"That's a little vulgar, but it's amusing; besides, I have a decided -penchant for Prs Saint-Gervais and Romainville wood." - -"Belleville it is, then. Off we go, driver!" - -The cabman lashed his horse. Virginie was in a merry mood; with her the -annoyances of yesterday, the cares of to-morrow vanished before the -enjoyment of the moment. For his part, Auguste was not sorry to have his -mind diverted from the thoughts that disturbed him concerning Madame -Saint-Edmond, whom he had told that he expected to pass the evening at -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's. - -They reached the Belleville barrier; it took the cabman half an hour to -drive his nags up the hill, and when they reached the Ile d'Amour, they -refused to go any farther. But Virginie was very glad to walk in the -fields, so they alighted, dismissed the cab, and took a narrow road to -the left, which led to Prs Saint-Gervais. - -The sight of the green grass and trees made Virginie sentimental; she -sighed as they strolled along the avenues of lilacs, where several -cottages had recently been built. - -"How ridiculous," she cried, "to build houses everywhere, even in the -fields! you might as well go to walk in your bedroom. It used to be so -pretty here! We lunched on fresh eggs over there once--do you remember? -We drank beer under that arbor. And that restaurant, in the woods, just -beyond the keeper's, where we went several times--the one where they -have private rooms." - -"Oh, yes! the Tournebride." - -"The Tournebride, that's it. Ungrateful wretch! doesn't that name recall -any memories?" - -"Yes, it reminds me of a certain fowl that we could not succeed in -carving." - -"Indeed! it reminds you of nothing but a fowl! You are not at all -romantic to-day." - -"Do you want to dine there?" - -"I not only want to, but I insist upon it. It's rather far away, but the -walk will give us an appetite." - -"Besides, we can rest on the way." - -"Oh! since people have built everywhere, there are no nice places to -rest." - -They ran along, throwing leaves and grass at each other and plucking an -occasional wild flower. At last they reached the sandy soil of the -woods, and Virginie sighed again when she saw that the trees had been -felled on large tracts, and that building was in progress there also. - -"These people seem to have determined on the destruction of Romainville -forest!" she said. - -"It will grow again, my dear." - -"Oh, yes! but meanwhile we shan't grow again. How indifferent men are! -they don't get attached to anything. Think of the love ciphers that we -carved with a knife on the bark of an oak tree; I looked forward to -seeing them again. There was an A and a V intertwined in a heart." - -"They probably served to warm some old annuitant's feet, or to boil the -kettle for some respectable family." - -"That's it--make soup with my heart; that's very pleasant to think of! I -shan't cut any more letters on trees.--Ah! here's the Tournebride -luckily; I was afraid they'd cut that down too." - -The Tournebride was the most famous restaurant in Romainville forest; -but for all that, it would not have been safe to order a charlotte russe -there, or a _karik l'Indienne_, because the landlord would have -thought that you were talking Tartar, or making fun of him, and would -tell you to go to Noisy-le-Sec for your dinner. But if you confined your -ambition to a bill-of-fare dainty enough for the worthy bourgeois of Rue -Saint-Denis, and very popular among the young work-girls who came to -Romainville with their sweethearts, you might be certain of being -satisfied at the Tournebride, which is only three gun-shots from the -keeper's lodge, on the road leading to Romainville village. - -Auguste and Virginie entered the inn, and, as is usual in country -restaurants, they went through the kitchen to reach the salons and the -private rooms. They enjoyed the sight of veal-stews, cutlets, and beef -_piqu_; and as such restaurants had no printed bill-of-fare, the -kitchen took the place of one. When you walked through, you saw all the -saucepans, and you inhaled the combined odors of five or six ragouts, -which might stand you instead of soup, but which was less agreeable -after you had dined. - -The host welcomed his guests with a smiling face, his cotton cap over -his ear; as he answered questions he ran from one saucepan to another, -and spitted a pigeon as he extolled his beefsteak. - -"Let's make up our minds at once what we'll have," said Virginie, who -was accustomed to country restaurants. "Is the beefsteak tender?" - -"Oh! delicious, madame." - -"With kidneys, eh, my friend?" - -"Yes, they are essential.--Have you any kidneys, monsieur l'hte?" - -"Here, monsieur, just smell this," said the landlord, holding a saucepan -under Auguste's nose. "I won't tell you, as my confrres in Paris do, -that they're stewed in champagne, but I'll swear it's white wine, and -delicious." - -"Very good." - -"And a pigeon pie, if you please, delicious also." - -"Some asparagus and lettuce." - -"If monsieur would like a fine omelette souffle?" - -"Ah, yes! I remember very well that you make very good ones." - -"Yes, monsieur; they puff up like a cotton nightcap." - -"Let us have an omelette souffle then. Give us a private room, please." - -"Take monsieur and madame to the unoccupied room on the first floor." - -A waiter, who was no longer young, but who smiled all the time, escorted -the newcomers to a room that looked on the forest. - -"Why not give us the room opposite?" asked Virginie; "the outlook is -better, we can see the road." - -"There is somebody there, madame--a party." - -"In that case, let us stay here," said Auguste. - -The waiter laid the table, then left the room, saying: - -"I will go and see to the dinner; if monsieur wants anything before it -is ready, he can call." - -That meant that he would not come up unless he was called. Such people -are almost as cunning in the country as in Paris. - -Auguste did not call for some time, because they felt that they must -rest before dinner, and moreover the private rooms of the Tournebride -made Mademoiselle Virginie very romantic; at all events, that is what -she told Auguste, laughing like a madcap, which, by the way, is not -romantic; but Mademoiselle Virginie had a way of her own of being -romantic. - -At last the stomach made itself heard; and in face of that domineering -master, all illusions vanish. The most romantic of mortals, standing in -rapt admiration before a rushing torrent or a waterfall, is compelled -to make an end when the dinner-bell rings. Virginie and Auguste were -admiring neither a torrent nor a waterfall; I am not certain that they -were absorbed in admiration of anything; but I know that they opened -their door and beat a tattoo upon it with knife handles--a method of -attracting attention which makes bells unnecessary. - -The waiter brought up the dinner, to which they did justice; the -beefsteak and kidneys were in truth delicious, and they had no ground -for complaint. While the waiter was present, Mademoiselle Virginie, who -was reasonably curious, expressed surprise that the party opposite -should be so silent that they did not hear voices, whereas, ordinarily, -the guests at country restaurants are very noisy. The young woman -concluded her remarks by asking the waiter: - -"Isn't it a large party?" - -The old waiter replied, smiling so as to show the whole of his three -remaining teeth: - -"It's no larger than yours." - -"Oho! a party of two, is it?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"A man and a woman?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"They seem to be even more romantic than we are; they have forgotten -about dinner." - -"Oh! the dinner's all ordered, it's coming up directly. I know their -ways; they're regulars." - -And the waiter left the room, closing at the same moment his mouth and -the door, the latter of which he had been holding ajar. - -"You are very inquisitive," said Auguste, "to want to know how many -people there are opposite. What difference does it make to us what -others say and do?" - -"Oh! none at all; but, don't you know, I like to see--it amuses me." - -"Let us eat and not worry about our neighbors; that will be the better -way." - -"It don't interfere with my eating!--Wait! they're opening the door." - -And at that moment a man's voice in the corridor called: - -"Bring up the dinner, waiter." - -"It's the man calling," said Virginie; "he's got a little soprano voice, -but the voice don't prove anything at all." - -"Will you have some pigeon?" - -"Do wait a minute; you're hurrying me too much." - -Just then they heard a woman's voice saying: - -"My friend, you forgot to order fritters." - -Auguste gave a jump when he heard that voice; and Virginie, alarmed by -his abrupt movement, asked: - -"Well! what's struck you now? Did you swallow a pigeon wing the wrong -way?" - -"No, nothing's the matter. It was that voice that surprised me; I -thought that I recognized----" - -"Ah, yes! I understand; it is probably some old flame of monsieur who's -in yonder room. Well! what then? Do you think that you ought to think -about any other woman when you're with me? That's very polite. Does it -make any difference to you who the woman's with? Are you still in love -with her? If I knew that you were, I'd go and make a row." - -"Why, no; there's no question of love, but it's because----" - -"Because, because--You don't know what you're saying. Eat your dinner at -once. Why don't you eat?" - -"I am not hungry any more." - -"Indeed! monsieur has ceased to be hungry since he heard that lady's -voice, which has taken away his appetite. How touching! What are you -getting up for? Where are you going?" - -"I am going downstairs a minute." - -"I don't want you to leave the room. You don't need to go downstairs. -You want to see that woman opposite, that's all; but you shan't see -her." - -As she spoke, Virginie rose too, and planted herself in front of the -door. - -"I assure you, my dear love, that I do need to go down," said Auguste, -gently taking Virginie's arm in order to put her away from the door. - -"My good fellow, I don't care what happens, but you shall not leave this -room." - -Auguste, laughing all the while, succeeded in removing Virginie from the -position she was determined to defend. She flew into a rage; the door -was partly open and Auguste attempted to go out; but she caught him by -his coat tails and the struggle began anew. At last, Virginie's strength -being exhausted, she suddenly released her hold. Auguste plunged into -the corridor, and collided with the waiter who was bringing his -neighbors their soup, splashed the julienne against the wall, hurled the -tureen to the floor, and caused him who carried it to stumble and -stagger. - -At the outcry emitted by the waiter and the crash of the soup-tureen, -the two persons in the other room, divining that it was their dinner -that had come to grief, instantly opened their door, and Auguste, who -was still in the hall, saw Madame de Saint-Edmond, and the little man -whom she held in horror. - -At first Lonie's glance did not fall on Auguste; she saw nobody but the -waiter, who was picking up the fragments of the tureen, exclaiming: -"That's too bad! luckily no one's hurt." - -But Auguste suddenly appeared at the door of the room and bowed to -Lonie. - -"I am distressed, madame, to have upset your soup." - -Lonie raised her eyes, gave a shriek, and fainted. That was the best -thing that she could do under the circumstances. The little man, who -also had recognized Dalville, and who was afraid of being challenged to -fight a duel, leaped over the stooping waiter, and rushing down the -stairs four at a time, left the Tournebride and plunged into the woods, -without casting a glance behind. Virginie, who had left her room, -exclaimed in surprise when she recognized Auguste's neighbor in the -unconscious woman; and the waiter, thinking that everybody was shouting -because of the soup, kept repeating: - -"It's nothing, messieurs, mesdames; don't get excited; there's more -downstairs; we always have plenty of julienne." - -Virginie's anger had vanished and she laughed as if she would die. -Auguste looked at Lonie, who sat in her chair, with her head thrown -back, and did not open her eyes; while the waiter, seeing nothing of -what took place inside the room, went downstairs, crying: - -"I'll bring up some more soup; it'll only take a minute." - -Meanwhile Virginie had walked up to Madame Saint-Edmond, and, taking the -mustard pot from the table, had held it under her nose; with the result -that the pretty blonde instantly recovered consciousness and cast a -languid glance on the person who had been so attentive. But when she -recognized Virginie, her expression changed, and she roughly pushed away -the mustard pot which that young lady was holding to her nose. - -"Does madame feel better?" queried Virginie, imitating Lonie's -mellifluous tone. - -The latter, choking with rage, rose and said in a trembling voice: - -"I don't need anything." - -"Come, my dear love," said Auguste, "we must not intrude upon madame any -longer; I deeply regret that I frightened her companion away. But -doubtless the gentleman is only awaiting our departure, to return; we -must not compel him to stay in the kitchen any longer. Let's go and -finish our dinner." - -"Yes, let's go back and eat our omelette souffle," said Virginie, with -a profound curtsy to Lonie, and she returned to her seat at the table -in the other room. Auguste was about to do likewise, when Lonie ran to -him, raising her eyes to the ceiling, and said in an undertone: - -"You judge me by appearances; but I swear to you----" - -"Oh! upon my word, this is too much," cried Auguste; and he angrily -slammed the door in Madame Saint-Edmond's face, exclaiming: "Take a -woman in the act, and she would still say: 'Don't judge by -appearances.'" - -Virginie was overjoyed by the incident; she joked Auguste about his -neighbor's fidelity, and he tried to laugh with her, although at heart -he was not over-pleased that he had allowed himself to be hoodwinked. -They finished their dinner at last and were about to leave their room -and the Tournebride, when they heard loud voices, and recognized those -of the inn-keeper and of Madame Saint-Edmond. - -"Madame," said the former, "you can't go away like this; I must be paid -for my dinner." - -"Monsieur," replied Madame de Saint-Edmond, imparting a moving -intonation to her voice, "I am very sorry, but you must believe that I -had no intention----" - -"I see, madame, that you have an intention to go away; your friend went -off like a shot just now; who is to pay me for my dinner, I should like -to know?" - -"But, monsieur," rejoined Lonie, and her voice became a little less -pathetic, "after all, we didn't dine; so we don't owe you anything." - -"What's that? you don't owe anything, madame! When a dinner's ordered, -and such care taken with it as with this one, do you think it isn't to -be paid for? Do you propose to leave your fillets and sweetbreads on my -hands? It isn't my fault that you don't choose to eat." - -"You can give them to some other party, monsieur." - -"You had a bottle of old macon when you got here; and there's the soup -wasted, and the broken tureen." - -"That's none of my affair, monsieur." - -"Your dinner's your affair, madame; eat it and pay for it." - -"I don't feel well, I tell you." - -"Pay for it then." - -"But I have no money with me." - -"You shouldn't have let your friend run off as if he'd seen the devil! A -man ought not to leave a woman in a false position! The deuce! decent -people don't do that! He must be a nice kind of fellow, to disappear -with the money. You shouldn't go into a restaurant when you don't mean -to dine." - -"Monsieur," retorted Madame Saint-Edmond, with an angry ring in her -voice, "this isn't the first time we've come here to dinner; do you take -us for riff-raff?" - -"No, madame; of course I know perfectly well who I'm dealing with, but I -don't choose to give credit; a fine dinner like this ought not to be -refused when it's all cooked." - -During this dialogue, Auguste had all the difficulty in keeping Virginie -from laughing aloud. At last, moved to pity by the sentimental Lonie's -plight, he went downstairs, followed by Virginie, and said to the -landlord, who did not take his eyes from Madame Saint-Edmond: - -"As I have the honor to know madame, I beg you to add the amount of her -bill to mine, monsieur; I will pay both." - -The host, whose only desire was to be paid, resumed his affable air and -made haste to reckon up the two accounts. Meanwhile the pretty blonde -sank into a chair, holding her handkerchief to her face. - -Auguste having paid, Virginie, whose triumph was complete, took his arm -and left the inn with him, saying in a mocking tone: - -"If we meet the gentleman in the forest, we will send him back to -madame." - -That fling was the last straw, and Auguste felt amply avenged. - - - - -XI - -A VISIT TO MONTFERMEIL - - -Auguste, who had no secrets from the faithful Bertrand, told him of the -meeting in Romainville forest. - -"Well, lieutenant," said Bertrand, "was Madame Schtrack mistaken when -she told me about the little man that slunk upstairs as soon as you -left?" - -"I thought that Lonie adored me." - -"I'm surprised at that, lieutenant; you deceive the ladies so often -yourself, that you ought to be a little more suspicious of their oaths." - -"On the contrary, my dear Bertrand, I assure you that those who are most -cunning in seduction allow themselves to be deceived with astounding -ease." - -"Then it's no use to be cunning." - -"Because you're very fond of a person, that doesn't prove that you know -that person thoroughly." - -"It is certain that if you knew her thoroughly, you might not be so fond -of her; for instance, I love wine, I confess; I always know when it's -good, but I can't always tell what province it comes from." - -"And I love women, I appreciate their charms, I admire their beauties; -but their hearts--Ah! if they exhibited them to the naked eye, the -prettiest ones wouldn't always be preferred." - -"For all that, lieutenant, if I were you, I'd be a little shy of those -affected airs, and those voices always pitched in a falsetto key, which -never come from the chest; it seems to me that a person can't be talking -honestly when she always acts as if she was singing. I would be on my -guard too against fainting fits, tears and stifled sighs." - -"Why, my dear Bertrand, when the tears are shed by lovely eyes, when the -voice comes from a pretty mouth, when the person who pretends to faint -displays a charming body, a shapely figure, is it so easy to resist? No, -one must surrender--with liberty to repent later." - -"That is true. In fact, that's just like me: to find out whether a -wine's good, I must taste it; and it's never the bad one that a man does -himself harm with. It's a pity that this meeting didn't happen the day -before yesterday, before you paid the note for two thousand francs!" - -"Let's not think any more about that!" - -"No; only let it be a lesson for the future." - -"Bertrand, when you meet Madame Saint-Edmond, I desire you to be as -polite to her as before!" - -"Oh! never fear, monsieur, I'm a Frenchman, and an old soldier knows the -respect due to the sex. Parbleu! if one must needs look askance at -everybody who hasn't got the countersign, one would have to look -cross-eyed too often. At all events, lieutenant, that makes one less, -and we shall be able to straighten out our cash-box a little, and----" - -"Oh, yes! I am fully determined to settle down. Destival has spoken to -me about another excellent investment. I will go to see my notary -to-morrow and turn my securities into cash.--Oh! by the way, you will -pay a small bill for furniture that will be sent here within a few -days." - -"Have you been buying furniture, lieutenant?" - -"Not for myself, for Virginie." - -Bertrand turned away, biting his lips, and struck himself repeated blows -on the forehead to keep himself from speaking out and venting his wrath. -Auguste, observing his cashier's ill humor, continued with a smile: - -"Come, don't get excited, Bertrand! really, you are getting to be so -severe!" - -"I, monsieur! I haven't said a word!" - -"Deuce take it! I am rich; do you expect me to deny myself all -pleasure?" - -"I don't expect anything at all, monsieur." - -"Ought a man in my position to lead the life of a petty tradesman with -an income of twelve hundred francs?" - -"We spent forty thousand francs last year, and your income only amounts -to fifteen thousand; if we go on that way, we're perfectly certain to -be left as naked as little St. John." - -"No; I shall succeed in keeping a better proportion between my expenses -and my income this year. But this bill is a mere trifle. Poor Virginie! -she's so amusing!" - -"Oh, yes! she's amusing enough! but she'd ruin a platoon of -contractors!" - -"You certainly can't call her voice falsetto." - -"No, parbleu! there's no doubt about it's coming from her chest; and she -must have a strong one too, for she uses it devilish hard. Thunder and -guns! what a chatter!" - -"She hasn't any prim ways or affected manners." - -"Oh! as far as that goes, I'll admit that she's outspoken! She don't -conceal her game, at all events. But all the same, lieutenant, you can -scold me if you choose, but I tell you again that these women ought not -to occupy every minute of a man's time; and that it makes me feel bad to -see that they don't love you as you deserve to be loved; because, at -heart, you're a good man, you have lots of good qualities and fine -feeling; and all that ought to make you see that it isn't by running -after women all the time that--That's all, lieutenant." - -Auguste was silent for some time, and Bertrand, surprised to see him so -pensive, feared that he had offended him, and dared not open his mouth. - -"I believe that you're right, Bertrand," said Auguste at last. - -"Really, lieutenant--you agree with me?" - -"Yes, I feel that a genuine passion, a sincere attachment, must make a -man happier than all these momentary fancies. But is it my fault that it -is so difficult to find a frank and sincere heart in society?" - -"No, certainly not; it isn't your fault." - -"Or that coquetry and falsity take the place nowadays of love and -friendship?" - -"Such substitutes shouldn't be allowed!" - -"Ah! my dear Bertrand, we should be too fortunate if all women were -faithful." - -"True, we should be too fortunate." - -"And yet the whole business of living would be intolerably monotonous -then." - -"Ah! do you think it would injure business?" - -"You see, Bertrand, we must take the world as it is." - -"We have no help for that." - -"But when I have found a woman who will love me for myself, who will be -incapable of deceiving me, who will try to please nobody but myself -alone, why then----" - -"Then, lieutenant?" - -"Oh, Bertrand! such a pleasant memory! And it's so long since I thought -of her!" - -"Who, lieutenant?" - -"Lovely Denise, the pretty little milkmaid of Montfermeil. Ah! she is -virtuous, I'll swear to that." - -"That would be taking a big risk; you hardly know her, and you haven't -seen her for two months." - -"Do you know why I haven't seen her, Bertrand?" - -"Because you forgot her." - -"No, it isn't that alone. I have had another reason; you'll laugh, but -it is that I am afraid of becoming too fond of that girl." - -"In that case, it's very delicate on your part." - -"Yes, of course it is; for why should I try to seduce that child, who is -virtuous and innocent, and who is living a tranquil life in her -village?" - -"That would be very wrong, monsieur; there's girls enough willing to be -seduced in Paris, without going into the suburbs to look for others." - -"Saddle my horse, Bertrand, and saddle the cabriolet horse for yourself; -make haste." - -"Why, where are we going, monsieur?" - -"To Montfermeil, to see Denise." - -"What! when you just said----" - -"I have reflected that there's no danger for her, because she doesn't -love me." - -"Do you think not, monsieur?" - -"She told me so many times. But I want to see Coco, my little protg, -poor child. I really long to hug the little fellow. You will see how -pretty he is, Bertrand--and such vile relations!--Put some money in your -pocket, Bertrand." - -"Oh! as much as you choose, lieutenant, to relieve the unfortunate, to -help an orphan; one never regrets such things, and it gives one a -hundred times more pleasure than paying for the brunette's hangings and -the blonde's shawls." - -The horses were saddled; Auguste and Bertrand mounted, and started for -Montfermeil about ten o'clock in the morning. At eleven they had passed -Raincy; a little later they reached Livry, turned to the right, and soon -saw the village of Montfermeil before them. - -Bertrand was drenched with perspiration; he was not used to riding hard, -as Dalville was; and although it was September, it was still exceedingly -warm. Bertrand drew rein, observing to Auguste that their steeds needed -a breathing-space; but, thinking that he recognized the path by which -Coco had taken him to his cabin, Auguste urged his horse forward, -calling to Bertrand: - -"Ride on to the village; I'll join you there." - -"All right, I'll go on to the village," said Bertrand to himself, -letting his horse walk. "Shall I go to the inn? Or shall I inquire for -the little milkmaid? No, I don't want milk for my horse, and the girl -probably wouldn't be able to feed us both.--A very pretty village, but I -don't see any signs of an inn." - -Bertrand allowed his horse to go where he chose; he passed several -hovels of only one story, not caring to halt at such wretched abodes; -but he soon found himself beside a rippling stream bordered by willow -trees, with a pretty cottage on the opposite side. Bertrand crossed the -brook and stopped in front of the yard. A small boy was playing with a -goat; a little farther on a girl was churning butter, and at the rear -was an elderly woman arranging fruit in a basket. - -From his saddle Bertrand could overlook the whole yard, and he watched -that rustic picture. Suddenly the girl raised her eyes, saw the -horseman, and rushed toward him, exclaiming: - -"I can't be mistaken--it's Monsieur Bertrand." - -And as she spoke, the girl's eyes searched the road for another -horseman. - -Bertrand recognized Denise and bestowed an affable nod upon her, saying: - -"By the great Turenne, I couldn't have stopped at a better time. Bbelle -has a most amazing scent!" - -"Pray come in, Monsieur Bertrand," said Denise, her eyes still fixed on -the road. - -"You're very kind, mamzelle, but I'm looking for an inn, where my horse -and I can get something to eat." - -"You'll find all you want here. We won't let you go anywhere else, will -we, aunt?--Come in, Monsieur Bertrand." - -Bertrand could not resist the girl's courteous insistence. He was -surprised to hear her call him by name, having no idea that Dalville -could have amused himself by mentioning him to Denise. While he -dismounted, the girl ran to her aunt, and, to induce her to treat the -newcomer cordially, she made haste to tell her that Bertrand was the -companion of the gentleman who had been so kind to Coco. Mre Fourcy -rose and made a low reverence to Bertrand, who could not conceive the -cause of so much politeness. - -Bbelle was taken to the stable, the child left his goat, to go and look -at her, and Denise ushered Bertrand into the house and made haste to -offer him wine. Meanwhile Mre Fourcy made an omelet, Bertrand having -admitted that he would be glad to eat a morsel. - -Denise was burning to learn something about the young man who had -commended Coco to her care; but she waited for her aunt to leave the -room before mentioning him. She did not know how to question Bertrand, -whom she supposed to have been sent by the handsome young man to make -inquiries about the child; and she waited for Bertrand to speak first; -but as he did nothing but eat and drink, Denise decided to question him. - -"He sent you to find out whether Coco had everything he wants, and -whether I'd made a good use of the money he left with me, didn't he, -monsieur?" - -Bertrand emptied his glass at a draught and replaced it on the table -with a bang, saying: - -"For a village wine, that ain't bad at all." - -"Didn't you hear what I said, monsieur?" asked Denise timidly. - -"I beg pardon, but you will be very good to act as if I hadn't heard, -for I didn't understand." - -"I asked you if that gentleman, that young man I saw with you, first in -a cabriolet, and afterward at Madame Destival's----" - -"You mean Monsieur Auguste Dalville?" - -"Ah! is his name Auguste Dalville?" - -"How is it that you don't know his name and do know mine?" - -"Because he called you by name twice before me, in the courtyard, and I -haven't forgotten your name." - -"You are very kind, mademoiselle." - -"So Monsieur Auguste Dalville didn't come with you to-day?" - -"I beg pardon, but he's close by! he'll be here very soon." - -"He is here, he is coming!" cried Denise, jumping for joy. But she -added, to conceal her emotion: "You see, when you came alone, I thought -that you wasn't with him any more." - -"Do you suppose I'll ever leave my master, my benefactor, a man who has -done everything for me, and who still calls me his friend? Ten thousand -bayonets! No, my dear child, that can never be; I'm attached to Monsieur -Auguste, just as my sword hilt is to the blade; nothing can ever -separate me from him, except himself. But I don't worry about that; -although I do make bold to scold him a little, he knows old Bertrand's -heart." - -Denise wiped away the tears of emotion which the old soldier's devotion -brought to her eyes; then she cried, taking Bertrand's hand and pressing -it in hers: - -"Ah! what a fine thing for you to say, Monsieur Bertrand! How nice it is -to love a person like that!" - -"Does it surprise you? did you think that Monsieur Auguste didn't -deserve to be loved so well?" - -"I don't say that, monsieur; far from it. Another glass, Monsieur -Bertrand?" - -"With pleasure, mamzelle." - -Denise was delighted to hear him talk of Auguste; and as the wine made -him very communicative, he went on; for when he was talking about his -benefactor, it was the same as with his campaigns--there was no way of -stopping him. - -"Yes, my pretty child, Monsieur Auguste's a fine fellow--a rake, a -lady-killer, fickle and dissipated, it's true; but those things don't -touch the real man." - -"What, monsieur! he's all that? Why, it's very wicked to be a rake and -fickle. And you said such fine things about him just now!" - -"Have I said any ill of him, my girl? Don't you know that young men must -sow their wild oats? But I trust that with my advice--Corbleu! if -Schtrack knew of this wine--And when it's so hot, it makes you thirsty -as the devil." - -"I believe, monsieur, that while Monsieur Auguste was talking to me in -Madame Destival's courtyard, you whispered in my ear: 'Look out for -yourself!'" - -"It's possible, my child, quite possible.--Look you, Mamzelle Denise, -you're a pretty girl----" - -"Very polite of you, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"Oh, no! I say that in all honesty. You look to be a good girl, too, and -it would be a pity to let you get caught. My master's a fine fellow, but -as soon as he sees a pretty face, he flashes up like powder! it's too -much for him. He'll swear that it will last forever; but at the first -village where he sees another pretty girl, he'll take fire and swear the -same to her." - -"Oh! that's very wicked!" - -"No, it's a disease of youth, and it will pass away!--You see, in Paris -I can't always be at his heels to warn the pretty girls he makes love -to; besides, in the big cities, the girls know enough about such things -not to need any warning. But when I happen to see my lieutenant talking -to a child who looks to me to be virtuous and respectable, like you, -then I just whisper in her ear: 'Look out for yourself!' and if that -don't save her, it ain't my fault, at all events." - -Denise made no reply, for she was reflecting upon what Bertrand had just -said; he wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, drank, and replied: - -"However, the proof that Monsieur Auguste's a fine young man is that, -when he reflects, he don't make a fool of himself. For instance, he -found you to his taste; well, he didn't come again to see you; he told -me that it was for fear of getting to be too fond of you." - -"Too fond of me!" cried Denise. "What! did he really say that, monsieur? -Then he loves me." - -"Not at all, my pretty child; that is to say, not any more than the -others. But he would have tried to seduce you as a matter of habit, and -you might perhaps have listened to him; for he's a good-looking fellow, -and he has such a way of telling of his love that he'd make a woman of -sixty believe in it." - -"And that's why he hasn't been here?" Denise inquired, with a sigh. - -"Yes; but to-day he remembered your saying that you didn't love him; so -then he came." - -"I didn't say that, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"No? then he did wrong to come." - -"I don't say that I do love him either." - -"So much the better for you, Mamzelle Denise; for that would be laying -up trouble for yourself." - -"Whoever heard of a village girl loving a fine gentleman from the city?" - -"I don't know whether it's possible, but I know that it sometimes -happens." - -"Don't worry, Monsieur Bertrand, I shall never have any feeling but -friendship for Monsieur Auguste; and if it's the dread of my loving him -that keeps him from coming to the village, why, tell him he can come as -often as he likes. Denise knows only too well that she isn't capable of -winning the heart of a city gentleman; she won't ever forget it." - -"Bravo! that's what I call talking, my dear child. I drink to your -virtue,--and, as you see, I leave no heel-taps.--But what's the matter, -pray? are you crying?" - -"No, Monsieur Bertrand, no; you see, I should be very sorry to--But it's -all over now. Monsieur Auguste won't be afraid any more to come to see -his little protg. He won't let two months go by again, without -coming." - -"Oh! that depends. At Paris, you know, Mamzelle Denise, my master don't -have a minute to himself; he's always at some party or some -entertainment! People fight to see who shall have him! He gets ten -invitations a day." - -"Oh, yes! he don't have time to think of the village. Is he so very rich -then, your Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Rich? Yes, to be sure, he is as yet; but if he keeps on at this rate, -he won't be rich long!--Your health, Mamzelle Denise." - -"What do you mean by that, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Oh! nothing, nothing!--At any rate, I ought not to presume to -criticise. Monsieur Dalville's money's his own; let him give it to women -who deceive him, to grisettes who ruin him; let him pay for furniture -and rugs and calico dresses--it's none of my business; I must just obey -and pay; but it makes me feel bad because--damnation!--what with women -on one side and cart on the other----" - -"What's cart, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Oh! that's a little game at which people ruin themselves while they -imagine they're enjoying themselves. They say it's a delightful game, -because it's played so fast. For my part, I think it's played much too -fast; but Monsieur Auguste gambles so as to do like the others. That's -his business. Besides, if he chooses to ruin himself, why, you -understand, subordination before everything.--Your health, Mamzelle -Denise." - -Denise was greatly surprised by what she had heard; she was wondering -whether she ought to believe Bertrand, who continued to drink and talk, -when Coco came bounding into the room. - -"Who is that child?" queried Bertrand. - -"The little boy to whom Monsieur Auguste gave so many tokens of his -generosity." - -"He's a pretty little fellow.--Come here, my boy; get up on my knee--so. -Haven't you got any father or mother, little white head?" - -"Yes, monsieur, I've got Papa Calleux," Coco replied, looking up at -Bertrand. - -"What does Papa Calleux do?" - -"He works in the fields." - -"He's a drunkard," Denise whispered to Bertrand. - -"The devil! that's a villainous fault," the latter replied, putting his -glass to his lips. "A man must drink--it's a necessity--but he should be -able to govern his thirst, and above all things, never lose his -wits.--But, by the way, seeing this little fellow reminds me that he's -the one my master's gone to see; when he left me, he said: 'I'm going to -the child's cabin.'" - -"Oh dear! he won't find anybody there," said Denise. "And you never told -us! We must go to meet him. I supposed he was at Madame -Destival's.--Come, Coco, come; we are going to find your kind -friend--the one you love so much." - -"The one you talk to me about every day, Denise?" asked the child. - -"Yes, your benefactor.--Are you coming with us, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Faith, Mamzelle Denise, I'm very comfortable here; and if you don't -need me----" - -"No, no; my aunt will keep you company.--Come, Coco, let's make haste to -look for your kind friend." - -The child asked nothing better than to go with Denise. They left -Bertrand in the act of making a military salute to Mre Fourcy, who had -just entered the room, and they started for the cabin. - -But Denise was moved by conflicting emotions, of whose source she had no -very definite idea: she was happy, and yet she trembled, and her -breathing was labored; and as one cannot run far under such -circumstances, Denise slackened her pace. But Coco ran on ahead, because -at seven years of age such emotions are unknown. - -Denise was so engrossed by what Bertrand had said to her, that she did -not at first notice that the child had left her; but Coco was well -acquainted with the roads, so that the girl was not anxious about him, -and she paused a moment under a great tree, glad of an opportunity to -prepare for her meeting with the young man. A thousand thoughts passed -through her mind; but the one that recurred most frequently was that -Auguste had come to the village again solely because he thought that she -did not love him. - -"Is it quite certain that he thinks that?" said Denise to herself; -"perhaps Monsieur Bertrand heard wrong. Is it quite true that Monsieur -Auguste is such a deceiver as he says? An old soldier can't know much -about all those things. But after all, what difference does it make to -me, as I don't care for the young man? As Monsieur Bertrand says, what -good would it do me to love him? He'd just laugh at me afterward. Oh! -there's no danger of my marrying a young man from Paris.--A rake, a -seducer, fickle----" - -Having reflected thus, the maiden arranged her neckerchief, adjusted her -cap, retied her apron, and looked down at herself, murmuring: - -"Oh dear! how tumbled I am! If I had known this morning--if I could have -guessed. That gentleman won't think me pretty again--Bah! it's all one -to me; but a body don't like to look as if she was careless and hadn't -any taste." - -At last, having completed her scrutiny of her toilet, Denise was about -to leave the tree, when she heard a voice. It was Auguste's. The girl -recognized it, and she had to stop again to recover her breath. - -But Auguste was not alone; he was talking and laughing with a pretty, -rosy-cheeked peasant girl, by whose side he was walking, leading his -horse by the rein. Denise being hidden by the great tree, Dalville did -not see her. - -The peasant halted a hundred yards from the tree which concealed Denise. - -"Adieu, monsieur; I'm going this way; and if you're going to -Montfermeil, that's your road straight ahead." - -"We shall not part like this, my beauty," said Auguste, dropping his -horse's rein to put his arm about the girl's waist; "we must at least -bid each other adieu----" - -"Let me go, monsieur, let me go, I say! You squeeze too hard." - -"Not so hard as I would like to." - -"I say, did it take you like this, all of a sudden, when you got off -your horse?" - -"It always takes me this way." - -"It's worse than a clap of thunder.--Look here! are you going to let me -go?" - -"When I have kissed you." - -"No, none of that.--Look out; while you're getting excited, your nag's -going off." - -"I can find him again." - -"Look, he's already trampling down Nicolas's beans." - -"Let him trample." - -"Monsieur, I tell you I'll yell if----" - -The sound of a kiss interrupted the peasant, and echoed in Denise's -heart. She had heard it all, and she did not stir. This first victory -would perhaps have been followed by a second, had not Coco's voice made -itself heard; he ran toward Auguste, whom he had just caught sight of, -shouting at the top of his lungs: - -"Here's my kind friend! Good-day, my kind friend! Have you come to play -with me?" - -When he heard the child's voice, Auguste left the peasant and went to -meet him, while she walked away, saying to herself: - -"It's mighty lucky the little fellow came, all the same; for it wa'n't -no use for me to fight--he kept right on! Jarni! what a scamp he is!" - -Auguste took the child in his arms, kissed him, and received his -caresses with keen enjoyment. - -"You weren't at the house, Coco," he said; "I found nobody there. Don't -you live there now?" - -"No, I'm with my little Denise all the time now; since Grandma Madeleine -died, I've lived with Denise. I'm awful happy now, 'cos she loves me -ever so much; she loves me as much as Jacqueleine." - -Wiping her eyes, to which the tears had risen, the girl left the great -tree and walked toward Auguste, trying to assume a laughing expression. - -"Look, there's Denise," said the child, as he spied the little milkmaid -coming toward them. - -Auguste instantly ran to meet her. - -"So here you are, my dear Denise! How glad I am to see you again! It has -been so long!--On my word, you are prettier than ever." - -Denise curtsied coldly to him, and replied in a constrained tone: - -"You are very kind, monsieur." - -"Had it not been for business that has kept me in Paris, I should have -come to see you long ago. I have wanted to do so more than once, for I -have often thought of the little milkmaid of Montfermeil. And you--have -you thought of me sometimes?" - -"Oh! not often, monsieur," replied Denise, twisting the corner of her -apron. - -"That is what I call plain speaking," said Auguste testily; but he soon -recovered his usual good humor and continued: "After all, Denise, you -would have been very foolish to bother about me. Do I deserve to arouse -the interest of so pure and sincere a heart as yours? No, I do myself -justice. I assure you, Denise, I am very glad for you that you have no -affection for me; but I hope to have your friendship, and I will be -worthy of it despite my vagaries. What do you say, Denise? You will be -my friend, won't you? and when some of the fashionable city ladies have -been guilty of fresh perfidy toward me, I will come to you to forget -them. The sight of you will reconcile me to your sex; you will make me -believe once more in virtue and fidelity, in all the qualities that we -seek in women, and--But I haven't kissed you yet, Denise, and a friend -has that privilege." - -Denise blushingly offered her cheek, and Auguste imprinted upon it a -single kiss, because the little milkmaid's cold and constrained manner -led him to think that it was only from good-nature that she granted that -favor. - -"It seems that there have been some important happenings here," -continued Auguste. "Coco tells me that he lives with you, that his old -grandmother is dead----" - -"Yes, monsieur; I asked Pre Calleux to let us keep his son, and he -consented. I thought Coco would be happier at our house. Did I do wrong, -monsieur?" - -"As if you could do wrong!" - -"And then my little Denise takes good care of Jacqueleine," said Coco; -"and she lets me play all I want to,--if I'll pray to the good Lord for -my kind friend every morning and every night." - -Denise blushed and looked at the ground. - -"Isn't it natural to pray for one's benefactor?" she stammered. - -Auguste was touched; he gazed at the girl and the child for some -moments, profoundly amazed that a little money, given for the purpose of -doing good, should afford him greater happiness than the money he spent -by the handful to pay for his pleasures. Then, as if he were ashamed of -his emotion, he exclaimed: - -"Thanks for a mere trifle!--But, now that my little fellow is with you -for good and all, I don't propose that he shall be a burden to you. You -can hardly have anything left of the paltry sum I gave you, and to-day I -will make up for my neglect. I want Coco to do something, to learn----" - -"Oh! Denise is teaching me my letters now," said the child. - -"What! do you know how to read, Denise?" asked Auguste. - -"Yes, monsieur, and to write too," the girl replied, with an air of -importance. - -"Upon my word, that is very fine for a milkmaid," said Auguste with a -smile, "and I am sure that you know more than any of your companions. In -that case I will leave Coco's education in your hands for a few years. -Later, we will see--I will have him come to Paris----" - -"And Jacqueleine, too, can't she, my kind friend?" said the boy, taking -Auguste's hand. - -"Yes, my boy.--But I am forgetting poor Bertrand, who is waiting for me -in some village wine-shop." - -"He's at our house, monsieur; I left him with my aunt." - -"Let us go and join him then, for I will confess, my dear Denise, that I -am dying of hunger and thirst." - -"Mon Dieu! monsieur, and I never thought of asking you. Come along; we -shall soon be there." - -They set out for the village. Auguste offered the maid his arm, which -she accepted with a blush, hardly daring to lean upon her escort, lest -the slightest pressure of her arm should lead him to guess what she -would have liked to hide from herself; and even holding her breath, -because she was afraid that anything might betray her. Blessed age! -blessed age of innocence, when love retains all its modesty, when she -whom love assails, while striving to conceal it, allows it to appear in -her eyes, in her voice, in her slightest acts! It would unquestionably -have been very easy to read the girl's heart at that moment; but is it -possible for a man accustomed to the manoeuvres of city coquettes to -recognize true love? - -They reached the cottage and found Mre Fourcy sitting beside Bertrand -and listening with eyes as big as saucers to the tales of battle which -the ex-corporal watered with the native wine. Denise's aunt curtsied -again and again to the gentleman from Paris; Denise ran hither and -thither, turning everything topsy-turvy in order to give Auguste a -dainty luncheon at once; and while she was making it ready, Coco led his -kind friend to see Jacqueleine, and Mre Fourcy followed, to call the -visitor's attention to the beauty of her roosters, the size of her eggs, -and the gentleness of her cows. After inspecting the cottage, Auguste -went into the garden, still under the guidance of Mre Fourcy and Coco; -they gave him grapes and other fruit to eat, and presented him with the -finest flowers. Auguste expressed great admiration for everything, and -each of his encomiums procured for him an additional reverence. - -At last the repast was served. It was one o'clock, the universal dinner -hour in the village. Denise had worked to such purpose that she was able -to offer Auguste a full meal. There were chickens, ducks and rabbits. -When he saw the bountifully-laden table, Auguste insisted that his hosts -should sit down with him. The villagers made some demur, but the young -man declared that he would accept nothing unless they bore him company. -They submitted, with renewed curtsies; Auguste took his seat between -Denise and his little protg, with Mre Fourcy opposite; and at his -lieutenant's invitation, Bertrand seated himself beside the aunt. - -The meal, enlivened by Auguste's sallies, Bertrand's bumpers, and the -child's artless joy, aroused an unfamiliar sentiment in each of those -who partook of it. Mre Fourcy, bursting with pride at the idea of -dining with such a fine gentleman, sat a foot away from the table, and -did not lift her glass without saluting the company. Bertrand was deeply -gratified to sit at table with his lieutenant; and, desirous to prove -that he was ever mindful of the respect he owed him, he maintained while -eating the attitude with which he would present arms; he did not lift -his eyes from his plate, even to fill his neighbor's glass, the result -being that he sometimes missed it. The child laughed and chattered, -played with Auguste, and fed his goat. Denise spoke very little; she was -embarrassed and did not eat, and yet she was conscious of being very -happy, seated beside the hare-brained youth who kissed every girl he -saw, and who had the secret of winning the love even of those to whom he -did not make love. - -Auguste had never been in such high spirits as at that meal: he caressed -the child, he joked with Mre Fourcy, he forced Bertrand to drink with -him; it seemed to him that the fresh, pure air of the fields set him -free from all the trammels of society, and that he breathed more freely, -happy to be rid for a moment of etiquette and gallantry. - -"Bertrand," said the young man, filling his glass; "I really believe -that I am happier here than at a sumptuously-laden table, surrounded by -pretty women covered with jewels, and served by an army of footmen." - -"Here, monsieur, you see nobody but people who care for you, and who -will not ruin you by compliments and courtesies." - -"Well, Bertrand, when the others have ruined me, this is where I will -come to seek consolation for the ingratitude of men and the perfidy of -women. But you say nothing, Denise; does that mean that you don't -approve of my plan?" - -"No, monsieur," the girl replied under her breath; and her aunt -exclaimed: - -"Come, speak up, my child; you don't eat and you don't talk! Something's -the matter, sure." - -"It's a fact," said Auguste, "that you don't seem to share our -merriment. What is the matter, Denise?" - -"The matter, monsieur? Why, nothing, I give you my word." - -"And I give you my word that something is the matter!" cried Mre -Fourcy. "Pardi! for some time she's been all turned round; she don't -like dancing, she don't like games, she don't know what she does like. -But I know all about it, I tell you; when a girl gets to be like that, -it means that she's thinking about something.--Well, you needn't blush -for that, my child; you're a good girl, as everyone knows; but that -don't keep you from thinking about getting married, and I hope -monsieur'll do us the honor to come to the wedding." - -"Yes, most assuredly," said Auguste, with a slight grimace; "yes, -Denise, I shall be delighted to be a witness of your happiness; and as -you love someone--You didn't tell me that you had made your choice." - -Denise made no reply; she kept her eyes on her plate, and tried to -conceal her confusion by caressing Coco's faithful companion. - -Auguste rose abruptly from the table, and, without a word to the others, -left the room in evident ill humor, and went out to walk in the garden. -He did not choose to admit to himself the nature of his feelings; but -what Mre Fourcy said had caused him a pang. Even while he told himself -again and again that he cared nothing for Denise, he felt in his heart -that the young peasant's face aroused in him a sweeter emotion than -those of all the coquettes in Paris. - -He walked about at random through the winding paths, and did his utmost -to recover his merry humor. - -"I can't understand myself," he thought; "losing my temper because that -girl loves someone, and that someone is not I! I! Why on earth should -she love me, whom she has seen but three times, and of whom she knows -nothing? I must have a deal of self-love to dream that she could care -for me. But no, I feel that it is not vanity that makes me wish that -she should.--Well, I must return to Paris and forget this little -milkmaid. That will be easy enough; for what is there so extraordinary -about her? There are a thousand women in Paris prettier, more alluring, -more----" - -Auguste stopped short, for, happening to turn his head, he saw Denise -within a few yards. He fixed his eyes on the girl, who seemed afraid to -go forward and stood beside a tree. Her confusion, her flushed face, the -furtive glances that she cast at the young man, gave to her whole person -a grace and charm which art could not imitate; and Auguste said under -his breath: "No, there's not a woman in Paris to be compared with her." - -Surprised to see their guest leave the table so abruptly, Denise had -followed him at a distance. She remembered what Bertrand had told her, -and as she desired nothing so much as that Auguste should come often to -the village, she determined carefully to conceal her secret sentiments. - -Auguste walked toward her; for some time they stood face to face, -without speaking; at last the young man said, trying to assume an -indifferent manner: - -"So you love someone, Denise?" - -"Yes, monsieur," the girl replied, blushing and keeping her eyes on the -ground. - -"If I remember rightly, when I first met you, in the little path in the -woods, you told me that you had no lover." - -"That was true, monsieur." - -"Then you have given your heart away since that time?" - -Denise sighed and held her peace. - -"I have no right to question you," continued Auguste sharply; "but it is -the interest you arouse in me, the--Do you know, Denise, I was sadly -mistaken, for I thought that you loved me a little." - -"Oh, no! I don't love you, monsieur--not with love. I must tell you -that, as you wouldn't come to the village any more if it wasn't so. But -I do hope you'll come, monsieur; oh, yes! you must come to see the child -you've adopted! I shan't forget that I'm only a peasant and you're a -gentleman from the city; and I assure you that I shall never love you." - -As she finished, the girl turned away so that Auguste could not see the -tears that fell from her eyes. But he was already far away, striding -toward the house. He entered the living-room and said: - -"Come, Bertrand, we must return to Paris." - -"Return to Paris it is, lieutenant; I'm all ready to do four leagues an -hour. Adieu, mamma; your wine's very nice. Some day when Schtrack has -the time, I'll bring him down here to reconnoitre." - -The girl entered the room and tried to read Auguste's eyes; but he said -to her without looking at her: - -"Adieu, Denise, we're off." - -"Already!" cried Denise; "you seemed to be so comfortable here!" - -"Yes, I am very comfortable here; that is true; but business calls me -back. I will see you again, Denise; I will come again to see you." - -"You won't let so long a time go by without coming to see Coco?" - -"No, I promise you that. Take this--it's for him. I have no need to -commend him to you, you are so kind!" - -"Oh! as to that, monsieur, she loves the child as if he was her -brother." - -"But what is the use of leaving me so much money, monsieur?" - -"His house is falling to pieces; you must have it repaired; then have -the little garden behind it enclosed, and buy the whole place for my -little boy." - -"But, monsieur, this is three thousand francs that you've given me, and -it won't take so much money for that." - -"Take it, I insist; and if it isn't enough,--here is my address in -Paris. Write me, Denise, and you shall hear from me at once." - -Auguste tossed his card on the table, and kissed the child. - -"Good-bye, my kind friend!" said the little fellow, throwing his arms -about Auguste's neck. Mre Fourcy made the young man a curtsy, which -lasted as long as it took to count the three thousand francs. Denise -glanced at him with an embarrassed air, expecting that he would kiss -her; but he did nothing of the sort. After bidding the child adieu, he -bowed to the others, sprang lightly to his saddle, and rode away with -Bertrand, leaving the girl greatly depressed by the cold manner in which -he had left her. - -"What does it mean?" she said to herself; "he stayed away because he was -afraid he'd fall in love with me, and now he acts as if he didn't like -it because he knows I'm not in love with him. What should I do, so that -I can see him often?" - -As he trotted along beside his lieutenant, Bertrand, as his custom was, -ventured to indulge in a few observations. - -"It's a fine thing to be generous, certainly, and we shouldn't regret -the money we give to do good. Still, monsieur, it seems to me that three -thousand francs is a good deal just at this time when our cash-box isn't -very well supplied; you might have embarrassed yourself less by giving -it in several instalments, and it would have amounted to the same -thing." - -"I probably shall not come to the village again for a long while," said -Auguste pensively. - -"Oh! that makes a difference, and I am wrong." - - - - -XII - -INVESTMENTS AND INNOCENT GAMES.--THE PUNCH AND THE LAMP-POST - - -On his return to Paris, Auguste found Monsieur Destival waiting for him -at his rooms. The business agent shook hands effusively with his dear -friend. - -"Dear Dalville, where in the deuce have you been?" said Destival, -casting a glance out of the window, into the street, from time to time. - -"You have been waiting for me--I am very sorry." - -"Oh! there's no harm done. To be sure, I have a thousand and one places -to go to; but my new horse is splendid. By George! he's an invaluable -beast! Did you notice him at the door?" - -"No, I didn't pay any attention." - -"I have had my cabriolet repainted, and I have hired a negro groom. One -must needs increase his household when his business is increasing. I -have presented my wife with a cook, a _cordon-bleu_; you will have a -chance to judge of her talent, for I want you to come to dinner -to-morrow. There will be a few other people, all very rich. Not that I -care for that; I am not like La Thomassinire, who is always dinning his -fortune and his houses into your ears! It's all the more ridiculous to -one who, like myself, knows about our dear speculator's origin; for to -such a one his pretensions are simply laughable.--Did you notice my -negro below?" - -"No, I didn't notice." - -"He's a well-built fellow, of magnificent color. I prefer a single negro -to a lot of long-legged varlets who ruin a carriage.--By the way, my -wife has a bone to pick with you, my friend; she says that you are -neglecting her." - -"But I assure you----" - -"Oh! you never come to the house now! That is not kind! No more music, -no more singing, no more theatre parties; you have deserted us, -Dalville, and yet you must know that we are your true friends. But let's -talk business a little. I have had your interests in mind; for although -I don't see you, I think of you none the less." - -"You are too kind!" - -"You are a heedless fellow, and you don't think about making money. But -I am not, like La Thomassinire, one of those selfish men who think of -nobody but themselves. I find an opportunity to get a handsome return -for my funds, but I say to myself: 'Why shouldn't I take my dear friend -Dalville into this affair? Why enrich myself alone? A friend's happiness -doubles our own.' And then I am not ambitious, I have no desire to throw -dust in people's eyes and put on airs, like certain acquaintances of -ours. I want to make myself comfortable, that's all. In a word, the -matter that I spoke to you about some time ago can be carried through; I -will guarantee a certain profit; but I must have funds." - -"I can raise two hundred and fifty thousand francs." - -"That's enough; with what I have we can go ahead. In less than a year I -propose that that amount shall bring you in twenty-five thousand. Not so -bad, eh?" - -"I trust to your prudence; I understand very little about business, but -I should not want to risk my fortune." - -"Oh! never fear, my friend; when it comes to prudence, I am a regular -serpent! Besides, what about myself? do you suppose that I mean to risk -my own money?--When will you be able to obtain the cash?" - -"To-morrow." - -"Bring it when you come to dinner." - -"Certainly." - -"That's settled; the receipt will be all ready, for everything must be -done in due form.--My dear fellow, you are growing fat; you look -delightfully well." - -"Do you think so? The fact is that I feel a little tired to-day." - -"Faith, it doesn't show. You're a hearty buck! How old are you? Not more -than twenty-two, surely?" - -"Almost twenty-seven." - -"That is most extraordinary!--But I must leave you; I have so much -business on hand. I must go to see Monin; I have sold his drug shop for -him. I am going to ask him to dinner, and his wife too. They are not -very brilliant, especially poor Monin himself, who allows his wife to -lead him about like a baby; but he's honest, yes, he's probity itself; -and I demand that, yes, I demand that above all things.--Until to-morrow -then, my dear fellow, and don't forget the money." - -"That is understood." - -Destival left Auguste after shaking hands with him again, as if he had a -convulsion. In the reception room the business agent met Bertrand. New -salutations to the ex-corporal, with whom he also shook hands, saying: - -"The excellent and worthy Bertrand! I am so glad to meet you! How's the -health, old fellow? still robust? As well set up as ever, I see! What a -fine thing it is to have been a soldier! But I assure you that that one -lesson you gave me did me a deal of good! I hope that one of these days -you will be willing to give me another, my good fellow, and I shall -always be proud to receive them.--Au revoir, excellent Bertrand!" - -And without giving Bertrand time to say a word in reply, Monsieur -Destival rushed through the door and down the stairs; and shouted at the -top of his voice before he reached the foot of the last flight: - -"Domingo! Hol, Domingo! my negro! open the door for me!" - -A short, thick-set negro, wearing a red jacket, and a little jockey cap -with a ten-inch visor, came forward, walking with difficulty in a pair -of doeskin trousers which Monsieur Destival had worn ten years, and -which he had thought it best to resign to his groom, for whom they were -much too small; assuring him that they would be as much too large before -he had been two years in his service. - -When his negro appeared, Destival looked to the right hand and to the -left, to see if he were observed; but as no one stopped to look at -Domingo, the business agent concluded to enter his cabriolet; and having -assured himself by looking through the little window, that the negro was -behind, Monsieur Destival lashed his horse, and shouted "look out!" even -when nobody was in danger. - -"You won't have any further occasion to scold me, my dear Bertrand," -said Auguste to the ex-corporal, after Monsieur Destival had gone. - -"Why not, lieutenant?" - -"Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust -my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in -a short time I shall be as rich as I was before." - -"You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so -polite?" - -"Yes, my friend." - -"All of it?" - -"Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand -francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and -enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don't expect to do for -some time." - -"That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two -hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and -when it's all you have----" - -"Don't be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival -is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La -Thomassinire, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my -money, I shall only have to give him three months' notice." - -"But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?" - -"For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, -Bertrand?" - -"God forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a -continual fire on everybody we met." - -"In truth, I have no reason to complain of my lot: I enjoy life, I deny -myself nothing, and my fortune will soon be increased. If a coquette -does deceive me now and then, I pay her back in her own coin. But I am -angry with that little Denise; I feel that I should have loved her so -dearly! The idea of her giving her heart away without telling me!" - -"Did she require your permission, lieutenant?" - -"No, but if I had fallen in love with her, if I had formed the hope of -winning her love--You must agree, Bertrand, that it is most unpleasant -for a young man who has some good qualities to think that such a pretty -girl prefers some clodhopper, some lubberly peasant to him!" - -"That clodhopper, that peasant, will offer her his hand, monsieur, and -make her his wife; he will love in her the mother of his children, and -will never leave her. Don't you suppose that those things weigh more in -the scales than the glances and sighs and pretty speeches of the young -man from Paris?" - -"You are right, Bertrand; sometimes I have no common sense. Let us say -no more about Denise. I will go to see her when she's married; but until -then I don't propose to go to Montfermeil again; the girl is too -enticing." - -"Bravo! that is acting like an honorable man, lieutenant." - -Auguste started for his notary's; as he went downstairs he met Madame -Saint-Edmond for the first time since the adventure at the Tournebride. - -At sight of Auguste, Lonie stopped, leaned against the wall, turned her -head away, drew her handkerchief, and omitted nothing calculated to give -the impression that she was about to faint; but Auguste, paying no heed -to his neighbor's expressive pantomime, contented himself with a low -bow, and passed without stopping. - -The notary handed Dalville the funds which he had in his hands belonging -to him. Auguste put two hundred and fifty thousand francs in his wallet, -and left the balance with Bertrand, urging him to be less economical in -his expenditure, because, as their fortune was about to be doubled, he -did not see why they should deny themselves anything. The next -afternoon, at five, Auguste took his wallet and went to Destival's -house, bidding Bertrand enjoy himself while he was away. To obey his -master, the ex-corporal went in search of his friend Schtrack, with whom -he proposed to take a short promenade. - -The business agent had taken larger apartments than those he formerly -occupied. He had mounted his household with more splendor, and although -he could not as yet rival Monsieur de la Thomassinire in magnificence, -it was plain that he was doing all that he could to approach him. As a -general rule, however, the pains that one takes to deceive the eyes do -not have the hoped-for result, and serve only to arouse mockery. One -rarely succeeds in art by departing from one's specialty; and in the -world he who tries to make himself out what he is not, is a -laughing-stock. In vain does the grisette, beneath her big bonnet, -strive to copy the simpers of a lady in society; in vain does the -tailor's apprentice, newly-clad from head to foot, believe that, because -he is dressed in the latest fashion, he has the air and aspect of a -stockbroker. The natural characteristics always show through; one may -impose on the multitude, and amid the multitude pass for what one is -not; but at the slightest examination, - - "The mask falls, the man remains, - The hero vanishes." - -Thus we find in the world a great many people who would be most -estimable and would not arouse criticism, if they did not try to do more -than they are able to do. An under clerk, with a salary of a hundred -louis, must needs give evening parties, balls; the house is turned -topsy-turvy; beds are taken down to make more room, a piano is hired, -and lamps of all kinds; decanters of syrups are prepared, and punch, and -there is a supper. But, despite all the trouble he has taken, the -company, much too numerous for the tiny apartments, cannot find room. -There are not enough chairs; the paper behind the beds is of a different -color and betrays the moving in the morning; the piano is out of tune; -the refreshments, bought all made, are not sweet enough, because the -sugar has been used sparingly in order to make another decanter of -syrup; the lamps refuse to burn, because the host is not familiar with -them; the punch is compounded of poor brandy, because they bought the -cheapest brand; and at supper you will find nothing but stale bread to -eat with the fowl that is handed you. People love to criticise; you -laugh quietly at everything that is bad, entirely oblivious to what is -all right. Now, is it not much better to give, instead of this, an -unpretentious party, to have fewer guests, and to leave the bed in -place; to have one less cold joint, and to serve fresh bread; in short, -to put aside the ambition to have a grand reception, and aim at nothing -more than getting a few friends together? - -At Monsieur Destival's the beds were not taken down because they had a -salon large enough to hold a numerous company; the lamps burned well, -because they were frequently used; and the punch was good, because -Madame Destival knew nothing of that false economy by virtue of which -nothing is ever done well. But Domingo, stationed in the reception room -to announce the guests, and Baptiste, who ran constantly from one room -to another to execute his masters's orders, and who commented aloud on -everything that he was told to do, produced an irresistibly comical -effect, largely because Destival was incessantly calling one or the -other of them by the epithets of "knave" and "rascal." - -When Dalville arrived he found several persons in the salon; he -recognized Monsieur Monin and his better half, the latter of whom did -not wear a shepherdess's hat on this occasion, but a huge turban -beneath which her fat face strikingly resembled a Turk's. Auguste had -hardly entered the salon when Monin inquired concerning the state of his -health. Madame Destival accorded him a most gracious welcome, and her -reproaches for the infrequency of his visits were uttered in such an -amiable tone that they could not fail to make him regret that he had -earned them. - -Before Auguste had looked at the other guests, Monsieur Destival entered -the salon, and at sight of Dalville uttered a joyful cry as if he had -thought him dead; then he ran to him and grasped his hands, saying: - -"Here is our dear friend; it is really he! he has not failed us! How -kind of him! You see, it is a great favor to have him here! He has so -many acquaintances, so many invitations! he can hardly keep track of -them all.--Have you thought about our little investment?" he added in an -undertone. - -"I have the money with me," said Auguste. - -"In that case, let us step into my study and fix it up before dinner, so -that we need think of nothing but enjoying ourselves." - -"Very well." - -"A million pardons, mesdames, for taking our dear Dalville away from -you; I promise to restore him to you in five minutes; otherwise I -imagine that you would hate me mortally." - -As he spoke, Destival led Auguste into his study, where the younger man -produced his wallet. Having counted the notes, the business agent locked -them up in his desk and gave Auguste a receipt for the amount, which -Auguste put in his pocket. - -"That's all right," he said; "I will examine this when I am at home." - -Then the gentlemen returned to the salon, Dalville eager to make the -acquaintance of two or three attractive women of whom he had caught a -glimpse, and Destival as radiant as if he had just discovered a diamond -mine. - -The company was increased by several persons among whom Auguste noticed -three sisters, young and pretty, whose manners and speech and smiles, -however, were never free from affectation; a very merry and talkative -young woman, ready to joke with everybody, but especially with the -gentlemen; a silly little creature of sixteen, very shy and awkward, who -dared not leave her mamma's chair or look at the persons to whom she -spoke. A tall man with spectacles, who ran his nose against the -paintings, engravings, screens and decanters, persisted in handling and -examining everything, shaking his head and emitting an occasional _hum! -hum!_ doubtless fraught with meaning; while a short man, embarrassed by -his huge paunch, his short arms, and his small head, not knowing what to -do with himself, stood first on one leg, then on the other, played with -his watch chain, stuck out his tongue when anybody looked at him, and -scratched his nose when nobody was looking. - -Generally speaking, the female portion of the company seemed more select -than the male portion; but a business agent has to do with all classes, -and it frequently happens that it is not the most fashionably dressed -men through whom the most money is to be made. - -Monin remained almost all the time behind his wife's chair, leaving his -station only to inquire for somebody's health; and, when he had put his -question to some new arrival, he would return with a smile on his face, -open his snuff-box, and offer it to _Bichette_, who, despite her turban, -emulated her husband in the size of her pinch. - -The clock struck six, and Domingo came writhing into the room, and said -in a jargon composed of all known languages: - -"Master, soup served." - -And Monin, who had not noticed the negro in the reception room, and who -supposed that he was a trader from the coast of Guinea, who was invited -to dinner, was about to leave his wife's chair to ask him how his health -was, when Bichette, divining her husband's purpose, caught him by his -coat, saying: - -"Where on earth are you going, Monsieur Monin? Stay where you are! Don't -you see that that's Monsieur Destival's negro?" - -"What! is that a negro, Bichette?" - -"Do you mean to say that you can't see it for yourself?" - -"Yes, of course; but I'll tell you--I thought he was talking German. -'Soup served,' he said." - -"Well, monsieur, is that German, I'd like to know? Still, when a person -makes so much talk about having a negro, he ought to teach him to walk. -Do you suppose I'd have a groom that acted as if he had lead in his -breeches? A sweet creature, their Domingo! He's some wretched savage -who's been soaked in licorice juice to make a negro of him." - -"Dinner is served, and Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire have not -come!" said Madame Destival, snappishly. - -"We are only waiting for them. They are terrible people--never on time! -It's after six." - -"Six ten," said the tall man in spectacles. "I am always with the sun; -hum! hum!" - -"Six seven," said Monin, consulting his watch. - -"You are slow, monsieur; hum! hum!" - -"My husband sets his watch every day by the cannon at the Palais-Royal," -said Madame Monin, with a disdainful glance at the spectacled man; while -the little man with short arms stood thrice on his right leg and twice -on his left, in his struggles to draw his watch from his fob; and, -having finally succeeded in producing a silver time-piece, to which a -gold chain was attached, he gazed a long time at the dial and said: - -"Yes, it must be about that." - -"Faith," said Destival, "if La Thomassinire weren't going to bring his -wife, we wouldn't wait any longer, for it's ridiculous to keep a whole -large party waiting like this; but a pretty woman always has some -additional touch to give her costume, and we must always forgive the -Graces.--Domingo, see that the entres are kept warm. Baptiste, have the -chafing dishes red hot. Come, you knaves, move a little more quickly -when I give an order!" - -Domingo did not move any more quickly, because the doeskin breeches made -it impossible. Baptiste, always in ill humor, pushed the negro roughly, -muttering: - -"Well, you darkie! A pretty sort of assistant to give me! He can't do -anything but break dishes and steal liquor! I wish he'd drink so much -that he'd smash the whole crockery closet! That would teach 'em to give -a brand new red jacket to that miserable black fellow, when they've made -me wear the same shabby coat for three years." - -The half hour struck and the guests' faces lengthened. Auguste talked -with one of his neighbors, who said: - -"Don't you think, monsieur, that it's absurd that one or two people -should keep a whole party waiting, and that decent people should be at -the mercy of a fellow who doesn't choose to be prompt? At my house, -monsieur, we dine at a fixed hour; I never wait two minutes for the -people I invite, and they are always prompt, I assure you, for they know -we should dine without them." - -Auguste agreed that his neighbor was right. Madame Destival lost -patience; monsieur kept running to the dining-room and back, crying: - -"Everything will be cold! The little pts won't be eatable! It's -exceedingly unpleasant!" - -"Yes," said the man with the spectacles, "warmed-over pastry is good for -nothing, hum! hum! because it's good only when it's just out of the -oven, hum!" - -Monin seemed profoundly affected by what was said about the little -pts, and the uneasy gentleman scratched his nose with a piteous -expression. At last, about seven o'clock, there was a violent ring and -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire soon entered the salon. - -Athalie was resplendent; her costume was magnificent; her neck and arms -were covered with diamonds and their dazzling reflection was in perfect -harmony with the piquant expression of her features. At sight of her, -the men uttered involuntary murmurs of admiration; the women said -nothing, but scrutinized her costume, even to the tiniest details, and -their eyes were unable to dissemble a gleam of jealousy, because -everything was unexceptionable and there was nothing to criticise. Now -criticism is a source of the greatest pleasure in society, where people -do not spare even their friends! Fancy what they say of others! - -La Thomassinire, who had made twenty thousand francs that very morning -on a piece of land which he had resold, and who had the Marquis de -Cligneval at his table almost every day, had assumed a more supercilious -air than ever. He puffed himself out until his coat and his cravat were -too tight for him, dragged his feet when he walked, and swayed his body -like a pendulum. As he entered the salon he cast insolent glances upon -all the guests, bowed to nobody, trod upon feet and dresses without -apologizing, and did not answer Monin when he quitted his post behind -Bichette's chair to ask the speculator: - -"How's the state of your health?" - -"How cruel of you to keep us waiting, my dear La Thomassinire!" said -Monsieur Destival, offering his hand to the parvenu, who patronizingly -gave him two fingers to shake, saying: - -"Yes, that is true. But what can I do, when I haven't a moment to -myself? We nearly missed coming. My friend the marquis wanted to take us -into the country; but I thought that it would incommode you if we didn't -come, so I said: 'Let's go.' But it was a close shave, on my word!" - -During this conversation, Monin had remained behind La Thomassinire. -Obtaining no reply, he decided to return to his wife; but Bichette, who -saw everything that took place in every corner of the salon, had noticed -that La Thomassinire did not acknowledge her husband's salutation, and -she glared fiercely at the parvenu, as she said to Monin: - -"Why did you go to speak to that uncivil fellow?" - -"Bichette, I----" - -"Why do you need to inquire for everybody's health?" - -"Because, Bichette----" - -"Are you a friend of those people?" - -"You know perfectly well that we met them at Monsieur Destival's. Will -you have a pinch, Bichette?" - -"Didn't you notice that the insolent wretch, the pitiful creature, who -makes such a ridiculous splurge, turned his back on you without -acknowledging your greeting?" - -"Perhaps he didn't see me, Bichette." - -"Not see you! You were right under his nose! You're a chicken-hearted -creature, Monsieur Monin! Those Thomassinires shall pay me for this. -Meanwhile, let me see you speaking to that man or his wife, and I'll -take away your snuff-box for a week." - -Monin, terrified by that threat, retreated behind the chair and took -three pinches in rapid succession. But Domingo announced again that -dinner was served, and they all repaired to the dining-room. Dalville -offered his hand to the hostess, a provincial dandy escorted the -gorgeous Athalie, the spectacled gentleman went to the three sisters, -saying that he would take charge of the Graces, La Thomassinire went -out alone, considering doubtless that his own presence was honor enough, -Monin walked at a snail's pace with an old dowager, and Madame Monin -alone was left in the salon with Monsieur Bisbis--the little man who -shifted from one leg to the other;--he skipped forward to the stout lady -in the turban, offered her his right hand, then the left, then the right -again, until Madame Monin, out of patience, seized her escort about the -waist, as if she were going to dance a waltz, and pulled him into the -dining-room. - -Dalville occupied one of the places of honor beside the hostess, and on -his other side was the young lady who talked so easily. Athalie was -between the provincial beau and the gentleman with spectacles; her -husband was between an old lady and one of the three sisters. Madame -Monin had her escort for her neighbor, and Monsieur Monin found himself -seated beside the silly school-girl, who dared not raise her eyes, and -to whom he had twice offered snuff when the soup was served. - -The dinner was a magnificent affair: three courses, four entres to -each. Monin had no time to visit his snuff-box; he had not gone beyond -the anchovies, when the first course disappeared. La Thomassinire found -an opportunity to say that the madeira was poor, that the olives were -too salt, that the butter was not so good as that made on his country -place at Fleury, and that two servants were not enough to serve twenty -people. To be sure, he was often obliged to ask twice for a dish, -because Domingo never came quickly enough, and Baptiste got confused and -lost his head running around the table. - -During the second course Baptiste dropped a dish of macaroni on Madame -Monin, and Domingo broke a pile of plates because he tried to run. -Madame Monin shrieked because her dress of Naples silk was spotted, and -Madame Destival tried to pacify her. Monsieur Destival scolded his -servants, and Monin dared not fill his glass again because Bichette was -in a rage. - -Although he drank freely of all the wines, La Thomassinire kept -repeating that he had much better ones in his cellar. Destival made wry -faces at his wife, who was bright enough to pretend to pay no attention -to the parvenu's absurd talk. Athalie seemed to be bored by the insipid -remarks of her neighbors; Madame Monin was apparently attempting the -conquest of Monsieur Bisbis, who fidgeted on his chair, uncertain how to -eat the charlotte russe, which he finally decided to attack with his -fork. Monin longingly eyed the Roman punch, which he feared would never -reach him, and he said twice to Baptiste: - -"I say--er--servant, give me some of that dish they're passing over -there." - -But Baptiste, still in ill humor, walked away, muttering between his -teeth: - -"I've got something else to do. How all these people eat! There won't be -anything left for us!" - -Monin, his appeal being disregarded by Baptiste, decided to apply to -Domingo, to whom he gave his plate, saying: - -"Negro, just ask for a little of that shiny stuff for--for a person." - -Domingo presented the plate to Monsieur Destival, who was serving the -Roman punch. - -"A little shiny stuff," he said, "for little man with big nose." - -Everybody laughed, Madame Monin alone taking it very ill that the negro -should presume so to designate her husband; and she vented her wrath on -a third dish of cream, saying to Monsieur Bisbis: - -"I'd rather be served by four chimney-sweeps than a negro." - -After the coffee and the liqueurs, they left the table in about as -hilarious a mood as when they sat down; that is to say, everyone was -bored, as is usually the case at a formal dinner. But the people invited -for the evening were already coming in crowds; and Destival was -enchanted, because there was hardly room to move, and everyone -exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! what a crowd! how hot it is here!" - -The card tables were set out, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire took his -seat at an cart table, tossing his purse on the table, saying: "I play -for nothing but gold." - -But the young people--that is to say, the young ladies and some few men -who were sensible enough to prefer their conversation to a game of -cards--took refuge in Madame Destival's bedroom. Athalie also went -thither, as did Dalville and other young men. They decided that cards -should be barred out, and, in order to do something, someone proposed -playing games. - -The suggestion was accepted, and they seated themselves in a circle. -Madame Monin eagerly joined them and wanted to begin with "In my hole, -in the common hole, and in my neighbor's hole!" which she described to -the others by pointing her forefinger, with much dexterity, to the right -and left and centre of the assemblage; but, despite the neat way in -which Madame Monin put her finger in her neighbor's hole, the game was -voted down, in favor of crambo, which requires the imposing of forfeits; -although Madame Monin declared that it was too easy, and that her head -was full of rhymes. But she ran short on the second round, because the -others had said everything that she knew; so she looked at Monsieur -Bisbis, and said: - -"Give me one." - -"I'm trying to think of one for myself," whispered Monsieur Bisbis. - -They soon tired of crambo, and a young lady having proposed -blind-man's-buff seated, the gentlemen voted unanimously in favor of -that game. The little school-girl began; she recognized the third person -in whose lap she sat--her young cousin, who had come after dinner. After -him came the turn of the tall man with spectacles, who seated himself -cautiously on the ladies' laps, saying: - -"Hum! hum! I'll bet I can guess. Hum! hum! I know who it is. Parbleu! if -I could use my hands it would be too easy." - -However, he sat down upon the whole party without guessing; luckily -Madame Monin remained and she was readily recognizable. Enchanted to -have been caught, Madame Monin allowed herself to be bandaged, and -hurled herself recklessly at the circle. At the first onslaught her -weight crushed a young dandy, who cried: - -"Name me, madame, name me, I beg you!" - -"One moment, monsieur; you're in a terrible hurry," said Madame Monin, -trying to find something by which to recognize him. - -"Get off me, madame, I can't stand it any longer!" cried the young man, -turning purple. - -"It seems to me, monsieur, that you're not so much to be pitied, having -me on your knees." - -"I am suffocating, madame." - -The buxom dame persisted; but as everybody dreaded to receive her on his -knees, it was proposed to draw forfeits at once, despite the -remonstrances of Madame Monin, who was determined to sit on Monsieur -Bisbis's lap, although he swore that he had nothing to identify him. - -One of the three sisters had the forfeits wrapped in the skirt of her -dress. A young officer put in his hand to draw, and spent a very long -time mixing them up, so that there should be no cheating. Athalie -directed operations. She told the young officer to draw; but he -evidently had some difficulty in getting hold, for he was a long time -deciding to remove his hand from its hiding-place in the folds of the -young lady's dress. At last the forfeit was brought forth; it belonged -to the school-girl, and she was told to tell somebody something in -confidence. She hesitated, uncertain to whom she should turn, or rather -because she was afraid to select her little cousin, at whom she glanced -furtively, with a blush. But her mamma was there, so she chose Monsieur -Monin for her confidant. - -Monin, who had slipped behind his wife's chair, was amazed when the girl -said to him: - -"Will you come with me, monsieur?" - -The ex-druggist did not know what to do, so he leaned over his better -half and whispered: - -"Shall I go with her, Bichette?" - -"Greatly to be pitied, aren't you, for being chosen to receive a young -lady's confidence!" rejoined Madame Monin, smiling at Monsieur Bisbis. - -Whereupon Monin allowed the girl to take his hand and lead him to a -corner of the salon, where she whispered in his ear: - -"It's been a very fine day, monsieur." - -Monin stared at the young lady with a dazed expression. - -"What must I answer?" said he. - -"Nothing," was the reply. - -And the girl returned to her place, while Monin found his way back to -his wife, saying to the people about him: - -"It's a pretty game! I didn't know that I knew how to play it." - -The next forfeit was Athalie's. She was condemned to _sulk_, and all the -men sulked with her; and while sulking, Dalville obtained an -assignation. A very pretty thing, these innocent games! Well-brought-up -young ladies are forbidden to waltz, but they are permitted to give or -receive confidences, to hide with a young man, or to wait in a little -dark closet until the concierge of the convent is relieved; and there -are always kisses to be given and received in corners, secretly, behind -curtains. If I ever have a daughter, I shall allow her to waltz in my -presence, but forbid her to play _innocent_ games. - -The spectacled man was condemned to pay a compliment without using the -letter _a_. After scratching his forehead, he stepped into the middle of -the circle and said with a satisfied air: "_La femme est le -chef-d'oeuvre du monde_." - -The next forfeit was Madame Monin's, who was told to take a trip to -Cythera. She sprang to her feet and offered her hand to Monsieur Bisbis, -saying: - -"Come and travel with me." - -The stout man submitted to be led into a small study, the door of which -Madame Monin closed behind them, and Monsieur Monin, observing the -manoeuvre, said to one of his neighbors: - -"What are they going to do in there?" - -"They're in Cythera." - -"Oh, yes! I see what it is--another confidence; she's going to tell him -that it's a fine day to-day. I know the game now." - -After remaining some time, Bichette and her companion returned from -Cythera; and some ladies noticed that the turban was somewhat out of -place, and that Monsieur Bisbis did not know which leg to stand on--all -of which did not prevent Monin from going to meet his wife and asking: - -"Is it nice, Bichette?" - -"What, monsieur?" - -"At Cythera." - -"Very nice, monsieur." - -This reply was accompanied by a wanton glance at Monsieur Bisbis, who -scratched his nose longer than usual, while Monin approached him with -his snuff-box, saying: - -"Do you take it too?" - -The games were interrupted by the punch, which Domingo passed around -among the guests. He passed the salver to the ladies, who made a great -to-do about taking a glass of punch, which they declared was too strong, -although some of them partook a second time. The men crowded about -Domingo and seized the punch on the wing. Monin ran after the platter, -which had passed him several times; but he had not been able to capture -a glass. At last, after following Domingo throughout his winding course -among the guests, Monin succeeded in stopping him as he was returning to -the dining-room. - -"One minute, negro!" he said, putting out his hand toward the salver. -Domingo halted, muttering: - -"You want drink again?" - -"What's that? again!" cried Monin; "my word! he's a good one, he is! I -haven't had a taste, and I'm very fond of punch." - -As he spoke Monin glanced at the salver: all the glasses were empty. The -poor man was thunderstruck. - -"Me come again right away.--More punch, all hot," said Domingo, as he -left the room; and Monin, for consolation, drew his snuff-box, and -returned to the games, saying to himself: - -"I must try to catch him sooner than I did this time." - -Madame Monin, whom the trip to Cythera had made extremely warm, said to -her husband when he returned to her side: - -"Go get me another glass of punch, Monsieur Monin; the one I had wasn't -half full; I am sure that it's done on purpose so that they can pass it -round oftener without making any more." - -"The negro has no more, Bichette; but he told me he'd come right back -with some hot punch. So I----" - -"All right, that will do. Go away now; I believe this gentleman is -coming to ask me to make the _pont d'amour_." - -But Madame Monin's hope was disappointed; it was not to her that the -young officer condemned to make the _pont d'amour_ addressed himself but -to Athalie, who laughingly assisted him to perform his penance; and -Dalville observed with some vexation that the petite-matresse made the -_pont d'amour_ with others as readily as with him. For consolation he -gave a kiss _ la capucine_ to a young lady whose husband emulated the -Knight of the Rueful Countenance; and the school-girl received her -youthful cousin's confidence while her mamma was arranging for another -forfeit; and the pretty creature who held them in her dress pouted -because the young officer had ceased to draw them; and the spectacled -gentleman had been trying for an hour to draw another forfeit; while for -most of those present the game was simply a pretext to enable everybody -to remain beside the person to whom he or she was most attracted. That -is something which the papas and mammas do not always see, and about -which husbands give themselves little concern; but it is perfectly -apparent to the keen observer, who seeks in a salon something besides an -cart table, or a commonplace conversation with people whom he has -never met before and whom he has no desire to meet again. - -A fresh supply of punch diverted attention from the private -conversations, and from the games, which were beginning to flag. Domingo -was surrounded again and Monin started on the negro's trail; but the -young men who laughingly besieged the salver constantly put aside the -ex-druggist, who did not reach Domingo's side until the glasses were -once more empty. - -Sorely vexed, Monin returned to his wife, who had just finished her -third glass and handed it to her husband to take away. - -"It's rather good, isn't it, monsieur?" she said. - -"I don't know whether it's good or not," growled Monin angrily; "I -haven't succeeded yet in getting a taste of it." - -"Because you're not clever and don't know how to go about it. You should -have seen Monsieur Bisbis, how he pounced on the salver! I thought for a -minute that he was going to take all the glasses. But you're so slow!" - -"I'll tell you, Bichette--it's that negro----" - -"Go away from here, monsieur. They're going to play _la mer agite_ and -I must be in it." - -"What is _agite_, Bichette?" - -Seeing that his wife was paying no attention to him, it occurred to -Monsieur Monin to lie in ambush at the door of the salon; in that way he -hoped to be the first to seize the negro as he passed, and so make sure -of some punch. Highly pleased with his scheme, Monin took his stand like -a sentinel at the entrance to the salon, stuffing his nose with snuff in -order to be more patient. But he waited more than half an hour and -Domingo did not appear. Monin ventured to glance into the dining-room. -He smelt the punch; that sweet-smelling vapor indicated that the mixture -was not all consumed. He crept into the reception room, and, guided by -the odor, reached a small door, which stood ajar, and discovered Domingo -drinking punch, not from a small glass, but from a large porcelain -pitcher. Monin was standing, speechless with surprise, in his corner, -when Baptiste appeared from the servants' quarters with a plate full of -biscuits. He pushed the negro aside, tossed off several glasses in quick -succession, then dipped his biscuits in the punch and ate them -hurriedly, while Domingo, by way of compensation, stuffed macaroons and -nutcakes into his jacket pockets. - -Monin was wondering whether he should go away, or should ask the -servants' leave to take something, when Monsieur Destival, who had been -calling vainly for Domingo and Baptiste in the salon, appeared on the -scene and surprised them. - -"Ah! you knaves! you scoundrels! I have caught you at it!" he cried, -rushing at his servants. Domingo ran from the room, but Baptiste stood -his ground, and retorted, undismayed: - -"Don't yell so loud for a little punch! Don't make such a row! I was -very glad to have a drop of it myself; I've worked hard enough to-day." - -"What does this mean, villain? You presume to argue! You wretch! eating -my biscuit too! rascal! thief!" - -"Thief!" retorted Baptiste, glaring at Monsieur Destival with a furious -expression; "don't you dare to insult me--that wouldn't be good for you! -I must be mighty good-natured to stay in your old shanty, where the -servants don't get anything to eat or drink! And what about my wages for -two years, that I can't get hold of a sou of! to say nothing of the -money I've advanced." - -"All right, Baptiste, hush!" said Monsieur Destival in a lower tone; -"that's enough, I won't say any more." - -"But I tell you that I'm tired of it," rejoined Baptiste, shouting -louder than ever. "Oh, yes! you hire a black man and you don't pay me -any more'n you do the baker and butcher and fruit woman and grocer, -whose abuse I have to listen to every morning! Well! I want my money, -and if you don't like it, I don't care a hang; with all the airs you put -on, I know what's what." - -"Hush, for heaven's sake, Baptiste! What's the meaning of all this -foolish talk? Come, my boy, eat another biscuit, and then go to bed." - -Baptiste's shouting had attracted several persons from the salon. - -"What is it? what's the matter?" they asked one another; and Destival -made haste to reply: - -"It's nothing; my valet is drunk and doesn't know what he's saying." - -"No, I ain't drunk either," cried Baptiste, walking toward the door; -"pay me my wages instead of calling me 'thief.'" - -Destival hastily closed the door on Baptiste's heels and locked it. - -"The poor fellow," he said, "talks like a fool when he's drunk; but I -overlook it, because he's very much attached to me." - -The people who had come thither pretended to believe what Monsieur -Destival said, because it would have been discourteous to do otherwise; -but they exchanged stealthy glances, laughed and whispered together, and -made comments under their breath, while Baptiste, unable to return to -the room, beat a devil's tattoo on the door, shouting in a hoarse voice: - -"My wages! pay me and discharge me; that's just what I'd like! I get -tired of hearing the row your creditors make every day." - -Luckily the closed door muffled Baptiste's voice to some extent; and, in -order that he might be heard even less distinctly, the business agent -shouted louder than he: - -"All right, Baptiste, all right! You'll be sorry for this, but I forgive -you; I know that you're faithful, and that's enough for me." - -Meanwhile Monin had seen his last hope fade away; for it was not to be -presumed that the servants would bring more punch to the salon; so he -returned to his wife. The guests were discussing the scene in the -reception-room, even in the midst of their innocent games; and Madame -Monin exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! if I hadn't been presenting my _little box of amourettes_ at -that moment, I shouldn't have lost a word of what that Baptiste said. -But you were there, Monsieur Monin, and heard everything. What -happened?" - -"I was watching for the negro to get some punch, Bichette, and it was he -who drank it." - -"Who's he?" - -"The black." - -"Who's the black?" - -"The servant in a red jacket." - -"Well?" - -"Well, then he took macaroons--No, I believe it was the other one who -ate biscuits first--I am not perfectly sure." - -"Oh! you tell a story wretchedly, Monsieur Monin! Instead of listening -to what was said, you were engrossed by biscuit and macaroons. For -shame! you are such a glutton! You go into company only to drink and -eat." - -"But, Bichette, when I tell you that I didn't----" - -"Bah! hold your tongue and find my shawl; everyone's going, you see." - -In truth, the time for departure had arrived, and the mammas had already -donned their bonnets and shawls. The younger women took more time to -find their wraps, and some obliging young man was always at hand to -offer to help a pretty girl to find what she wanted. They still had -something to say to one another before separating, and they chose to -take advantage of the confusion that prevailed in the salon at that -moment. - -Dalville had heard nothing of the scene in the reception room, being -occupied in kissing _what was beneath the candlestick_, which he had -taken pains to place over the head of a very attractive young woman; so -that he gave little thought to what was happening elsewhere. And Madame -de la Thomassinire, intent only upon making new victims, had not -listened to the unkind remarks concerning the host and hostess that were -flying about in all directions. - -Soon the salon was nearly empty. The ladies took their leave and Auguste -did likewise, well pleased that he had passed the evening without -playing cart, and to have discovered that one can enjoy oneself -without losing money. When he reached home he went upstairs and rang, -but no one opened the door. As Bertrand usually sat up for his master, -little Tony seldom carried a key. Having rung again with no better -success, Auguste reflected that Bertrand, whom he had told to go out and -enjoy himself, might very well not have returned; so he sent Tony to -inquire of the concierge and he remained on the landing, thinking that a -few days earlier he would readily have found a place to pass the night -without leaving the house. - -His neighbor, who had probably heard him come upstairs and ring, donned -a peignoir and left her room, candle in hand. She went down one flight -and saw her neighbor calmly pacing the floor of the landing. She -descended a few more stairs, coughed slightly, and decided at last to go -down to him. A pretty woman is very seductive in a peignoir, with her -hair loosely secured by a silk handkerchief, from beneath which a few -stray locks escape and fall upon a white breast, which the peignoir -never conceals altogether, because there are always one or two -ill-placed pins, which betray the secrets of beauty, or, perhaps, act as -its confederates. - -"Can't you get in, Monsieur Dalville?" asked Madame Saint-Edmond, in the -soft voice which she could assume so readily when she was not left -behind with a bill to pay. - -Auguste bowed low to his neighbor and replied coldly: - -"As you see, madame." - -"Monsieur Bertrand must have forgotten himself somewhere. Perhaps -something has happened to him." - -"I trust not." - -"That would be a great pity! such a fine fellow, and so fond of you!" - -Lonie heaved a profound sigh and said nothing more. Auguste leaned over -the rail to see if Tony were coming up. Lonie, finding that Auguste -said nothing more, decided to reopen the conversation. - -"Perhaps you would like to sit in my room, monsieur, until you can get -in? I should think that you would be more comfortable than on this -landing." - -"I thank you, madame, but I do not wish to disturb you or to interfere -with your sleep." - -"It won't disturb me, monsieur. As for my sleep, for several days I -haven't slept at all." - -"Is it because you have lost your poodle again, madame?" - -"How unkind! How you make fun of my grief!" - -Lonie heaved a more profound sigh than before, and as she had no -handkerchief, she lifted a corner of her peignoir and put it to her -eyes. That movement discovered some very seductive things; but when one -is weeping, one cannot think of everything, and when one's eyes are -covered, one cannot see what one has disclosed. - -Auguste, distrusting his weakness, continued to lean over the rail, and -did not take his eyes from the concierge's door. - -"Well, Tony, are you coming back to-night?" he cried. - -Lonie walked to where he stood and said in a touching voice: - -"Mon Dieu! what on earth have I done to you, monsieur?" - -"What have you done to me, madame? Why, it seems to me that you know -quite as well as I do." - -"Oh! monsieur, how can an intelligent man trust appearances?" - -"It seems to me, madame, that no intelligence was required to see what I -saw." - -"Why, what did you see, monsieur? May not a woman dine with a man at a -restaurant without having the slightest preference for him? And you -yourself, monsieur--what were you doing with that creature who had the -impertinence to hold a mustard pot under my nose?" - -"Oh! I am more honest than you, madame: I admit that I deceived you." - -"Ah! what an unhappy creature I am!" - -And Lonie had recourse to her usual expedient--she fainted; but she was -careful to fall toward Auguste, who found himself with his neighbor in -his arms. At that moment little Tony came upstairs and said that it was -impossible to understand what Schtrack said, as he was drunk. Auguste -gently laid Lonie on the stairs and told Tony to look after her; then -he went down to interview his concierge, who was half asleep and could -hardly speak. - -"Has Bertrand come in?" demanded Auguste, shaking the old German's arm; -whereupon he raised his head and sent a puff of wine-laden breath into -the young man's face as he hiccoughed: - -"Pertrand! sacreti! Pertrand!" - -"Come, Schtrack, speak out; you were with him, weren't you?" - -"Ya." - -"Where is he?" - -"Haf you not found him?" - -"If I had found him, should I be questioning you? Where is he? where did -you leave him? why didn't he come home with you?" - -"Sacreti! I vas not strong enough to carry Pertrand; he could not valk -no more; but ve haf ein pig lot trunken." - -"So I see; but where shall I find Bertrand?" - -"Ach! you vill see him quite vell; dere is no tanger! He is in a safe -blace--up the street. Go up und up--near the Parrire Montmartre." - -"Is he in a wine-shop?" - -"No; don't I tell you that you vill see him quite vell?" - -Unable to extract any further information from Schtrack, Auguste decided -to go in search of Bertrand; he succeeded in getting the door opened, -and went out in the middle of the night to try to find his faithful -comrade, with no other guide than the very vague information given him -by Schtrack. From Rue Saint-Georges where he lived, he went by way of -Rue Saint-Lazare to Rue des Martyrs, knowing that Montmartre was -Bertrand's usual promenade. - -Desiring to avail himself of the permission Auguste had given him, -Bertrand had invited Schtrack to go for a walk with him. The old German -did not think of refusing; and, leaving his wife in his place, he -polished his boots, took his cane and accompanied friend Bertrand, who -had no sooner passed the porte cochre than he began on the battle of -Wagram, which was certain to take them a very long way. In fact, the -battle of Wagram was still in progress when they arrived at the Buttes -de Montmartre, without once stopping for a drink. Schtrack, who had thus -far ventured upon nothing beyond a _sacreti!_ proposed that they should -go into a wine-shop, which proposition was instantly acted upon. They -found the wine very poor because they were accustomed to Dalville's -cellar, and they left that wine-shop to look for a better one. They -went into another, drank another bottle, decided again that it was poor -stuff and went in search of a third. After four hours of prospecting -they had visited six wine-shops and drunk six bottles. When they reached -the seventh, they began to think that the wine was better, or rather -they were no longer in condition to pass judgment on it. Bertrand began -again on his campaigns; Schtrack smoked four cigars, and it was nearly -midnight when our friends were informed that it was closing time. - -Bertrand paid without looking at the bill, and they left the shop; but -the fresh air put the finishing touch to their intoxication. Bertrand -especially, who was not accustomed to poor wine, soon felt his legs -begin to wobble, and at the corner of Rue des Martyrs and Rue du -Faubourg-Montmartre, he fell, reviling himself as a coward and sluggard -and a wretched drinker. - -Schtrack, who had kept his head better because he was used to wine-shop -wine, emitted a _sacreti!_ when he saw Bertrand fall, and tried to -raise him. He could not succeed. After several minutes, during which -Schtrack exclaimed from time to time: "Come, come, comrade Pertrand, off -we go!" the old German discovered that his companion was already snoring -as if he were in his bed. - -"So, so! he's asleep!" thought Schtrack; "I must not vake him; he pe -vell comfort there to sleep. Put, suppose some carriage might pass und -not see mein comrade!" - -This reflection disturbed Schtrack, who was quite ready to go to sleep -himself; but, looking about, he saw a grocer's shop still open. Thither -he went post haste and asked for a lamp. They gave it to him, after -lighting it at his request. Beacon in hand, Schtrack returned to -Bertrand, who was still sleeping peacefully, stretched out by the wall. -The old concierge took the sleeper's hat, placed it beside his head with -the lamp upon it, and went away, saying to himself: - -"Now, there is no tanger, he can sleep in beace." - -Auguste spied the lamp, but for which he would have passed Bertrand -without seeing him. The young man could not help smiling at Schtrack's -ingenious device. He shook the ex-corporal, who opened his eyes, half -rose, pushed the guardian lamp away with his elbow, and could not -imagine why he was in the street. Auguste explained matters to him. -Bertrand, whom his nap had sobered, was distressed that he had forgotten -himself to the point of falling drunk in the street, and insisted on -throwing himself into the river, to punish himself for drinking so much -wine. Auguste succeeded in pacifying him, and they returned home, the -young man thinking of Lonie's treachery, Athalie's coquetry, Denise's -dissembling, and promising himself to be more prudent in future; -Bertrand recalling the wretched wine at the wine-shops, and swearing -that he would drink no more. - - - - -XIII - -DENISE AND COCO IN PARIS - - -Not more than ten days had passed after Dalville's visit to Montfermeil, -when, on returning from the wine-shop one evening, Pre Calleux, who -probably saw double, or else did not see at all, fell into a ditch newly -dug beside the road; in that ditch was a pile of stones intended for -repairing the road, and the peasant broke his head upon them. The next -day little Coco was an orphan. - -But he still had Denise, who loved him dearly, Mre Fourcy, who had -become attached to him, and lastly, the friendly interest of Auguste. -Among friends who give us proofs of affection, we cease to feel quite -alone on earth. How many unhappy creatures there are, who might well -believe themselves to be orphans although their parents are not dead! - -Denise paid a few small debts which Pre Calleux had left, amounting to -less than a hundred francs; for a poor man can get but little credit. -The cabin remained--the child's only patrimony; but it was in such a -tumbledown condition that it was dangerous to live in it. The thatched -roof was half gone, the cracked walls threatened to fall, and the -materials of which it was built were so poor that no use could be made -of them. So that there was really nothing but the land; but with -Dalville's contribution it would be possible to build a little cottage, -surround it with a garden and cultivate it. That is what Denise said to -her aunt, who replied: - -"Don't be in a hurry, my child. You'd better wait till the gentleman -comes again, and ask him what he thinks." - -But at sixteen one does not like to wait; Denise reflected that it might -be a very long time before the handsome gentleman came to the village -again, and one morning, as she looked at the address which Auguste had -left with her, and to which her eyes very often turned, she exclaimed: - -"Suppose we write to that gentleman, aunt! He gave us his address, you -know, so that we could send word to him if we needed him." - -"You're right, my child," said Mre Fourcy; "your ideas are always good. -You know how to write, so you must write to him, my girl." - -Denise was lost in thought and did not reply. - -"Have you forgotten how to write, my child?" continued Mre Fourcy. - -"Oh! no, aunt; but I can't write well enough to write to a gentleman -from Paris." - -"In that case, my dear, get that old man to write to him, who's just -come here to live, and who writes all the nurses' letters. He handles -his pen fine, I tell you! He'll write a sentence two pages long to tell -you your child's had the colic, or needs a new cap. Or else ask neighbor -Mauflard to do you the favor; he's an old schoolmaster, and he ought to -write like a Barme's grammar!" - -Denise was still silent; but after a moment she said, lowering her eyes: - -"Don't you think, aunt, that it would be better to go to Paris and speak -to the gentleman? Wouldn't it be more polite than writing?" - -"You're right again, my child; and there's a little stage that starts -for Paris at eight o'clock every morning and brings you back at four." - -"And then, aunt, I've been to Paris twice, you know, and nothing ever -happened to me." - -"All right, my child, go ahead; nothing ever happens to anybody unless -they want it to." - -"And I'll take Coco with me, shan't I, aunt?" - -"Yes, my dear; that will please the gentleman. It will be polite to him; -and if I wasn't so busy here, I'd go with you and ask him to give me -some dinner, because I know what's the right thing to do, you see." - -Denise was quite as well pleased that her aunt should not go with her; -but she was overjoyed that she herself was allowed to go, and she ran -off to engage seats for herself and Coco for the next day. The rest of -that day she spent in preparing her dress. Coco jumped for joy when he -learned that he was going in a stage to see his kind friend, and Mre -Fourcy packed two pairs of chickens, two dozen eggs, some fruit and -cake, in a basket, as a present for the young gentleman in Paris. - -Denise was up before dawn. It was early in October; but it was a lovely -day, and reminded the girl of that on which she first met Auguste. Her -toilet was soon made; she wore a new dress and her daintiest cap--the -one in which, on Sundays, she turned the heads of all the young men in -the village, and drove the girls to despair. But would that pretty cap -have the same power in Paris? Denise had no desire to make conquests; -there was but one person whom she wished to please, although she said to -herself a hundred times a day: - -"No, no! I am not in love with him." - -Coco was dressed very neatly. Mre Fourcy gave them the basket, saying: - -"Give him my compliments, and tell him to think of me when he eats the -chickens, and to tell me how he likes that cake!" - -Denise and Coco ran, for fear of missing the stage; at last they were -safely inside, the basket between Denise's legs, and they started for -Paris. - -It was not a long journey; but it seemed endless to Denise; whereas the -child, delighted to be in the stage, wished that they might never -arrive. However, they reached the stage office on Rue Saint-Martin in -due course, and Denise, taking the basket on her arm, took Coco by the -hand, and having inquired the way to Rue Saint-Georges, started in the -direction of the Chausse-d'Antin. - -Denise's beauty and her peasant costume attracted more than one -compliment on the way; but the girl quickened her pace without -replying, although the basket was very heavy and Coco began to be -fatigued by walking on the pavements. - -When one is unfamiliar with a place, one is likely to walk farther than -is necessary. Denise many times mistook one street for another; she -disliked to inquire, because they to whom she applied seemed inclined to -offer her their arms. She was warm and perspiring, and Coco was cross -and kept saying: - -"Where's my kind friend, I'd like to know?" - -They had been walking more than an hour when they found themselves at -last on Rue Saint-Georges. - -"Here we are, Coco," said Denise, joyously; "here's Monsieur Auguste's -house, and you'll soon have a chance to embrace your kind friend! He'll -be glad to see you. Oh, yes! I'm sure he'll give us a warm welcome." - -The child forgot his fatigue. They passed under the porte cochre, and -Denise looked about in embarrassment. She could not control her emotion, -and she halted with the child and her basket between two handsome -stairways, uncertain which way to turn; while Coco began to cry at the -top of his voice: - -"My kind friend, we've brought you some cake and some fruit!" - -"Vat's all this how-d'ye-do?" said Schtrack, opening his door and -glaring at the young woman and the child, who were standing in the -middle of the courtyard. "I say, my girl, haf you come here to sell -geese?" - -Denise blushed, and stammered as she looked at Schtrack: - -"Which way shall I go up, monsieur?" - -"You mustn't go up at all, sacreti! This is not ein boultry market. Go -outside und yell mit te leedle broder." - -Schtrack was about to come forth to turn Denise and the child into the -street, when Bertrand came downstairs, and was thunderstruck to see the -girl. - -"What! is it you, my child?--and little Coco too?" - -"Yes, Monsieur Bertrand, it's us. Oh! I'm so glad to see you! he was -just going to turn us out of the house." - -"What's that? you were going to turn this girl out, Schtrack?" - -"Sacreti! why haf she not told me what she want? Te leedle poy, he bray -like a tonkey in the courtyard: 'Kind freund! kind freund! see the -cakes!'--Did I know his kind freund?" - -"It's my fault, Monsieur Bertrand; I didn't think--I was so confused. -Can't we see Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Yes, indeed," Bertrand replied with some embarrassment. "Oh, yes! you -shall see him. Come upstairs with me, Mamzelle Denise." - -The girl and the child followed Bertrand, who admitted them with some -precaution into Auguste's apartment and took them at once to the small -salon, saying: - -"Stay here and rest, and wait a little while." - -"Has Monsieur Auguste gone out?" - -"No, but he--he has company; he's busy just at this minute." - -"Tell him we're here, Monsieur Bertrand, and I'll bet he'll come right -away. We won't keep him long." - -"Yes, I'll tell him that. But wait; I'll be back in a minute." - -Bertrand left the salon, being careful to close the door behind him. -Denise examined the fine furniture and pictures with which the room was -embellished, and Coco lay on a couch. But the moments passed and nobody -came. The girl's heart sank; she had secretly hoped that Auguste would -be glad to see her, and the lack of haste which he displayed in coming -to her, made her fear that she had flattered herself too much. - -She dared not leave the room, or even open a door. Coco had fallen -asleep; the girl seated herself in a corner, refrained from making the -slightest noise, in order not to wake the child, and gazed ruefully at -the basket containing the gifts she had brought to the fine city -gentleman. - -At last Bertrand returned with a dissatisfied air, and said in an -undertone: - -"You are tired of waiting, aren't you? Thunder and guns! I can -understand that; but it ain't my fault, mamzelle, because my orders -before everything! I don't know anything but my orders." - -"Isn't Monsieur Auguste at home?" - -"Oh, yes! he's at home, but he can't see you yet, because his orders--" - -"But, Monsieur Bertrand, it isn't polite not to come and speak to -people; with us, we don't leave our friends all alone like this." - -"Oh! it's different in Paris, mamzelle. I know what my lieutenant -promised to do to me if I disturbed him when he's--busy; and I can't -disobey orders." - -"Then we'll go away." - -"Wait a little longer; perhaps it won't be very long." - -At that moment they heard sounds in the reception-room, and Mademoiselle -Virginie entered the salon. - -"Here I am!" she cried; "I snapped my fingers at your orders, I did! -That old villain of a Schtrack didn't want to let me come up. 'Monsir -isn't in,' he says. But I came on all the same.--I say! who's this -little farmer's wench? She's not so bad-looking! Is it on her account -that Monsieur Auguste closes his door to his friends?" - -Denise stared at Virginie in amazement, while Bertrand motioned to the -latter to be quiet, saying in an irritated tone: - -"It seems to me, mademoiselle, that when a concierge says that you can't -come up, you should respect his orders." - -"Go to the deuce with your orders! He told me there wasn't anyone here, -and he lied, you see. Bertrand, who on earth is this rustic beauty?" - -"She's a young girl from the country." - -"Pardi! I can see for myself that she don't live on Rue Vivienne. What a -sly fox he is!--What is she here for? Is it her young one asleep on the -couch? The devil! he's quite a big boy already!" - -"This is a most respectable young woman, mademoiselle; she came to bid -Monsieur Dalville good-day, and brought this child, that he thinks a -great deal of. There isn't the slightest harm in that." - -"All right! so much the better, if there's no harm. I say! what an -amusing fellow you are, Bertrand, when you put on that severe -expression! It's a fact that the girl has a very innocent look. I'm sure -that her cap would be mighty becoming to me." - -During this conversation, which was carried on in undertones, Denise -kept her eyes on the floor; she saw that Mademoiselle Virginie looked at -her a great deal, and that redoubled her embarrassment. - -"Why on earth does Monsieur Dalville keep this sweet child waiting?" -said Virginie, assuming an affable air and approaching Denise. - -"Because monsieur is busy and told me not to disturb him." - -"Ah, yes! I understand, I comprehend! _Ask me no more!_" - -Bertrand motioned to her to be silent; but she sat down beside Denise, -paying no attention to the ex-corporal. - -"Have you come far, mademoiselle?" - -"From Montfermeil, madame," replied Denise timidly. The word madame -seemed to flatter Virginie, who threw her head back and tried to assume -a dignified bearing, as she rejoined: - -"Montfermeil? that's in the direction of Sceaux, I believe?" - -"No, madame, it's near Raincy." - -"Ah, yes! to be sure; I was mixed up. Is the little fellow asleep yonder -your brother?" - -"No, madame, he's a poor little orphan, that Monsieur Auguste is taking -care of." - -"The deuce! does Auguste do that kind of thing? That's very fine of him, -and I am glad to hear it; it gives him a higher place in my esteem.--And -you want to see Auguste, do you?" - -"Yes, madame; Coco's father has just died, and I wanted to consult -Monsieur Dalville." - -"What have you got in that basket?" - -"Some little presents from our place--eggs and chickens, and some cake -that my aunt made herself." - -"Oh! I'm awfully fond of village-made cake! Will you let me taste it, my -young village maid?" - -Denise would have preferred to present the cake untouched to Auguste; -but she dared not refuse Mademoiselle Virginie, who instantly opened the -basket and broke off a big piece, which she proceeded to eat, continuing -the conversation meanwhile. - -"I'm very much afraid, my dear, that you've come here for nothing." - -"Why so, madame?" - -"Oh! that ne'er-do-well will let you cool your heels here till to-morrow -morning." - -"Who, madame?" - -"Why, Auguste, to be sure! The cake is fine, and the butter delicious. -It reminds me of my childhood; I used to eat cake like this every night; -I bought it for four sous at the little shop on Boulevard Saint-Denis, -where there's always a line waiting; it's famous for this cake.--To go -back, I was saying, my dear, that Dalville is undoubtedly with some -hussy or other, and that's why we can't speak to him." - -"What! do you think so, madame?" - -"Oh! I'm sure of it! Do you suppose I don't know all about it? -Bertrand's embarrassment, and the concierge's orders. In fact, it's a -most surprising thing that he let you come up." - -"It was Monsieur Bertrand who made him let me in; if it hadn't been for -him, I should have been sent away." - -"For my part, it's all a matter of indifference to me; I look on Auguste -as my brother now. But you are pale, my child! Don't you feel well?" - -"Yes, madame, I'm all right." - -"How lucky you are, my child, to be virtuous, and not to know anything -about the passions! Always retain this innocence.--Bertrand, can't you -see that this cake is choking me? For heaven's sake, give me something -to drink, and this child will take something too." - -"No, thank you, madame." - -"Ah! the little fellow's waking up!" - -Coco opened his eyes and looked about in amazement; then ran to Denise, -saying: - -"Where's my kind friend?" - -"Oh! I guess we shan't see him," said the girl, in a tremulous voice, -looking at the clock, which marked the quarter-past three, then turning -her eyes on Bertrand with an imploring expression, as if to urge him to -call Auguste. - -"He's a pretty little fellow," said Virginie, passing her hand over -Coco's head. "I'd like to have a child like him, because a child gives -one a respectable look." - -A bell rang in the next room. - -"Monsieur is calling me," said Bertrand; and he hurried from the salon. -At the same moment little Tony ran rapidly downstairs to put the horse -in the cabriolet. - -Denise expected every minute to see Auguste come in. Virginie was -playing with Coco. At last Denise recognized Dalville's voice, speaking -earnestly to Bertrand, and in a moment the young man entered the salon. -But he had his hat on his head, his gloves in his hand, and seemed in a -great hurry. The girl ran to meet him, with the child, taking her basket -in her hand. - -"Good-afternoon, Denise! good-afternoon, my boy!" said Auguste, kissing -the child and taking no notice of Virginie. "Have you been waiting for -me? I am very sorry that I can't stay with you now." - -"Monsieur, my aunt sends you her respects," said Denise, "and these -chickens, eggs, pears, and----" - -"Thanks, Denise, thanks! I----" - -"Pray, come, monsieur; I am waiting!" said a woman's voice impatiently -in the reception-room--a voice which strongly resembled Madame de la -Thomassinire's. - -"Adieu, adieu! I will see you again," said Auguste to Denise. - -And, giving her no time to reply, he hastily left the room, closing the -door behind him, and went out of the house with a young woman enveloped -in a great shawl and covered with a thick veil, who shrank out of sight -on the back seat of the cabriolet. - -Denise stood perfectly still, basket in hand; but great tears rolled -from her eyes, and the basket would have dropped, had not Virginie, who -had drawn near, saved it as she caught the girl in her arms. - -"Well, well! what on earth's the matter with you, my dear? On my word! -she's really crying! Mon Dieu! is she going to faint?--Bring me -something, Bertrand!--The idea of being unhappy just for a man, my dear -girl! God bless me! they ain't worth the trouble! If you knew 'em as -well as I do! I admit that Monsieur Auguste wasn't very polite, to -hardly answer you and not even thank you!--Ah! her color's coming back a -little.--It really scared me to see you like that!" - -Denise took out her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and called Coco. - -"Come, my dear, let's go," she said; "we must go back to the village." - -"Ain't my kind friend coming with us?" said Coco, as he took Denise's -hand. - -"Oh, no! he hasn't even time to speak to us. Come, Coco, let's go. We -must be at the stage office at four." - -"I'll show you the way, my dear," said Virginie; "you might lose -yourself in Paris." - -"I was going to offer you my arm, mamzelle," said Bertrand. - -"No, thanks, Monsieur Bertrand, don't put yourself out; it isn't -necessary." - -"Why not, Mamzelle Denise?" - -"We'll find the way all right. As for Monsieur Auguste, tell him we -won't trouble him any more." - -"You're wrong to be put out with him, Mamzelle Denise; if somebody -hadn't been waiting for him----" - -"Yes, to be sure," said Virginie, "it was very polite of him: to not so -much as thank this pretty child for her present! magnificent chickens, -fine pears, and fresh eggs! Fresh eggs are so good! Will you allow me to -put three in my bag for my breakfast to-morrow?" - -"As many as you please, madame," said Denise; "for I see very clearly -that Monsieur Auguste cares very little indeed for what we took so much -pleasure in bringing him." - -"I tell you, my dear, that men ain't worth a pirouette," said Virginie, -putting four eggs into her reticule; then she followed Denise, who left -the room with the child, refusing Bertrand's escort. - -Madame Saint-Edmond was coming upstairs with a young man at the moment -that Denise, with a heavy heart and red eyes, left Dalville's apartment, -leading Coco by the hand. Lonie was furiously angry with Auguste since -he had left her in a swoon on the landing, to go in search of Bertrand. -Having abandoned the hope of renewing her relations with him, she seized -every opportunity to annoy him. That is the way in which a woman who has -never loved always takes her revenge. - -When she saw the peasant girl coming from Dalville's apartment, Madame -Saint-Edmond stopped, looked at her with a sneer, and said to her -companion: - -"Ah! rather a queer rig; but she has come here to be educated, no -doubt." - -"What's that, what does she say?" cried Virginie, who was following -Denise, and had overheard Lonie's last words; but the latter hurried -upstairs. - -"I don't know," said Denise; "I never saw the lady before, so she -couldn't have been speaking to me." - -"Oh! I know her," said Virginie, running up a few stairs and looking -after Lonie. "Oh, yes! I know her. I don't advise her to put on airs. -_We won't go to the forest again without paying for our dinner._" - -But Madame Saint-Edmond had already entered her room and closed her -door. Virginie left the house with Denise, to whom she had taken a -fancy; and she fairly forced her to take her arm for the walk to the -stage office. - -Denise was depressed and replied briefly to the innumerable questions -which Virginie asked her; but she was perfectly well able to carry on a -conversation all alone. When they arrived at the office, the stage was -ready to start. Virginie kissed Denise and said to her: - -"Adieu, my dear! Don't be downcast like this. You're very lucky to live -in the country; it's a thousand times better than this rascally Paris! -You'll find more lovers in your village than you want. I say! is that -the stage? It's a regular little chamber-pot like the one that goes to -Saint-Denis. When I have time, I'll come and see you, and you must teach -me how to make butter. Adieu, my dear girl.--Be careful, driver, and -don't get upset; remember that you have a Love in your little pot." - -Denise and Coco started for home less cheerful than when they set out. -The event often falsifies our hopes, and we find pain where we had -thought to find pleasure. - - - - -XIV - -THE SCHOOL FOR PARVENUS - - -"Poor Denise was very downhearted when she went away," said Bertrand to -Auguste on the day following the girl's trip to Paris. - -"I was very sorry indeed not to be able to talk with her any longer," -Dalville replied; "but it wasn't my fault--that lady was waiting for -me." - -"That lady! That lady might perhaps have waited a few minutes more." - -"Bertrand!" - -"Excuse me, lieutenant; the fact is, I was really distressed to see you -hardly speak to that girl, at whose home we were treated so hospitably. -Just remember the welcome they gave us, and how delighted they were to -see you!" - -"Oh! I haven't forgotten it." - -"You didn't even thank her for her present!" - -"I didn't see it. But we will go to the village soon, and I will make up -for my neglect. I am to dine at Madame de la Thomassinire's to-day, -Bertrand; there will be a lot of people, and a large party in the -evening. Probably I shall not come home until morning. By the way, make -a memorandum to the effect that I have lent a hundred louis to Monsieur -le Marquis de Cligneval, who was very unlucky at cards a day or two ago, -at a house where I happened to be; he is to pay me very soon." - -Bertrand did not reply; but as he went to the cash-box he muttered: - -"More money that we shall never see again! He's forever lending, and no -one ever pays him back!" - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, whose fortune increased every day, -determined to celebrate his wife's birthday by a grand demonstration. -The invitations had been issued a week in advance. There was every -indication that the banquet would be the most sumptuous that the -speculator had ever given. He expected to have at his table marquises -and chevaliers who deigned to call him their friend; poets who had -promised to mention him in their works; and some old acquaintances whom -he expected to overcome by the magnificence of the festivity. Monsieur -and Madame Destival were in the last category. - -Everybody was in motion in Monsieur de la Thomassinire's palatial -mansion. The upholsterers had decorated the salons, prepared the -chandeliers and candelabra. The servants flew hither and thither -carrying orders; the scullions obeyed the behests of their commander. -Three women were in attendance on madame, who had been at her toilet -since three o'clock, and it was now five. But Athalie was fickle in her -tastes: the thing that pleased her one day displeased her the next day; -she had already cast aside two caps, in which she declared that she was -hideously ugly; she lost her patience, raged, stamped, tore a superb -piece of tulle, pulled a bouquet to pieces, scolded her women, and was -on the verge of hysteria because they brought her a set of blue jewelry -when she wanted violet. At last they succeeded in pacifying her by -assuring her that her hair was arranged to perfection; she deigned to -look at herself in the mirror, scowled at first, then smiled, and said -at last: - -"It is true; I look rather well." - -At half-past five the guests began to arrive. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, who was a little less insolent in his own house than in -other people's houses, went to meet the titled personages who had -condescended to do him the honor of accepting his dinner, and deigned to -bestow a smile upon those whom he had honored with an invitation. - -Monsieur and Madame Destival arrived in due course. Since he had had a -negro, the business agent had adopted the habit of blinking, and -pretended to be very short-sighted. His wife was attired with an -elegance that rivalled Athalie's own; and her intelligent eyes seemed to -assume an even more malicious expression as they rested on the master -and mistress of the house. - -All the guests appeared at last, Auguste among them. It was a brilliant -assemblage: women of fashion, dandies, men with decorations, filled the -salon, where Athalie did the honors, apportioning her courtesies to the -rank or wealth of their recipients. Monsieur de la Thomassinire stalked -proudly through the rooms, saying: - -"This affair will make a great sensation! The marquis has promised to -mention it at court; there's a poet here, who's a newspaper man too, and -he tells me that my name will appear in an article of at least a column! -My name in an article a column long! The deuce! how popular I shall be! -When Destival can give a dinner like mine, I'll agree that he can call -himself somebody. Poor creatures! they are dying of envy, and I'm glad -of it!" - -At half-past six the company repaired to the dining-room, where the -table was laid with forty covers. Monsieur Destival was seated at the -lower end, between a child of six and an old deaf gentleman. He -swallowed the affront, with a glance at his wife; and their eyes -exchanged a meaning look in which they seemed to promise themselves a -sweet revenge. - -The soup had just been removed, when an uproar, evidently occasioned by -people quarrelling, arose in the adjoining room. - -"What does this mean? Lafleur! Jasmin! Who dares to make a disturbance -in my house?" exclaimed Monsieur de la Thomassinire, calling his -servants. "Send away all visitors; I am not at home to anyone; if a gold -ingot should be brought to me, I wouldn't accept it now." - -The servants seemed embarrassed, as if they dared not reply. Meanwhile -the noise continued, and they could distinguish a woman's voice crying: - -"I will go in! I tell you I'm bound to go in!" - -"Have that canaille turned out of doors, Lafleur," said Monsieur de la -Thomassinire angrily. - -At that moment the dining-room door was violently thrown open, and a -woman of some sixty years, short and stout, with a good-humored face, -dressed like an orange-woman, with a round cap on her head, bounced into -the room. - -"Hoity-toity!" she cried; "it'd be a pretty good one if I couldn't get -into my own son's house! What a set of donkeys them fellows be! Excuse -me, messieurs and mesdames. Where be you, Thomas? Why don't you come and -gimme a kiss, my boy? Don't you know your old mother?" - -The changes of scene at the Opra are less rapid than those that took -place in that dining-room upon Mre Thomas's entrance. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was stupefied; it was as if he had been struck by a -thunderbolt and was unable to move a muscle or utter a word. The -resplendent Athalie turned pale, was evidently confused, and glanced at -Mre Thomas with an expression indicating that she still doubted the -truth of what she heard. On each guest's face could be read the -amazement caused by this unexpected scene, together with a touch of -irony and malicious satisfaction, which fell far short, however, of what -Destival and his wife felt at that moment. - -Mre Thomas, who took no notice of the demeanor of the guests, -recognized her son among the persons seated at the table, and ran to -him, saying: - -"There he is! I know him! That's him--that's my Thomas! Oh! it's him -fast enough--with his little mole under the left eye!--You ain't changed -so much, my boy.--Well, why don't you kiss me? Can't you move hand or -foot?" - -As she spoke, the good woman seized her son's head and kissed him -several times. La Thomassinire made no resistance; he acted like a man -who did not know where he was, while Athalie cried: - -"Mon Dieu! is it possible? Isn't this a trick she's playing on us?" - -"You didn't look to see me, my boy, eh? Ah! I should say not! This is a -surprise, you see; one of your good friends, he writ to me as how it'd -do you good to see your mother, and told me I'd better try to get here -this very day, 'cos it's your wife's birthday." - -At this point the guests looked at one another, trying to divine who it -was who had arranged this surprise for Monsieur de la Thomassinire; and -among those who were not responsible there were some who regretted that -it had not suggested itself to them. As for the master of the feast, he -was still too completely crushed by the blow that had been dealt him, to -attend to what his mother said; and Athalie seemed to be on the point of -swooning. - -"So at that," continued Mre Thomas, "I says to myself, says I: 'Off we -go!' I had a bit of money put by, and that paid for my seat in the -diligence, where we was packed together as tight as herrings, saving -your presence, messieurs and mesdames; and here I be in Paris, where -you've feathered your nest so well!" - -The Marquis de Cligneval, who was seated opposite Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, determined to put an end to the embarrassment of his -host, upon whose purse he drew too freely not to be ready to shut his -eyes to the lowly condition of his parents. So he hastened to intervene, -and observed pleasantly: - -"It is really very amiable on your excellent mother's part to surprise -you like this. She was in such haste that she came in rather a nglig -costume. But what does it matter? you are among your friends. Pray let -her sit beside me; I shall be delighted to make her acquaintance. She -has a most venerable face--a Greek profile. I am very fond of country -people; they have such delightful dispositions." - -La Thomassinire looked at the marquis with an expression which -signified: "You have saved my life!" while Mre Thomas exclaimed: - -"What's that he says--I came in nglig. But you're wrong, my boy; I put -on my Sunday best." - -"Hush! hush, mother, for heaven's sake!" whispered La Thomassinire. "Be -careful; you're speaking to a marquis." - -"A what? What did you say, Thomas?--But I say, where's my darter-in-law? -Show her to me, my boy; wouldn't she like to give her man's mother a -kiss?" - -"Madame de la Thomassinire, pray embrace your mother-in-law," said -Madame Destival, with a mocking glance at Athalie. - -"I can't stand it any longer! I am dying!" murmured Athalie in an -expiring voice; and she fell over upon Auguste, who was seated next her. - -"My wife has fainted!" cried La Thomassinire, overjoyed by an incident -which might divert the attention of the company; and he sprang to his -feet and rushed toward his wife, who was already surrounded by several -people. - -"Oho! is that your wife, that bleating little minx?" exclaimed Mre -Thomas. "She's ate too much, my boy; she's got the indigestion, sure -enough. Just give her a drink of brandy--that'll settle her stomach." - -Someone gave Athalie smelling salts; she was taken into the fresh air; -but she was careful not to recover consciousness. Mre Thomas pushed -away two petites-matresses who were aiding her daughter-in-law, -saying: - -"Look out, my little darlings, you're stifling the child. Bless me! if -you want to bring her to right off, I know what'll do it; two or three -slaps on the backsides--that'll bring a woman to in short order; it -never fails." - -The ladies exchanged glances and moved away from Madame Thomas, saying -to one another: - -"This is shocking! it is getting to be unbearable." - -"She amuses me immensely, my dear." - -"For my part, she makes me blush; whenever she opens her mouth I tremble -for fear that some disgusting remark will come out." - -"She has begun well." - -"This is a hysterical attack," said La Thomassinire; "madame must be -taken to her room. They always last two or three hours, at least." - -"Well, well! that's very nice!" said Mre Thomas. - -The hostess was taken to her room, and she vowed to herself that she -would not leave it so long as Madame Thomas should be in the house. - -However, for most of the guests the dinner was the most essential thing, -and Madame de la Thomassinire had no sooner been taken from the -dining-room than they all resumed their places at the table, with such -remarks as: "It won't amount to anything; it isn't dangerous." All of -which meant: "We have paid enough attention to the hostess, who thought -it best to faint; now let's think of our stomachs, and not neglect any -longer the delicious dishes that have been prepared for us." - -La Thomassinire would gladly have followed his wife; but he realized -that it would be discourteous to leave his guests, with whom he had -already changed his tone. So he returned to his seat, cudgelling his -brain to devise a method of imposing silence on his dear mother. -Destival, meanwhile, fearing that Madame Thomas might be spirited away, -offered her his hand to escort her to her seat by the marquis. Mre -Thomas accepted his hand with a: "Thank 'ee, my man," and planted -herself on a chair beside Monsieur de Cligneval. - -"Now, my spark, I don't need your hand no more," she said to her escort; -"when it comes to forks and teeth, I can go it alone, friend." - -"She is overflowing with wit!" cried the marquis; "really, her repartees -are delicious!" - -La Thomassinire, who was afraid to raise his eyes, tried to hurry the -dinner. But his guests did not support him; they were very comfortable -at table and did full honor to the feast. The marquis stuffed Mre -Thomas; he kept her plate constantly filled, hoping that that would stop -her chatter; but she was a shrewd old girl, who could do two things at -once. While she was eating, she kept repeating: - -"Dieu! how good this is! What a fine _fricot_! I ain't never ate -anything as tasted like this! I say, Thomas, my boy, we don't make such -good fricassees to our little cabaret at the sign of the Learned Ass! Do -you remember, boy?" - -"Who wants some truffles? who hasn't any truffles?" cried Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, trying to drown his mother's voice. But Madame Destival, -who had heard every word, inquired: - -"What do you say, madame? Did Monsieur de la Thomassinire ever keep a -cabaret?" - -"La Thomassinire!" echoed Mre Thomas, emptying her glass. "Who's that, -my heart?" - -"Your son, madame." - -"What! don't you call yourself Thomas no more, my son? So that's what -all them green monkeys stitched with gold, in your outside room, meant -when they said this wa'n't where you lived! What have you dropped your -father's name for, Thomas? Didn't it sound good enough for you? Let me -tell you he was an honest man, who sold wine for six sous a litre -without putting any drugs in it, like your swindlers in Paris!--Excuse -me, friends." - -"Monsieur your son calls himself La Thomassinire now," said the -marquis, "from the name of an estate that he has bought. That is the -custom in Paris; he hasn't changed his name but he has lengthened it a -little; it's pleasanter to the ear." - -"Yes, to be sure," said La Thomassinire, trying to recover his -self-assurance. "When one has made a fortune as _consequential_ as mine, -one is at liberty to forget. Besides, as monsieur le marquis says, it's -done every day." - -"Oh! that makes a difference," rejoined Mre Thomas, "if you've been -a-buying estates. That's worse than the Marquis de Carabas. But for all -that, my boy, you'd ought to sent for me to come to see you sooner; for -I've been just a little bit homesick down to our place; it's a regular -hole, and I couldn't have such a devil of a spree with the two hundred -francs you send me every year." - -"Mon Dieu! how outrageous!" cried a lady wearing a cap adorned by a -bird-of-paradise, pushing her chair away from the table; while the -gentlemen glanced at one another, laughing, and Monsieur de la -Thomassinire stretched his feet under the table trying to find those of -his excellent mother, who sat opposite him, and to whom he vainly made -signals to urge her to be quiet. - -"What struck that party?" said Mre Thomas, staring at the lady in the -cap. "Is she going to faint too? What's she making faces at me for, with -that tail of a kite on her head?" - -"Mother, I implore you!" said La Thomassinire, moving his feet -frantically. - -"Down! down, I say! there's dogs under the table, boy. Here's two or -three on 'em running atween my legs. Tell someone to give 'em something -to eat, so they'll leave us alone. Give me a drink! Who's going to fill -my glass? you, old boy?" - -It was the marquis to whom this question was addressed; he took a -decanter of madeira that stood before him and filled the glass of his -neighbor, who always refused to drink without touching glasses. - -"What's this yellow wine, my boy?" - -"Madeira, madame." - -"Pretty good, eh?" - -"Perfect! it's the best I ever drank." - -"Here's your health then, my buck; and yours, old fox!" - -The last remark was addressed to Madame Thomas's left hand neighbor, an -old chevalier, with his hair curled and powdered in the style in vogue -during the Regency, who seemed extremely ill-pleased to be seated beside -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's mother. He turned his head whenever she -looked at him, and did not answer when she spoke to him. This time -Madame Thomas held her glass over the old fellow's plate, so that it was -impossible for him to avoid replying, and he muttered disdainfully: - -"I don't drink, madame." - -"Ah! you don't drink, don't you, old bean-pole? Well then, you can go -without, that's all. You needn't put on so many airs; you look as -pleasant as a bad clove!--Your health, my son, and yours, messieurs, -mesdames, and the whole company; and yours, too, you green monkey, as -didn't want to let me in." - -This compliment was aimed at Lafleur. Monsieur de la Thomassinire beat -his brow in despair, while the marquis repeated till he was hoarse: - -"Excellent! excellent! The old patriarchal custom--to drink everybody's -health. Noah's children always touched one another's glasses." - -Madame Thomas tossed off the glass of madeira at a swallow; but when she -had drunk it, she made a wry face and glared at the marquis, crying: - -"God! what vile stuff your madeira is! Bah! it tastes like a donkey's -water right in your mouth, my children!" - -All the ladies cried out and hid their faces behind their napkins. The -men laughed; and Madame Thomas, who saw nothing unnatural in what she -had said and thought that they shared her amusement, caused her glass to -be filled with another kind of wine; while her son sank back in his -chair, muttering: - -"I am a ruined man!" - -The more Madame Thomas drank, the more loquacious she became. In vain -did the marquis fill her plate, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire call to -his servants: "Serve monsieur! Remove madame's plate!" the stout old -lady's voice soared above those of all her fashionable neighbors, for -people of fashion are not in the habit of speaking loud. - -The old gentleman with the pigeon's wings, whom Madame Thomas had called -a clove, could not digest that insult; he scowled terribly, tried to -turn his back on his neighbor, and muttered: - -"It's abominable to invite people like myself to compromise their -dignity with such riff-raff! Gad! if they ever catch me here again! I am -terribly distressed that I came." - -For all that, the old chevalier did not go away, but ate and drank for -four, by way of compensation for the annoyance that he felt. - -Mre Thomas wanted some of everything, she called for all the dishes -that she saw, and she would say to the marquis: - -"What's that, my fine little fellow?" - -"_Poulet la Marengo_, madame." - -"My soul! how it's disguised! Never mind, just pass me a wing.--And -what's that black stew over yonder?" - -"A salmi of partridge _aux truffes_." - -"That must be heating; but give me a bit of your _salmigondis aux -truffes_, I'll take the chances.--and that big dish all covered over -with sauce?" - -"That's a _Sultane la Chantilly_." - -"A sultana! The dear boy! does he take us for Turks, I wonder! Just give -me a taste of that too, so that I'll know how those miserable dogs -cook." - -"You'll make yourself ill, Madame Thomas," said La Thomassinire in an -undertone, horrified to see his mother's eyes grow brighter and -brighter, and that she insisted on tasting all the wines as well as all -the dishes. - -"Get out, boy, I've got a stomach like an ostrich! Don't you remember -the bet I made one day with our cousin as kept the eating house? A fine -man, he was! He died three year ago, poor Chah!" - -"Lafleur! Jasmin! Comtois! take these plates away; serve the dessert, I -say!" - -In vain did Monsieur de la Thomassinire shout to his servants--his -mother continued her narrative none the less: - -"You must know, my children, that Chah was one of the biggest eaters in -all Brie; he was a chap with a big head, and he'd put down a turkey, -saving your presence, just as slick as you or me'd swallow a lark. -Bless my soul, if he didn't take a fancy one day to bet me that he'd eat -more'n me of a rabbit stew I'd made for a mason's wedding feast. I'm a -sly fox, so I took his bet; and when we'd got half through, I told him -in confidence that it was cats as I'd stewed up; and at that my jackass -turned up his toes and got rid of his dinner on the floor." - -The ladies refused to listen to any more; they left the table and took -refuge in the salon. Monsieur de la Thomassinire was beside himself; he -turned red, yellow and lead-colored in turn; the perspiration stood on -his brow; he poured wine in his plate and put his fork in his glass. The -young men laughed heartily, Auguste with the rest, for he was of the -opinion that his host well deserved this little lesson. Destival was -radiant; his eyes sparkled with delight as he looked from one person to -another and finally fastened his gaze on La Thomassinire. The Marquis -de Cligneval looked at his host with an expression which signified: -"Gad! I've done what I could; but, as you see, it's impossible to hold -her back." - -"Well! what makes all them pretty females go scooting off at once?" -queried Mre Thomas; "be they all going to the closet together? I say, -it's like the hens down our way: when one goes, the others have to -follow." - -A young poet, who had written some verses for Madame de la -Thomassinire, and who was exceedingly annoyed because Mre Thomas's -arrival, by causing Athalie to swoon and putting the ladies to flight, -had prevented him from reciting his quatrain, which would, so he -thought, create a sensation, said to the buxom dame, as he readjusted -his collar: - -"Madame, it is your fault in some degree that the Graces have fled from -us." - -"What's that you say, my little dapper?" retorted Mre Thomas, planting -both elbows on the table, the better to observe the young man. - -"I say, madame," replied the poet, "that the Graces are easily -frightened, and that----" - -"What's that you're singing about your Graces! Be they birds you're -trying to tame?" - -"Madame, the Graces are the ladies; the Zephyrs and the Loves fly at -their heels; Pleasure and Laughter form their train and strew roses -along their path." - -"Phew! what sort of a stew is that, my boy, made out of roses and -rice."[D] - -[D] _Ris_, meaning _laughter_, has the same pronunciation as _riz_ -(rice). - -"I mean to imply, madame, that there are remarks at which modesty takes -offence, and that, when telling stories, you should touch very lightly -upon certain subjects, for - - "'Le Latin dans les mots brave l'honntet, - Mais l'auditeur Franais veut tre respect! - Du moindre sens impur la libert l'outrage - Si la pudeur des mots n'en adoucit l'image.'"[E] - -[E] The Latin tongue defies decency, but the French listener insists on -being treated with respect. He is offended by the faintest touch of -impurity of sense unless the image is softened by the decency of the -words. - -Mre Thomas roared with laughter, and, turning to her neighbor with the -pigeon's wings, who was dipping a macaroon in champagne, his face still -wearing a scowl, she said: - -"Do you understand that, old fox? That fellow says he's got impure -senses; it ain't decent to make a confession like that at dessert." - -"Ah! madame!" cried the poet, flushing with wrath, "no one ever -dared----" - -"What's up, Biribi? Bah! you're losing your temper, my lad, you're red -as a turkey-cock; I see that; but I'm a good-natured fool, and I ain't -got no more gall 'n a flea. Let's drink together; that's better'n -talking about your fat women--grasses, Graces--and your thin women, what -I don't know nothing about. Some wine, marquis--that nice little wine as -foams. Oh! I know what this is; it's champagne, that's what it is; it -ain't no fraud, like your madeira! Your health, my little duckies; -yours, Thomas. Whatever's the matter with you, my son? You don't say -nothing, and you look as queer as queer; be you going to go off the -hooks, like your wife? We must have a song, children; that's always the -thing at dessert. Come! who's going to be the one to begin? Thomas, you -used to know lots o' songs; I'm going to sing you the one Chah's wife -sung to my wedding: - - "'J'entre en train quand il entre en train, - J'entre en train quand il entre--'" - -You must sing the chorus, children." - -"One moment, one moment, madame," said the marquis; "pray wait for the -coffee and liqueurs." - -"Oh, yes! that's so, my friend; they'll clear my voice." - -"This is getting worse and worse!" said the marquis to his host in an -undertone. - -"Oh! monsieur le marquis, I am in utter despair; I am overwhelmed with -confusion; I am afraid to turn my head!" - -"Why, my dear fellow, I am not in the least offended; a great many -people have mothers who are--who are not precisely noble. That does not -prevent your being a man whom I esteem beyond measure, nor does it make -your dinner any the less delicious. But there are people in society who -are not so sensible as I am, and in whose estimation this may do you an -injury. To say nothing of the fact that our dear mamma is getting tipsy, -and I don't know what she may not sing us before she is through." - -"And to think that I expect more than eighty people to-night for the -ball--the most fashionable and most distinguished people in Paris! Save -me, monsieur le marquis; I lay my purse, my cash-box, my credit, at your -feet!" - -"My dear La Thomassinire, my friendship for you is an sufficient motive -to--However, I believe that I have a note for six thousand francs to -meet to-morrow." - -"You will allow me to attend to that, monsieur le marquis." - -"We must devise some way to make everybody leave the house." - -"Yes, and as soon as possible." - -"Wait--I have an idea--Yes, on my word, it's an excellent idea." - -"Ah! monsieur le marquis! my gratitude----" - -"It may cost you rather dear, but I see no other resource." - -"I am ready to make every possible sacrifice." - -"Very good; let me set to work. Go back to the table as if nothing were -in the wind. Tell your servants to carry out my orders, and await their -effect." - -"Lafleur, Jasmin, Comtois, obey monsieur le marquis rather than myself." - -The marquis left the dining-room, followed by the servants, and La -Thomassinire returned to the table. Coffee and liqueurs were served. -The marquis soon reappeared and resumed his seat beside Madame Thomas, -reassuring his host with a glance. - -Mre Thomas hummed as she drank her coffee. - -"My children," she said, "we must have a dance to-night; I feel twenty -year younger. Thomas, you'll take a turn, I hope? Give me a glass, -marquis; but none of that sugary stuff that sticks in your gullet. Give -me something stiff and strong, my friend; that's the only kind that -makes you feel good." - -Madame Thomas had taken two petits verres of brandy, one of rum and one -of kirsch; she was declaring that they were very refreshing, and seemed -disposed to go on drinking, when a cloud of smoke arose in the courtyard -and found its way into the rooms. The guests looked at each other -uneasily. - -"Seems to me there's a bit of a fog," said Mre Thomas; "it smells like -something burning; be any of you sitting on a foot-warmer?" - -The servants rushed into the room, shouting in dismay: - -"The house is on fire!" - -"Fire!" cried all the guests, springing from their chairs. Mre Thomas -alone remained seated. - -"Well! all you got to do is fling water on it!" she said. - -"My house on fire!" said Monsieur de la Thomassinire, glancing at the -marquis. "How can it have happened? Ah! there was a pile of -straw--somebody must have dropped a match on it. Look, monsieur, see -what a smoke there is in the courtyard!" - -As it was about nine o'clock in the evening, the flame made by a number -of bunches of straw, which the marquis had fired, made the courtyard as -light as day. The cry of _fire_! soon arose on all sides; it reached the -salon, and the ladies who had taken refuge there from the society of -Madame Thomas, rushed out shrieking, and calling their fathers or their -husbands. - -The gentlemen tried to allay their fears, saying: "It's nothing, it -won't amount to anything; but we must go as soon as possible. Get your -bonnets and shawls; make haste, for ladies should never stay where -everything is in confusion. We will go with you." - -Meanwhile the fire which the marquis had kindled, in order to put the -guests to flight, and which the servants did not think of putting out, -because they knew that it was a ruse on their master's part,--the fire -actually attacked the carriage-house and spread from that to the stable. -While the ladies went to get their shawls and the men their hats, and -while the servants ran through the rooms shouting _fire_! the danger had -become real, and no one discovered it until a large part of the -courtyard was already wrapped in flames. - -Thereupon tumult and confusion held full sway; the ladies fled into the -street; one lost her turban, another her cap, and several fainted. -Auguste took Athalie in his arms and carried her to a stone bench in the -next street. Amid the general upheaval, Mre Thomas decided at last to -leave the table; she raised her skirts above her knees and began to run, -crying out: - -"Just look at all them friends of Thomas's! the cowardly skunks are -running away instead of forming a line! and they'd leave me here to -roast just like a chestnut!" - -The results of the marquis's little ruse were one wing of the house -burned, four horses burned, three firemen injured, ten shawls lost, -fifteen hats stolen, six locks of hair scorched, three bracelets lost, -and two combs broken; but Monsieur de la Thomassinire made himself -whole with twenty thousand francs, and at all events his worthy mother -did not exhibit herself to the numerous guests who were invited for the -evening. - - - - -XV - -THAT WHICH WAS FORESEEN - - -On the morrow of the scene at his house, Monsieur de la Thomassinire -and Athalie started for England, where they determined to remain until -Paris had forgotten the scandal caused by the stout countrywoman. As for -the latter, they had sent her back post haste to her village, expressly -forbidding her ever to leave it again, on pain of withdrawal of the -allowance of two hundred francs which her generous son deigned to pay -her. - -The absurd false shame of La Thomassinire, who blushed for his mother -after he became wealthy, and the petty baseness of Athalie, who had -pretended to faint in order to avoid embracing Mre Thomas, made Auguste -quite indifferent to their departure; but their house was the only place -where he saw Monsieur de Cligneval, and Bertrand said more than once: - -"Seems to me, lieutenant, that we don't hear much about that marquis who -owes you a hundred louis." - -"Perhaps I shall hear from him to-day." - -"And the little milkmaid, when are we going to see her again, and thank -her for what she brought you? The chickens were fine! I had to eat them -while you were dining out." - -"I don't think that Denise gives very much thought to us. Hasn't she a -lover? Isn't she to be married?" - -"Is that a reason for not thanking her for her chickens, lieutenant?" - -"Perhaps she came to Paris to invite me to her wedding." - -"I don't know what she came for; but she seemed unhappy when she went -away. She said she wouldn't trouble you any more, and I saw tears in her -eyes. That touched me, I admit; the child is so sweet and pretty, and -anyone can see that her tears ain't make-believe." - -Auguste was apparently reflecting on what the ex-corporal had said, when -there was a violent ring at the door, and Bertrand announced that an old -gentleman whose face denoted intense excitement, wished to see Monsieur -Dalville. Auguste was surprised to recognize Monsieur Monin, whose eyes, -even more staring than usual, seemed to indicate that something of grave -importance had happened. - -"Is it you, Monsieur Monin?" said Auguste, offering a chair to the -ex-druggist, who, despite his excitement, inquired as he seated himself: - -"How's the state of your health?" - -"I ought rather to ask you that, Monsieur Monin. You look as if you were -in some trouble; may I know what it is?" - -"Yes, monsieur; I have less than I had! that's why I've come." - -"What do you say? less than you had? I don't understand." - -"Do you mean to say you don't know it?" - -"Know what, Monsieur Monin?" - -"What I just told you." - -"Not yet; but if you would be good enough to explain----" - -"The fact is, monsieur, it gave me such a blow!" - -"Indeed, you seem to be a little confused." - -"Didn't it have the same effect on you?" - -"I don't know as yet what effect it will have on me, Monsieur Monin, or -how I am interested in what you came to tell me." - -"Oh! Monsieur Dalville, if we could have guessed; if we could have -foreseen! But, bless my soul! we aren't sorcerers; that's what I told -Bichette this morning when she insisted on taking my snuff-box away." - -"I never supposed that you were a sorcerer, Monsieur Monin; but I -confess that at this moment I find you rather incomprehensible." - -"That's because I haven't recovered yet, monsieur." - -"Recovered from what?" - -"And Bichette declares that he's taken you in, too." - -Dalville lost patience, and glanced at Bertrand, who was pacing the -floor, muttering: - -"If I had a squad of men like him to drill, I'd begin by fastening 'em -to horses' tails and driving the horses at a gallop." - -Monin took out his snuff-box, stuffed his nostrils, and continued: - -"I have come to you, Monsieur Dalville, to see if by chance you have -discovered which way he has gone." - -"Who on earth do you mean, Monsieur Monin? For heaven's sake, explain -yourself more fully! You have been talking to me for an hour, and I -haven't understood a word that you've said. What is it that someone has -been doing to you?" - -"Someone has robbed me, monsieur!" - -"Robbed you?" - -"That is to say, carried off twenty-five thousand francs." - -"Who, pray?" - -"Monsieur Destival." - -"Destival!" - -"Yes, monsieur; he's gone away, left France, so I am told. That is what -I had the honor to come to tell you." - -Auguste understood now too well; he was overwhelmed. Bertrand walked up -to Monin, shouting: - -"What's that you say? Damnation! Is it possible that that Monsieur -Destival----" - -"Ah! Monsieur Bertrand! How's the state of your health?" - -"He has gone--with our two hundred and fifty thousand francs!" - -"Just so. You know you taught him to drill." - -"Ah! the double-dyed villain!--We are ruined, lieutenant!" - -"Don't get excited, Bertrand; perhaps this intelligence is false. I -can't believe that Destival----" - -"That's what I told Bichette; I couldn't believe it either." - -"But how do you know? Who told you that Destival has gone?" - -"I'll tell you, monsieur: he sold my shop for me not long ago, and kept -the money to invest; and I gave him six thousand francs more a week ago, -because he said that the more he had, the better investments he could -make. And yet Bichette wasn't very much inclined to leave our money with -him. But Monsieur Bisbis advised her to leave it, so--Do you take -snuff?" - -"I must go at once to Destival's," said Auguste, interrupting Monin in -the middle of his speech. - -"Yes, lieutenant," said Bertrand, "that will be much better than -listening to monsieur. Go, don't lose any time; and meanwhile I'll go -and try to find out something about which way the villain has gone. -Perhaps he ain't far away yet, and if we have to founder ten horses, -we'll catch him!" - -"If you do catch him, Monsieur Bertrand, remember that I'm in for -twenty-five thousand francs," said Monin. But nobody was listening to -him; Auguste was already on the staircase and the corporal lost no time -in following him. Monin, finding that he was left alone with the little -groom, decided to leave Dalville's abode and to return to his own. - -"At the rate they're going," he thought, "there's no doubt that those -gentlemen will succeed in catching our man; so I'll go home and -encourage Bichette." - -Auguste betook himself to the business agent's abode. He inquired for -Destival of the concierge, who replied: - -"Monsieur Destival hasn't been seen for three days, and nobody knows -what's become of him; he didn't say where he was going. The negro and -Baptiste have gone, too; but madame and her maid stayed behind. She's at -home now." - -Auguste went upstairs and was admitted by Julie. The young man noticed -no change in the apartments, where it simply seemed more quiet than -before. He was ushered into the presence of madame, who seemed a little -embarrassed at sight of him. - -"Can it be that the current report is true, madame?" Auguste asked. "I -am told that your husband has gone away, that he has left France!" - -"Alas! it is only too true, monsieur," replied Emilie, sinking into an -easy-chair. - -"What, madame! has he gone, not to return?" - -"I think so, monsieur. He has abandoned me; he is an abominable man!" - -"And do you know what he has taken with him, madame?" - -"No, monsieur; I knew absolutely nothing about his business." - -"Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! It is almost all that I -possessed." - -"Oh! that was shocking on his part!" - -"Say rather that it is robbery, infernal rascality!" cried Auguste, -angered by Madame Destival's indifference. "And you don't know, madame, -where he has gone?" - -"I know nothing at all about it, monsieur; I am overwhelmed, stunned, -like yourself!" - -"Your husband has ruined me, madame." - -"I am terribly distressed, monsieur; but what do you expect me to do?" - -"It seems to me, madame, that this occurrence is likely to involve you -in some unpleasantness." - -"I have no responsibility whatever to Monsieur Destival's creditors, -monsieur; we had each our own property; this house is hired in my name, -and everything in it is mine. Is it my fault that Monsieur Destival has -been unfortunate in his speculations? Is it the first time that such a -thing ever happened? Am I not more to be pitied than anybody else? He -has carried off my marriage portion, monsieur, and the furniture that is -left here is certainly not worth the amount of that.--However, monsieur, -do whatever you choose; proceed against me; turn me into the street if -such is your desire!" - -Auguste made no reply, but left Madame Destival's presence abruptly, -cursing the business agent's rascality. - -Bertrand returned, having failed to discover any traces of the fugitive. -He continued his efforts in that direction for three days, while Auguste -on his side did all that he could; but it seemed certain that Destival -was already outside of France; that was the utmost that he could learn -about him. - -Auguste tried to recover his cheerfulness and to endure the blow -philosophically. Bertrand was very careful not to offer his master any -counsel at that moment, for he realized that the time would be -ill-chosen. But when all hope was abandoned of discovering the tracks of -the swindler who had carried off Dalville's fortune, Bertrand bethought -himself of the Marquis de Cligneval's little debt; and Auguste consented -that the corporal should call upon him. - -Bertrand hastened to the address given him and asked for monsieur le -marquis. - -"He don't live here now," said the concierge. - -"Where does he live?" - -"He's gone to take the waters." - -"What waters, morbleu?" - -"Faith, he didn't tell me, monsieur." - -Bertrand was furious; he returned, cursing, to tell Auguste, who -received the news calmly enough. - -"What! lieutenant, you are robbed of a hundred louis more, and it -doesn't make you angry!" said Bertrand. - -"Faith, my friend, when a fellow is ruined, a hundred louis more or less -aren't worth worrying about." - -"Still, they'd tide over for some time. That cursed marquis! I had a -presentiment of this." - -"I shall find him somewhere." - -"He won't pay you." - -"Bertrand, you must look into the condition of my cash-box and see how -much I have left." - -"That won't take long, lieutenant." - -Bertrand walked sadly toward the desk; then returned and presented with -a sigh a statement of their finances. - -"Eighteen thousand six hundred and forty francs," said Auguste, reading -the total; "Gad! I didn't think that I was still so rich as this." - -"I haven't counted the marquis's hundred louis, nor what several of your -friends owe you." - -"I am inclined to think that that is wise. But I must know what I owe -also; send to my tailor and boot-maker and harness-maker, and pay their -bills. When I was rich I could afford to owe; but when one's money is -gone, one should not think of running into debt." - -"You speak like the great Turenne, lieutenant. All the bills shall be -paid to-morrow." - -After the bills were paid, Auguste possessed sixteen thousand four -hundred francs. - -"Add to that our handsome furniture and the wine in the cellar, and by -leading an orderly, economical life, you can wait to see what will turn -up," Bertrand observed. - -"We must subtract from the total, Bertrand, three hundred francs that I -have promised to pay for a pretty mercer's apprentice, whose furniture a -heartless bailiff proposed to seize; two hundred francs which I am -lending to Virginie, and ten louis for some bracelets that I am going to -buy to-night." - -Bertrand nearly swallowed the pen that he had in his mouth. - -"You can't mean it, lieutenant!" he cried; "before long you won't have -anything left." - -"Look you, my friend, I promised all these things when I was still rich; -shall I break my promises just because a villain has ruined me? You -wouldn't do it yourself. But I swear that these shall be my last -follies. Henceforth I propose to be virtue itself; besides, you must -remember that we shall also have the proceeds of the sale of my two -horses and my cabriolet, for I can no longer indulge in a carriage! I -must cut down my establishment, dismiss Tony, and go on foot.--Does that -make you feel sad, Bertrand?" - -"For your sake, lieutenant!" - -"Oh! very likely I shall be all the better for it, my friend. Exercise -is essential to good health--I've heard you say that a thousand times. -Do you think that people who go on foot aren't just as good as those who -ride in carriages?" - -"Oh! you don't think I'm such a fool as that, lieutenant!" - -"Well then, why regret a thing one can do so well without! With money, -hasn't one always a cab at his command, without having horses and a -groom to keep? Upon my word, I can't understand now why I ever had a -cabriolet." - -"But all those grisettes who come to tell you about their little -troubles, to have you comfort them, and the great ladies whose heads you -turned--don't you think, lieutenant, that your cabriolet had something -to do with their display of affection for you?" - -"That would be an additional reason for not regretting it. Henceforth I -shall know the hearts of the women to whom I make love; I shall be sure -of being loved for myself; and if I triumph over a youthful beauty, if I -carry the day over a rival, I shall have no reason to fear that I owe -the preference accorded me to my fortune and to that alone." - -"You will soon find out, lieutenant, that it was for your advantage that -that villain carried off your money!" - -"Faith! who knows? Tell me, am I wrong to look at the bright side?" - -"No, indeed; there are lots of people who couldn't find a bright side to -such a thing; but still--excuse my fears, monsieur--what you have left -won't last forever, no matter how much we may economize; and what will -you do then, lieutenant? for a man can't live on his cheerfulness -alone." - -"Why, then--we'll see, my dear Bertrand; I have some talents--well, I'll -turn them to account, I'll work." - -"You work, monsieur!" said Bertrand, turning his back, to wipe away a -tear. - -"Why not, my friend?" - -"Because you're not used to it--because it would be too hard for -you--because I wouldn't allow it, in fact,--and--But let's not say any -more about that. You're right; it's better to forget ourselves. Who -knows? perhaps we shall find your thief!" - -"That's the talk, my dear Bertrand; we must always hope; it makes us -none the poorer and it does us good." - -Auguste went out to seek distraction with a mercer's apprentice, and -Bertrand went downstairs to read the life of the great Turenne to -Schtrack. - - - - -XVI - -A SCENE IN SOCIETY - - -The cabriolet was sold, the little groom found another place. When -Madame Saint-Edmond observed that her neighbor was cutting down his -establishment, she no longer deigned to look at him, but passed him -without even bowing to him. Bertrand was indignant at her discourtesy, -but Auguste laughed at it, saying: - -"I am certain now that that woman never loved me, and it is always -pleasant to know whom one is dealing with." - -But Bertrand muttered: - -"Just let her lose her poodle again; and if I find him I'll make him do -a turn of sentry duty that he'll never be relieved from." - -Auguste continued to seek distraction in society, and as distraction is -ordinarily expensive, he spent much more than he should have done, -although he had determined to be virtuous and orderly. He considered -himself very prudent, because, instead of losing fifty louis at an -evening party, he lost only fifty crowns; because, instead of hiring a -box at the theatre, he contented himself with buying seat tickets at the -office; and because he rode in cabs instead of keeping a cabriolet. But -even this outlay was too large for a person who had only a small capital -and no income. Bertrand saw with dismay that their funds would not last -as long as he had hoped; he dared not remonstrate with Auguste, but he -often said to him: - -"Let's go see the pretty milkmaid, monsieur, and that little Coco that -you're so fond of; that will divert you. We can pass a few days at the -village, and amusements don't cost so much there as they do in Paris." - -Auguste constantly postponed visiting Montfermeil. He did not tell -Bertrand the reason that he dreaded to go there; but he was pained to -think that he was no longer able to do all that he had hoped to do for -the child; he supposed that the money which he had left for him had been -used; and, being accustomed to follow nothing but the impulses of his -heart and give money away with a lavish hand, he sighed at the idea of -being obliged to reckon the extent of his benefactions. That pang was -the keenest that the loss of his fortune had as yet caused him. - -After an absence of six weeks, Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire -returned to Paris. Their mansion became once more the rendezvous of the -people who love good dinners, evening parties and balls; and the old -chevalier of the pigeon's wings was not the last to return thither, -although at their last dinner-party he had sworn that they would never -catch him there again. The marquises and dandies, the women of fashion, -the poets and bankers were very careful not to mention Madame Thomas to -Monsieur de la Thomassinire; and he said to himself, rubbing his hands: - -"It's all forgotten, nobody thinks about it now, it hasn't injured me in -the least. For all that, I did well to pass six weeks in England; that -sufficed to forget it." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire was mistaken; Madame Thomas's visit was not -forgotten; but so long as he was rich and continued to give gorgeous -parties and grand dinners, people would continue to go to his house and -to welcome him warmly. Let him but lose his money, and everybody would -very soon discover what he was--a very stupid, vulgar individual. So -that it was not necessary for him to make the journey to England. To be -sure, he did not say all this to himself. - -Destival's flight caused a sensation. When it was mentioned to La -Thomassinire, he cried: - -"I was certain that that man would turn out ill! He fancied that he was -as well equipped as I; he had the assurance to dream of making a fortune -like mine! As if my talents were given to everybody! He gave wretched -dinners: poor food and poor wine! And he had an idea that he gave -dinners like mine! I have said a hundred times: 'That man will go -under!' and he hasn't failed to do it." - -"His wife was too much of a flirt," said Athalie; "she insisted on -following all the fashions and wearing cashmere shawls; she had taken my -dressmaker." - -"Taken your dressmaker, madame!" cried her husband; "you must agree that -that was utterly absurd! Those people had lost their senses! The idea of -taking your dressmaker! the wife of a miserable little business agent!" - -"But she's still in Paris," said the Marquis de Cligneval, who was -present at this conversation. "I saw her in a buggy a few days ago, more -stylishly dressed than ever." - -"Really?" said the speculator; "you say that she was dressed in style? -It's a fact that she had much more wit than her husband! It seems that -her skirts are entirely clear of his business; she must have taken -measures beforehand, and she did well; certainly no one can blame her." - -The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Dalville, who had not -been at the Thomassinire's since their return from England. - -"Ah! Monsieur Dalville!" said the speculator, hurrying to meet the young -man with an air of great cordiality, while the marquis seized Auguste's -hand and cried: - -"How delighted I am to see you, my amiable friend! Gad! I intended to -come to see you one of these days.--'Nobody ever sees him now,' I said -to myself; 'what in the deuce has become of him?'" - -"It is a fact, monsieur," said Athalie, with a gracious smile to -Auguste, "you have been in no hurry, monsieur, to come to see us since -we returned more than ten days ago; it's very unkind, for you know how -fond of you we are." - -"You are too kind, madame," said Auguste, taking a seat beside the -petite-matresse; "but I have been very much occupied. You have learned -no doubt that Destival----" - -"We were speaking about him a moment ago," said La Thomassinire, "and I -was saying to monsieur le marquis, my good friend, that his performance -did not surprise me in the least! Indeed, I believe that I anticipated -it!" - -"That is true--you did say that to me," the marquis replied; "but I -admit that such things always pass my comprehension. To fail--to run -away with other people's money--why, it's shocking! Let a man go off -with his own all he pleases; but the idea of deceiving people who have -confidence in one's good faith! who place their property in one's hands -to administer! who leave everything to one's honesty! Ah! I could never -forgive that!" - -"Nor I," cried La Thomassinire; "I could never forgive anyone for not -succeeding in business. I will say more--I won't receive such a man in -my house. The minute your credit begins to sink, why, good-evening; -you'd better stay at home! That's all I know! For we must have honesty -first of all, as monsieur le marquis observed; and with rich people a -man is never in any danger." - -Dalville smiled at the warmth with which the two worthies emphasized -their love of honesty, and after a moment he rejoined: - -"Do you know how much of my money Destival has taken away with him?" - -"No," said La Thomassinire; "is it possible that he cheated you too? I -thought that you were too shrewd to allow yourself to be taken in, -Monsieur Dalville!" - -"Oh! in money matters, monsieur, the shrewdest are likely to be the -stupidest. A man doesn't need intelligence to grow rich; that's a truth -of which the world presents us with proofs every day." - -"Monsieur Dalville is forever joking," Athalie said, laughingly; while -La Thomassinire said to the marquis in an undertone: - -"This young man knows nothing whatever about business. I feel sorry for -him." - -"How much did the scoundrel rob you of?" queried the marquis. - -"Two hundred and fifty thousand francs." - -"The deuce!" cried La Thomassinire; "but that's quite a sum of money! -Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! You must have stout loins to -stand such a loss!" - -"Oh well! I stand it as best I can. This is the time to be -philosophical." - -"I understand; that means that you are still very rich." - -"Not at all; on the contrary, I have nothing left. Destival has carried -off my capital, and in a few months I shall have to turn my attention to -earning my living." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's face grew long and the marquis's anxious. -Athalie alone seemed to take any interest in Auguste's situation. - -"What!" she exclaimed; "do you really mean, Monsieur Dalville, that that -wretched man has ruined you?" - -"Yes, madame, the fact is only too certain." - -"And you take it as calmly as this?" - -"If I should rage and tear my hair, that would not give me back my -money." - -"Philosophy is a fine thing, that is sure," said the marquis. "It helps -us to take things as they come, it makes us superior to adversity, -and--But it occurs to me that I am invited out to dinner, to eat a -truffled turkey. I promised to be on hand at the overture, and a man of -honor has only his word. Au revoir, my dear friends." - -The marquis rose and was about to leave the room, when Dalville ran -after him and stopped him. - -"I beg your pardon, my dear Monsieur de Cligneval," he said under his -breath, "but you probably have forgotten a little debt of a hundred -louis. If I venture to remind you of it, you will understand that just -at this time I am in need of whatever I possess." - -"My dear friend, what do you say? Pardieu! it had slipped my mind -entirely." - -"You were to repay it that same week, and as it was two months ago, I -thought you had forgotten that trifle." - -"Entirely, my dear friend, entirely; I have no memory except for -important things, and a hundred louis, you will agree, is the merest -bagatelle. Send to my house." - -"They could not give me your address at your former residence." - -"True, I am on the wing. I will send the money to you--that will be the -better way. But they are waiting for me; the turkey is probably served. -It's a party of gentlemen only, and I promised to be prompt. I am very -particular about keeping my word." - -"I can rely, then, upon----" - -"Yes, you shall hear from me to-morrow at the latest. Adieu; pardon me -for leaving you so abruptly, but a truffled turkey admits of no -postponement." - -And Monsieur de Cligneval, who was in truth very particular about -keeping his word when a dinner or luncheon was concerned, shook off his -creditor and escaped from the salon. But as he was by no means anxious -to meet Dalville frequently at his friend La Thomassinire's, monsieur -le marquis, when he reached the reception-room, told a servant to go to -his master and tell him privately that Monsieur de Cligneval had -something to impart to him in confidence. - -The servant did the errand and La Thomassinire hastily left the salon -and joined the marquis, whose obsequious servant he deemed himself very -fortunate to be. - -"What is it, my dear marquis? I am at your service," cried the parvenu. - -"Sh! let us go into your study, my friend. Dalville thinks that I have -gone, and I don't want him to meet me when he goes away." - -They went into Monsieur de la Thomassinire's study, and there the -marquis seemed to hesitate, as if he did not know whether he ought to -speak. - -"I am dreadfully perplexed," he said at last to La Thomassinire, who -was waiting humbly to hear what he had to tell him. - -"Perplexed!--you! Is it possible that a marquis can ever be perplexed? -Nonsense, you are joking!" - -"No, my friend, no. Mon Dieu! because one happens to have been born in -an exalted sphere, because one enjoys some consideration and has some -little power, do you suppose that one is not human just the same, and -subject to all the weaknesses that nature has allotted to us?" - -"Surely not, monsieur le marquis! and----" - -"Bless my soul! we are all very much alike! In the eyes of men of -intelligence what does a little more or a little less nobility amount -to?--For my own part, I give you my word that, if you were a duke, I -should esteem you no more highly!" - -"You are too kind, monsieur le marquis!" - -"No, I am frank, that's all." - -La Thomassinire was wondering how this discussion would take the -marquis to the truffled turkey that awaited him, when Monsieur de -Cligneval resumed: - -"It was about Dalville that I wanted to speak to you in private. That -young man allowed himself to be taken in like an idiot." - -"Like an absolute idiot, monsieur le marquis." - -"And he was so conceited, so self-sufficient! He wouldn't take anybody's -advice; he thought that he knew how to manage his business. It was a -pitiable thing!" - -"It was, as you say, pitiable." - -"The idea of entrusting all his money to Destival! He must have lost his -senses." - -"However that may be, monsieur le marquis, I always come back to my -principle--I never forgive a man for allowing himself to be robbed." - -"And you are quite right. Let him rob others--that is to say, make sport -of others--and I've not a word to say; that is cleverness, -tact!--However, this Dalville is in a most infernal position!" - -"That's what I thought as soon as he told me he had nothing left." - -"If he even had any social rank--a title--any of those things that may -lead to everything." - -"In short, if he were noble." - -"Oh! in that case he might get out of it--but when a man isn't noble -it's essential that he should be rich!" - -"To be sure--that's another of my principles." - -"And it's all a part of the system of equality and philosophy that I was -describing to you just now. I was interested in this Dalville; but my -friendship for you takes precedence of everything; that is why I -conceive it to be my duty not to conceal anything from you." - -"Conceal nothing, I pray, monsieur le marquis!" - -"Do you know what he said to me just now when I was leaving the salon?" - -"No, I haven't any idea." - -"Didn't you overhear a word?" - -"Not a single word." - -"Well, my dear fellow, he was asking me to lend him money." - -"Asking you to lend him money?" - -"Yes, my dear fellow; on my word, that did seem a little bit hasty on -his part, I admit." - -"Hasty! you are very generous, monsieur le marquis! It was much worse -than that." - -"In the first place, I don't know him well enough to----" - -"And even if you did know him very well--whoever heard of lending money -to a man who is ruined, and who has just told you so?--I know him better -than you do, and I wouldn't lend him." - -"In the second place, it's the very worst form to borrow money at a -third person's house." - -"It's shocking form!" - -"As if he couldn't have come to my house like a man--or waited till -another time! But no--he attacks me in your salon! I had to promise to -make him a loan--otherwise he wouldn't have let me go." - -"That is true, I noticed that; and yet you had told him that a truffled -turkey was awaiting you, and it seems to me that such a consideration -should have imposed silence on him." - -"You must realize that if he sets about borrowing money in this way from -everybody he meets at your house, you will be placed in a false -position, and a great many of your acquaintances will be kept away from -here; for I don't know of anything that people dread more in society -than to be asked to lend money." - -"Great heaven!" cried La Thomassinire, pacing the floor excitedly. -"Why, a man like that would be a veritable scourge, worse than the -plague! I believe that I should prefer to see Madame Thomas appear!" - -"I assure you, my friend, that that would do you less harm." - -"Never fear, I will attend to his case. And I won't beat about the bush -either. To-morrow my concierge will receive my orders: we shall never be -at home to Monsieur Dalville. You hear--_never!_" - -"Do just what you think best, my friend. I am very sorry for the young -man, for I liked him much. Still, I felt bound to let you know." - -"Oh! you have done me a very great service, monsieur le marquis! A -service that I shall never forget as long as I live! Think of receiving -under my roof a man who tries to borrow money from my friends! who might -end by trying to borrow from me! Remember that he has only been ruined a -few days, and if he is borrowing already, what will he do after a little -while? Can anyone tell where it will stop?" - -"I have warned you, I have done what honor demanded, and now I will go -and say a word to the turkey I have mentioned. Adieu, my friend." - -"I hope that you will dine with us to-morrow, monsieur le marquis. You -will not meet Dalville in my house, I assure you." - -"In that case, I will join you. You will understand that it is painful -to close one's purse to misfortune; but with the best will in the world, -one can give only what one has. Until to-morrow then, my dear La -Thomassinire." - -"Your very humble servant, monsieur le marquis." - -When the marquis had gone, La Thomassinire considered whether he should -return to the salon. He decided to join Dalville--indeed he considered -it his duty to begin to treat him coolly, so that the young man would -not be tempted to disregard the orders which he proposed to give to his -concierge. - -Dalville had remained with Athalie. That young lady, after -compassionating the young man, and assuring him that she was grieved by -his misfortune, remembered that a new play was to be given at the -Franais that evening, and she exclaimed: - -"I must not fail to be there. Have you hired a box, Monsieur Auguste?" - -"I no longer hire boxes, madame," was the reply; "I purchase my ticket -modestly at the box-office. Sometimes I even stand in the line, and do -not indulge myself with a seat in the resplendent orchestra." - -"Stand in the line!" said Athalie; and her smile became less expansive. -"Oh! how shocking!" - -A minute or two later the young coquette noticed that there were several -spots of mud on Dalville's boots. - -"How is this, monsieur? You, who are always so exquisitely shod--you -must have been splashed to-day! I can hardly believe it is you." - -"Still another result of my penury, madame. When I had a cabriolet, it -was a simple matter for me always to have my boots spotlessly clean; but -when one goes on foot, one must expect to be more open to criticism in -one's dress." - -"What! you no longer have a cabriolet?" - -"No, madame, I have mustered it out of service, as well as my groom, and -I have kept only my faithful Bertrand; for he is a friend rather than a -servant, and one doesn't part with a friend just because one is -unfortunate." - -"What's that? why, what you say is very true," replied Athalie, going to -a mirror to arrange her curls. "Bless my soul! how pale I am to-day! It -frightens me! I am going to have one of my nervous attacks, I feel -sure." - -It was at that moment that Monsieur de la Thomassinire entered the -salon, assuming a more self-important air, a heavier tread than usual, -and with a frown already prepared, lest his visitor should ask him for a -loan. - -"Who on earth was it who desired to see you, monsieur?" queried Athalie, -still looking at herself in the mirror. - -"A person who had some very important information to communicate, -madame, and who preferred not to come in, knowing that I had company; -indeed, it is a nuisance to have company all the time, and I propose to -adopt the plan of not receiving visitors when I am at home." - -"Parbleu! you can do better than that, Monsieur de la Thomassinire," -said Auguste, laughingly. "You should imitate a lady of my acquaintance, -who, when she had not put on her red paint and white paint and blue -paint--in a word, when she had not finished beautifying herself--used to -go to the door herself and say: 'I am not at home.'" - -"Ha! ha! that is very good!" said Athalie; "but I feel rather -uncomfortable, and I believe that I will go and lie down." - -The petite-matresse left the room with a slight nod to Auguste, while -La Thomassinire continued to pace the floor, frowning ominously. - -"Well, Monsieur de la Thomassinire, how's business?" said the young -man, leaning back in his chair, while the parvenu seemed not to know -what to do with himself. - -"Business, monsieur? Oh! you mean speculation." - -"Are you still making money fast?" - -"Yes, monsieur; a man ought to make money, it's a duty, it's what we -were made for." - -"Parbleu! then you must teach me your secret, for I have never known how -to do anything but spend it. But I must mend my ways; I must turn my -attention to making my living, and for that purpose it seems to me that -I cannot apply to a better man than you." - -La Thomassinire, convinced that Auguste was leading up to a request for -a loan, pretended that he had not heard, and said, with a glance at his -wallet: - -"I lack thirty thousand francs of the amount necessary to buy some notes -that have just been offered me--a splendid chance. I know that I can -obtain that amount easily enough, that I have only to open my mouth and -mention my name; but it annoys me, because I can't endure to have -recourse to anyone, even though it is only for an hour." - -Auguste was diverted by this comedy, and said after a while: - -"By the way, Monsieur de la Thomassinire, how is your good mother, the -excellent Madame Thomas, whose unexpected arrival caused you so much -pleasure the last time that I dined with you?" - -The parvenu blushed, bit his lips and stammered: - -"She's--she's very well, monsieur; that is to say, I presume she's very -well; but since I returned from England--why,--why, of course I've had -other things to think about. And--Great heaven! it just occurs to -me--I've three letters to write to London--to noblemen who are expecting -to hear from me--thoughtless creature that I am! I cannot stay with you -any longer, Monsieur Dalville; my business calls me away--and business -before everything." - -With that, La Thomassinire abruptly left the salon, without saluting -Auguste, whom he left there alone. - -"The stupid ass!" said Dalville, as he took his hat; "does he suppose -that I didn't notice the change in his manner as soon as he knew that I -was a ruined man? And Athalie! I thought that she had more feeling! But -what can one expect from a woman to whom dress and pleasure are -everything? And such is this 'society,' where everyone seeks to shine, -whose suffrage is eagerly sought, and in which we pass a great part of -our lives! Are all these people worth the trouble of wasting a regret on -them, I wonder?" - -And Dalville left La Thomassinire's house, vowing that he would never -go there again. - - - - -XVII - -THE FIFTH FLOOR - - -"Lieutenant," said Bertrand to Dalville, one morning, "we have forgotten -something in our reformation, but the approach of rent-day reminds me of -it: it's the matter of lodgings. You must agree, lieutenant, that a -fifteen-hundred franc suite is rather too heavy for our budget, in which -the expense account is always lengthening, while the receipt account is -a blank page." - -"You are right, Bertrand, we must give notice." - -"When I mentioned the subject to Schtrack yesterday, he told me that -there's an Englishman who will take the apartments at any time if we -want to leave them; it seems to me, lieutenant, that it would be the -wisest plan to move right away." - -"Do what you choose, Bertrand." - -"Especially as there's a small bachelor's apartment on the fifth floor, -that might suit us: two rooms and a large dressing-room. It's vacant, -and if it won't be unpleasant for you to stay in this house----" - -"Why should it? Have I any reason to blush because of my changed -fortune? I am the dupe of villains, but I have made no dupes. We will go -up four flights. Hire the bachelor's apartment." - -"Very good, lieutenant. We will be all settled there to-morrow. No -wagons to pay for moving--that's another saving." - -Bertrand was well pleased to stay in the house with his friend Schtrack; -and the next morning, as soon as Dalville had gone out, he and the -concierge carried the furniture from the first floor to the fifth. But -as two small rooms would not contain the furniture that filled six large -ones, he left in the old apartment all that he considered superfluous, -and the new tenant purchased it, the proceeds serving to restock -Bertrand's cash-box at an opportune moment. - -On returning home, Auguste, from long habit, stopped on the first floor. -He rang, and waited in vain for Bertrand to admit him; then he -remembered that he no longer lived there, and went on upstairs; but, in -spite of himself, a sigh escaped him as he left his former apartment -behind; and when he entered his new abode, the cramped space and the -prospect of roofs from all the windows, extorted another sigh from his -breast. We are men before we are philosophers, and the knowledge that we -owe to the arguments of reason does not win an easy victory over our -natural inclinations. - -However, Auguste did his best to smile when Bertrand said to him: - -"We shall be very comfortable here, lieutenant; shan't we? The rooms are -small, but we have everything under our hand. And what's the use of -having so many useless rooms? For, now that we're not rich any more, -almost nobody comes to see us. If we want to exercise, we can go out. -But the air's better here than it is on the first floor. And the view! -Why, we overlook all the houses round." - -"Yes, this is all that we need," Dalville replied; and Bertrand, -observing that his master's smile was a little forced, made haste to -add: - -"I have already noticed, at that window in the roof over there, a very -good-looking young girl." - -"Where? where?" cried Auguste, running to the window. - -"See, close by us, where the window is open. We can look right into her -room, which is very convenient. And there's the girl I saw just now. She -has evidently noticed that she has a new neighbor, and she isn't sorry -to be looked at." - -"She is really very good-looking: a good figure, and a saucy expression, -eh, Bertrand?" - -"So it seems to me, lieutenant." - -"She's working with a frame; she must be a lace-maker." - -"Oh! you can hardly expect to find duchesses living in chambers under -the eaves." - -"Somebody's opening a window just beyond her--do you see--where there -are clothes hanging on a line?" - -"Yes, lieutenant." - -"Oh! what a lovely blonde, Bertrand! Do you see her?" - -"I can't see so well as you, but I should say that she's young, too." - -"She is lovely, I give you my word; much more so, in fact, than the -first one, who is still looking at us. Gad! Bertrand, we shall do -excellently well here, and I like the rooms very much." - -"They're very nice, aren't they, lieutenant?" - -"The view alone is enough for me; I couldn't see all these sweet -creatures from downstairs, could I?" - -"It would have been rather hard." - -"I am delighted to live on the fifth floor." - -"And I'm overjoyed to have you satisfied, lieutenant." - -Bertrand rubbed his hands, because he had restored Auguste's good -spirits by flattering his weakness; and Auguste, whom the sight of all -those roofs had depressed at first, could not tear himself away from his -window, because from it he could look into the rooms of his two charming -neighbors. - -The one with the mischievous eye and free-and-easy manner did not keep -her eyes fixed on her frame, but glanced often at the young dandy who -had taken up his abode under the eaves. Although in less affluent -circumstances, Auguste had made no change in his dress; for the dress of -a man of fashion never changes, whether his income is larger or smaller. -Moreover, Auguste was a very good-looking fellow, with distinguished -manners, and that fact seemed to arouse the young working girl's -curiosity, for she had not always such good company opposite her. - -The young woman soon laid aside her work altogether; she walked about -her room, arranged her bureau drawers, lighted her fire, looked at -herself in the mirror, adjusted her neckerchief and prepared her dinner; -each of her actions being accompanied by a glance at the opposite -window. Auguste, who saw all that went on in her room, kept at his post, -saying from time to time: - -"Upon my word, Bertrand, it's very amusing to live on the fifth floor." - -He looked also at the window where he had seen a pretty blonde; but she -had simply taken in some of the linen that was drying, then closed the -window without glancing at her neighbors. - -Meanwhile, it had grown dark and the dinner hour had arrived. Auguste -left his window and went blithely down the five flights. He returned -home earlier than usual that evening and opened his window, although it -was midwinter. He saw that there was a light in both of his neighbors' -rooms. The lace-maker had little curtains that covered only the lower -sash; and as her window was on a lower level than Dalville's, he could -look over the little curtains into the room, which was brightly lighted, -and see the girl going to and fro between the mirror and the fireplace, -and apparently engrossed by her little cap, and a saucepan that was on -the fire. - -"For heaven's sake, doesn't that girl think about anything but her -cooking?" said Auguste to himself; "this afternoon she was getting her -dinner, and now I suppose she's getting her supper. There seems to be no -lack of appetite under the eaves. True, Bertrand did tell me that the -air was sharper. Ah! now she's going back to her mirror. She is a flirt, -I noticed that this afternoon; her hair is dressed with more care than -it was. Can she be expecting company? Why not? Isn't one at liberty to -enjoy oneself in an attic as well as elsewhere? Are the rich alone -privileged to receive their friends? Their friends! what do I say? One -is much more likely to receive them on the fifth floor; and flatterers -and parasites and parvenus don't disturb one here. It really is most -delightful to room on the fifth floor.--Ah! what do I see?" - -Auguste saw the young lace-maker, who, after adjusting her cap to her -satisfaction, removed her jacket and short skirt, and donned a white -chemise; while the young man, his eyes glued upon her little room, -exclaimed excitedly: - -"Very pretty! very pretty, on my word! I never saw anything better on -the first floor! Ah! this apartment of mine is beyond price!" - -Her toilet completed, the young woman set out her supper on a small -table; she laid two covers. - -"The deuce!" muttered Auguste; "the company that she expects consists of -but one person; the party will be no larger than those in the private -rooms at the Tournebride. But no matter! let us wait and see what -happens." - -A young man in a blouse and otter-skin cap arrived and was received with -a joyful exclamation, to which he replied by a kiss so heartily bestowed -that Dalville fancied that he heard the report; and he scratched his -ear, muttering: - -"The devil! the devil! shall I keep on looking? Why not? I shall at -least know what to expect." - -The supper was on the table; but the gallant in the otter-skin cap had -more love than appetite. He continued to snatch kisses, dallying the -while with the girl, whom he seemed inclined to lead away from the table -rather than toward it. - -"The deuce!" said Auguste, "it's evident that people make love under the -eaves no less than on first floors. This fellow in a jacket seems to -know as much about it as the most skilful boudoir seducer. The deuce! -the deuce!" - -And Auguste finally left the window in a pet, exclaiming: - -"I don't need to see any more; these young women who invite their best -friends to supper ought to have their curtains so arranged as to reach -to the top of the window." - -Auguste walked about his apartment for a moment or two, but he soon made -the circuit of it. Bertrand was in bed and asleep. As he scrutinized his -new abode, Auguste noticed the absence of several articles of furniture -to which he had become accustomed, but which had not been taken up to -the fifth floor, where they had retained only what was absolutely -necessary. Dalville realized that that sacrifice was indispensable; but -his brow darkened, he threw himself into a chair, and unpleasant -thoughts assailed him. It was very late, when, in an effort to dispel -those thoughts, he returned to his window. There was no longer a light -in the young lace-maker's window, and Auguste was not sorry, for he had -seen enough in that direction. He looked toward the window where he had -seen an attractive blonde; and there, although he could see a glimmer of -light, a dilapidated curtain, torn in several places, prevented him from -looking into the room. - -After looking about at the other houses nearby, thinking of _Le Diable -Boiteux_, of which that picture reminded him, Auguste, having no -Asmodeus to assist him to see what was taking place under the roofs, was -about to leave his window. Twelve o'clock had struck long before, the -most profound silence reigned in the street; the place that is -resplendent with light and movement at nine o'clock is often dark and -gloomy a few hours later. - -But, as he cast a last glance at the house opposite, Auguste saw the -window opened, of which the torn curtain had prevented a view of the -interior. A not unnatural curiosity led the young man to continue to -look; and, his light having gone out, he did not turn to relight it, -although it did not occur to him that he was able thus to see without -being seen. - -The room, which he could now see quite plainly, presented a melancholy -appearance: bare walls, a wretched sack of straw in one corner, a table, -and a chair or two--nothing else was to be seen in that poor abode, -where want and misfortune seemed to dwell. The room was dimly lighted by -a flickering lamp. - -An elderly man was alone in the room; his dress, although shabby, was -not that of a workman; his hair was white and his face looked worn and -haggard; everything about his person and in his manner denoted an -ominous and desperate agitation. - -Auguste's heart swelled with pity as he gazed at that old man; curiosity -gave place at once to profound interest, and it was a secret -apprehension that led him to follow his every movement. - -After opening the window, the old man went to the back of the room, -walking with care and apparently listening. He opened softly the door of -a small dressing-room, in which Auguste caught sight of a bed. Doubtless -the bed had an occupant, for the old man stopped, and stood for some -moments gazing at the person who was sleeping there; then he wiped away -with his hand the tears that flowed from his eyes. - -After a few moments he stepped forward, taking care to make no noise, -and imprinted a kiss on the brow of the person in the bed; he seemed -unable to tear himself away and to give over his silent contemplation. -He fell on his knees and raised his hands as if praying to God for the -person from whom it was so hard for him to part. Then he rose and sank -into a chair, as if overwhelmed by grief. At that moment Auguste could -distinguish nothing clearly; his eyes were filled with tears, which -rolled unnoticed down his cheeks. - -But suddenly the old man, as if he had ceased to listen to aught save -his despair, sprang to his feet and ran to the window, cast a last -glance about him, and climbed out. His foot was already on the edge when -a cry of horror arose.--"Stop! stop!" Those were the only words that -Auguste was able to articulate. His own body was half out of the window; -he wished to save the unfortunate man, but was afraid to leave his post -lest he should accomplish his deadly purpose before he could go -downstairs and up again. - -Auguste's cry startled the poor fellow; he stopped and turned his head -toward the little room, thinking that the tones that had gone to his -heart had come from there. His strength abandoned him, the gloomy frenzy -which impelled him gave place to weakness, to the prostration which -always succeeds paroxysms of nervous excitement. He sank into a chair, a -woman's name issued from his mouth, and his tears flowed afresh. - -"I can go down," thought Auguste; "I have time enough now to go to him." - -Running hurriedly to his desk, Auguste seized his wallet, then rushed -downstairs four at a time. He woke Schtrack, who opened the door for -him; then ran across the street and knocked at the door of the old man's -house. The shower of blows led the concierge to think that the house was -on fire, and that some obliging passer-by had stopped to inform him. He -rose hastily, ran to the door in his shirt, and exclaimed, still half -asleep: - -"Which chimney? Where's it coming out? Has it got much headway?--Wife! -wife!--Where's the firemen?" - -"Don't get excited; there's nothing wrong," said Auguste; "but I -absolutely must speak to the old man who lives on the fifth floor. -Here." - -And Auguste put a hundred-sou piece in the concierge's hand and hurried -upstairs, leaving that worthy rubbing his eyes, as he stared at the coin -in his hand, and finally went out into the street to make sure that -there was no smoke to be seen anywhere. - -When Auguste reached the top floor, the lamplight shining under the -ill-fitting door guided his steps. - -"Who's there?" asked the old man, surprised that anyone should call at -his room so late. - -"Open, in heaven's name!" Auguste replied; "it's a friend, it is one who -wishes to dry your tears." - -The word "friend" seemed to confound the unfortunate man. However, he -made up his mind at last to open the door, and gazed in surprise at the -young man, whose features were entirely unknown to him, and who came at -one o'clock in the morning to offer his services. But Auguste's face was -gentle and kindly, and his eyes expressed the tenderest interest in the -old man, who allowed him to enter his bare room. - -"What do you want, monsieur?" he asked in a faltering tone. - -"To comfort you--to save you from despair." - -"But, monsieur, who told you----" - -"I saw you just now. You were on the point of carrying out a ghastly -plan." - -"Ah! so it was your voice, monsieur!--Poor Anna! I thought it was -yours!--But she was asleep; she is sleeping still. Oh! monsieur, I -implore you, never let her know. And yet what am I to do here on earth, -penniless, without food? She is killing herself to support me! She -deprives herself of everything for my sake!" - -The unhappy wretch, abandoning himself to his grief, did not notice that -he was raising his voice. - -"Hush!" said Auguste; "you'll wake her. Let us not talk so loud. Tell me -your troubles; I tell you again, I propose to put an end to them." - -Auguste's tone and his pleasant voice inspired confidence in the unhappy -father; he sat down beside the young man, as far as possible from the -small dressing-room, and began his story in an undertone. - -"I was not born in poverty, monsieur, and perhaps that is my misfortune. -My family was highly considered; my name----" - -"I do not ask it, monsieur; I do not need to know your name, to make me -wish to be of use to you; I wish to know your misfortunes only." - -The old man's amazement redoubled. With another glance at Auguste, he -began once more: - -"I received a superficial education; but I was to have twenty thousand -francs a year, and I was assured that I knew quite enough. I was left my -own master altogether too early in life. I was passionately fond of -pleasure; I was especially addicted to that charming sex which--of which -I must say no evil, since it is my Anna's. But I abandoned myself -blindly to my passions, and I squandered my fortune with mistresses who -deceived me, and with false friends who helped me ruin myself." - -Here Auguste could not restrain a sigh, but he motioned to the old man -to go on. - -"Sometimes I determined to reform, but I was never able to listen to the -counsel of reason. When I was thirty-nine, I had spent all my properly -and I was entirely unused to work. - -"Thereupon a generous woman, who loved me for myself alone, determined -to throw in her lot with mine. She possessed a competence; she married -me and gave me my Anna. I might have been happy, but I had become so -accustomed to fashionable life that I had a craving for spending money. -I longed to supply my wife with the beautiful things that I saw on other -women; it angered me to see women who were not her equals wearing -cashmere shawls. In vain did she tell me that my love alone was enough -for her. I persuaded myself that she was concealing her wishes from me, -and that she suffered all sorts of privations. Endeavoring to add to our -means, I did the wildest things: I gambled, I mortgaged our property, -and I reduced to want the woman who had entrusted her destiny to me. -Thereupon, realizing the error of my ways, I tried to find employment, -but I was no longer young, and I could not succeed in obtaining it. -Regret tore my heart, and blanched my hair prematurely; I look to you -like a very old man, and I am not yet sixty. My wife did not reproach -me; she died commending our daughter, then eight years old, to my care. -I tried to utilize what little talent I had, but it was very little, and -as I grew older I rarely found anything to do. Meanwhile my Anna was -growing, and she began very early to work to support her unhappy father. -If you knew, monsieur, all that I owe her! How many nights she has -worked, in order to add to her earnings! Never any rest, never any -pleasure for her; and yet, not a word of complaint; it is she who -comforts me when she sees that I am more than ordinarily depressed, when -I reproach myself for my misconduct. Oh! I do not try to conceal my -wrong-doing, monsieur. It was my folly alone that led me to lose my own -fortune and squander that of my wife. My daughter might be happy, and -yet for ten years past, only toil and tears have been her lot! And I -alone am the cause! Do you still think that I am deserving of your -pity?" - -"Yes, monsieur," said Auguste, pressing the stranger's hand. "But what -impelled you to such a desperate resolution to-night?" - -"Despite my failings, monsieur, I have always been careful of my honor; -I have thrown away my fortune, but at least I have no reason to reproach -myself for failing to keep my engagements. Two years ago I met a man -whom I had known in my prosperous days; he came to me and called me his -friend as of old. I told him my troubles; he placed his purse at my -disposal and lent me twelve hundred francs. 'You may take your own time -about paying me,' he said. Alas! a long illness prevented me from -earning anything; however, my creditor made no demand on me, but the -excellent man, who is in business now, was unfortunate himself and lost -heavily by several failures. Two months ago he came to ask me if I could -repay him, but it was impossible. He did not reproach me, and he did not -come again; but I learned yesterday that a heartless creditor of his had -caused his imprisonment for a bill of one thousand francs. That news -made me desperate. If I had paid my debt, that honest man would still be -at liberty! Alas! I have brought misfortune upon everybody who has taken -an interest in me! My Anna deprives herself of everything for her -father's sake.--Ah! monsieur, ought I still to cling to an existence -which is a weary burden to me?" - -Auguste took out his wallet and took from it three one thousand-franc -notes, which he placed in the old man's hand, saying: - -"Pay the twelve hundred francs that you owe, and with what is left buy a -small shop for your daughter. I am sure that happier days are in store -for you." - -The old man could not determine whether he was the dupe of a dream. What -had happened to him seemed so extraordinary, that he dared not give way -to his delight. He looked first at Dalville, then at the bank-notes -which he had put in his hand, and could only falter: - -"Great God! is it possible? Such unforeseen good-fortune! Excellent -young man!--Pardon me, monsieur! Why, you are an angel sent to us from -heaven!" - -"No, I am no angel," said Auguste, with a smile; "on the contrary, I -have all the failings of mortals; but I am happy to be able to assist -two unfortunate fellow-creatures so easily." - -"But, monsieur, this is a considerable sum----" - -"It is not enough to pay for the lesson you have given me." - -"How so?" - -"Adieu, monsieur, it's very late; get some rest now; you need it, and I -trust that it will be of the sweetest." - -"What! you are going to leave us already? Oh! please let me tell my -daughter how much I owe you. Allow her too to thank our benefactor. Ah! -you don't know my Anna--as lovely as she is good. The sight of her will -bring home to you all that you have done for me by giving me the means -to make the dear child happy!" - -The old man walked toward the dressing-room, but Auguste stopped him, -saying in an undertone: - -"Don't wake her, I beg you. I will see her another time; don't disturb -her sleep." - -"As you insist, monsieur, I obey you; but tell me your name, I pray; let -me know to whom I am indebted." - -"I will tell you to-morrow." - -"My name is Dorfeuil, monsieur; I am most anxious that you should know -to whom you have restored life and honor." - -Auguste escaped from the old man's thanks and finally left that abode -whither he had carried joy and repose. He went down the five flights in -high spirits, and better pleased with himself than he had ever been. - -"There are two people whom I have rescued from despair," he said to -himself; "and all I have to do is to imagine that Destival carried off -another three thousand francs." - -Returning to his fifth floor apartment, Auguste went to bed and did not -wake until the morning had far advanced. - -"It seems to me, lieutenant, that you slept rather well in your new -lodgings?" said Bertrand as he entered Auguste's room. - -"I really believe that I never slept so well on the first floor." - -But the ex-corporal was amazed to see that his master did not once go to -the window, and at the end of the day he expressed his surprise. - -"Don't you like our view any more, lieutenant?" - -"No, my friend, I have reflected, and I think that it's a risky thing to -look into other people's rooms." - -"But I should say that you saw some very pretty little things, didn't -you, lieutenant?" - -"I saw some very sad things, too. All things considered, I think that -it's better not to pay any attention to what goes on in our neighbors' -houses." - -Auguste had another reason for not going to his window; he did not want -to be seen by the old man, who would have recognized him, and whom he -did not propose to visit again. He knew that poor Dorfeuil's daughter -was lovely; he distrusted his own weakness and preferred not to run the -risk of spoiling his kindly action. - - - - -XVIII - -THE GRISETTES AT THE VILLAGE.--THE EVENING PARTY AND THE GHOST - - -"We won't go to see Monsieur Auguste again," Denise declared on her -return to the village; and when her aunt asked her if the fine gentleman -in Paris had given them a warm welcome, the girl could not keep back the -tears as she murmured: - -"We waited at his house more than three hours, and he only spoke to us -for a minute!" - -"What! he didn't thank you for your chickens, my dear child, or say -anything about my cake?" - -"Oh! yes, aunt." - -"What more do you want, my child? In Paris, you see, people are always -in such a hurry that they don't have time to talk; it ain't as it is -with us." - -Denise did not tell her aunt that Monsieur Dalville did not so much as -thank her for her present, for that would have made Mre Fourcy angry, -and the girl still hoped that the young man would come to see them; he -was so pleasant when he came to the village that she would soon forget -his coolness in the city. - -"And what about that money?" asked Mre Fourcy; "what did he say about -that, my child?" - -"Nothing, aunt--that is to say, we are to do what we please with it." - -"Then we must have the house rebuilt and the garden sowed; that will be -Coco's own property." - -"Yes, aunt." - -Denise allowed her aunt to have her way; she no longer had any heart for -anything, her melancholy seemed to increase every day, and the child's -endearments were powerless to divert her. She sought relief from her -sorrows in toil; but in the midst of her rustic duties, which were -formerly her delight, Denise would pause, heave a sigh, and stand -sometimes for many minutes, lost in thought. - -When Mre Fourcy surprised her in one of these fits of melancholy, she -would run to her and ask: - -"What on earth is the matter with you, girl?" - -"Nothing, aunt," Denise would reply, trying hard to smile. - -"But you was standing there without moving, and you didn't say a word." - -"Because I was thinking, aunt." - -"What about, my child?" - -"I don't remember." - -"You're sick, that's what's the matter with you!" - -"I'm sure I don't know, aunt." - -"Pardi! I can see it plain enough. You're growing thin, and you're pale -as a ghost, and you don't eat anything. You must get married, my dear." - -"Oh, no! I don't want to, aunt!" - -"Then you must take medicine, for, I tell you, you need to take -something." - -Mre Fourcy could think of nothing save a husband or medicine capable of -restoring Denise's bloom; but the girl declared that it would return -with the warm weather, because she hoped that the return of the spring -would bring Auguste back to the village. - -The winter days were very long, especially to the village girl, who no -longer took any pleasure in the evening reunions, who listened without -interest to the jokes of the young men, and who had no one for whom she -cared to beautify herself. Although one may find enjoyment in musing -beneath an oak tree's shade, although the sight of green grass and -verdant shrubbery may allay the pangs of love, the interior of a -farm-house, and the quacking of geese and ducks must be intolerable to a -heart that craves silence and solitude. Denise, obliged to conceal her -unhappiness from her aunt, remained in her room and watched the Paris -road. - -One day when a sharp frost had hardened the ground, although the sun -still made the gnarled and leafless trees attractive to the eye, Denise, -who was at her chamber window, heard talking and laughing on the path -leading to their house. The voices were evidently not those of -villagers, and, in fact, two ladies dressed like Parisians appeared on -the tree-lined path, looking about them, evidently with no very clear -idea where they were going, and stopping every minute to laugh, and to -rest by the hedge. - -Denise recognized one of them as the young woman whom she had met at -Auguste's rooms in Paris, and who had walked with her to the stage -office, manifesting the deepest interest in her. The sight of a person -who knew Dalville, who had come perhaps with a message from him, caused -the girl keen pleasure, and she at once left her room, to go out and -accost the strangers. - -Denise was not mistaken: Virginie, to whose mind the pretty village -maiden she had met at Auguste's apartment recurred now and again, had -spoken of her to one of her friends. This friend was a tall brunette of -some thirty years, with a fine figure, but with a bold expression that -would have intimidated a dragoon. A dressmaker by trade, but -passionately fond of the theatre, she neglected her thread and needle to -enact tragic princesses and heroines of melodrama in private theatres. -Despite her determined manner, sentiment was Mademoiselle Czarine's -weakness; she always had a passion on the carpet, and would have gone on -the stage for good and all, had she been able to overcome an unfortunate -lisp. For the rest, Mademoiselle Czarine was a good-natured soul and -incapable of trying to seduce a friend's lover. - -A fine winter's day suggested to Virginie the idea of a trip to -Montfermeil. At the first mention of the country, Czarine had -exclaimed: - -"I'll go with you, my dear; I feel the need of dithtraction to-day. -Thodore hath been playing trickth on me. Let'th go and thee your little -peathant; we'll drink milk, and perhapth that will pathify my mind." - -"Let's go," Virginie assented; "I don't know the exact address, but I -know it's Montfermeil, and my tongue ain't in my pocket." - -"Oh! we'll thoon find the plathe. Do you thuppothe that I, who could -find Thodore in any corner in Parith, won't very thoon make a thorough -thearch of a village?" - -"I'll introduce you as a relative of mine; for we must have some -excuse." - -"Don't you be alarmed. Haven't I acted Themiramith? Don't I carry -mythelf like a queen?" - -"I know you've played Semiramis, but there are times when no one would -suspect it." - -"Let'th be off and take the thage." - -"All right. I'm sure that the little girl will be glad to see me. My -dear, you are going to see a case of perfect innocence." - -"Tho much the better; I don't like anything but innothenthe, now I know -that rathcal Thodore is falth to me." - -"Great heaven! are you going to talk about your Thodore all the way? -that will be amusing!--By the way, there's one difficulty--I haven't a -sou." - -"Oh! I've got enough for both. Wait till I count. I've got a hundred and -fifteen thouth." - -"With that sum we can go to the Mississippi. Put on your Sunday hat and -your home-raised cashmere; and off we go." - -Mademoiselle Czarine put on her bird-of-paradise hat, which the sun had -faded to a pale yellow, and the shawl, once of amaranthine hue, in which -the flowers had become so blended with the background that it was -difficult to distinguish them. But when one indulges frequently in grand -passions, one sometimes makes sacrifices, and Mademoiselle Czarine -preferred one glance from the man of her choice to the diamonds of a -Russian prince; therein she differed essentially from Mademoiselle -Virginie. - -The young women took their seats in the stage; there were no other -passengers except two old peasants, at whom they made faces all the way, -because they detected an unpleasant odor about them. At last they -arrived at Montfermeil, and, Virginie having inquired where Denise -lived, they were directed to the path where the girl discovered them. - -"My dear love," said Czarine, "I don't thee the ruthtic roof that -thelterth your young friend, and I am beginning to be doothid hungry." - -"Wait, it must be close by." - -"What a lovely morning! If that ungrateful Thodore had only come with -uth!" - -"Yes, to eat up your hundred and fifteen sous in one meal! Dieu! what a -fool you are to go wild like this over a man who ruins you! Let's go on -a little farther." - -"My dear, it'th too much for me; it'th no uthe for me to thay: 'I mutht -forget him!'" - -"I'll sing it for you, if you want; perhaps that will have more effect -on you." - -"Ah! he hath thuch lovely whithkerth. It wath hith whithkerth that -fathinated me firtht." - -"You ought to have had them made into a cravat." - -"You're alwayth joking. How lucky you are, Virginie! you don't know what -a violent pathion ith." - -"The deuce I don't! I've had more of 'em than you have!--Oh! see that -pretty little house, and the farm--That must certainly be the place." - -"I don't believe your village girl livth in thuch a nithe houthe." - -"Why not, pray? If you had seen the plump chickens she brought Auguste, -you wouldn't be surprised." - -The appearance of Denise put an end to their uncertainty. The girl ran -to meet Virginie, kissed her, and made a respectful curtsy to Czarine, -who cried: - -"What! ith thith your young village girl? How pretty she ith! The -deuthe! what a pretty fathe! Ah! I'm very glad now that Thodore didn't -come!" - -Virginie trod on Czarine's foot, as a hint to her to be quiet, and said -to Denise: - -"I haven't forgotten you, you see, my dear; I have come to see you -without ceremony, and brought my cousin with me. We don't put you out of -the way, do we?" - -"Oh, no, madame! on the contrary, I am very glad. It's very kind of you -to come. My aunt will be delighted to see you--and madame too." - -"Will you let me kith you, my child?" said Czarine. - -"Yes, madame, with pleasure. But come--come into the house. You may not -have dined yet?" - -"Well, hardly, my dear; all I've had ith a little piece of thauthage -when I got up." - -"Yes," said Virginie, treading on Czarine's foot again, "my cousin and -I have begun to realize that fresh air sharpens the appetite. But we're -going to the inn----" - -"Oh! I hope that you'll stay with us, madame. It would be very unkind of -you to refuse." - -"Dieu! how pretty the ith! the hath Thodore's nothe." - -"We accept, my dear Denise, so long as it won't put you out. Besides, -the merest trifles from people one likes always give more pleasure--than -the dainty dishes one mightn't find somewhere else----" - -Denise's only reply was to run ahead to tell her aunt, and Virginie said -to her friend: - -"For heaven's sake, be careful what you say, and remember to behave -decently. What with your Thodore, whom you lug into the conversation at -every turn----" - -"And you lothe yourthelf in your thentences and can't find your way out -of them!" - -"No matter--long sentences are what you want with peasants; they don't -understand 'em, but they think they're fine." - -"Well, I'll thay Thodore ith my huthband and that he'th in the army." - -As they talked, the ladies reached the farmyard, where the geese, ducks, -dog and goat greeted them with a little impromptu concert. - -"Oh! how I love the country!" cried Virginie, running forward to kiss -Coco, while Czarine did her utmost to keep her shawl out of the dog's -mouth. Meanwhile, Mre Fourcy came out to receive the travellers whom -her niece had announced as fashionable ladies from Paris, of Monsieur -Auguste's acquaintance, and to whom the good woman conceived that she -owed the greatest respect. - -"This is my aunt, madame," said Denise to Virginie; and the latter -saluted the old woman with the patronizing air of a woman of fashion, -saying: - -"I am very glad to make the acquaintance of your venerable aunt. Dieu! -what an antique cast of countenance! I am very fond of elderly people. -Let me embrace you, madame." - -Having embraced Mre Fourcy, Virginie called Czarine: - -"Cousin, come here and let me present you to our excellent aunt." - -"One moment, pleathe," said Czarine, "until I get rid of thith -mitherable dog of herth, that hath grabbed my cathmere. Oh! I know what -the matter ith--day before yethterday I wrapped up a leg of mutton in -it----" - -Virginie coughed to drown Czarine's words, and the latter at last -escaped from the dog and bestowed a regal salutation on Mre Fourcy. - -"This is my cousin," said Virginie, presenting her friend to Denise's -aunt. "I told her about your lovely niece, and she could not resist the -desire to make her acquaintance and yours, venerable aunt; we left our -hotels and climbed into the wretched chamber vessel called a stage, -where we had no other company than a couple of old clowns who smelt of -rancid butter. But when we are going to see people we like and esteem, -we take a standing jump over all such little annoyances, don't we, -cousin?" - -"Yeth, my dear," Czarine replied, walking like Semiramis. - -"It's very kind of you, madame," said Mre Fourcy, "and we appreciate -your courtesy. But you must have something to eat." - -"We have already dined _ la fourchette_, but we don't like to decline." - -"For my part, I could eat all day long in the country," said Czarine. - -The ladies entered the house, and while the table was being laid, -Czarine petted Coco. - -"What a hanthome boy! what a fine profile!" she exclaimed. "He'll look -like Thodore. Ith he yourth, my beauty?" - -This question was addressed to Denise, who blushed as she replied: - -"What did you say, madame?" - -"You're infernally stupid!" cried Virginie; "the idea of asking this -child such a question, as if she was old enough to--Why, she hasn't -begun to think of such things." - -"Look you, my dear, I don't know her ekthact age. Bethideth, I've got a -thithter who wath a mother at thirteen." - -"Is she a Creole, then?" - -"Yeth, a Creole from the Pont-aux-Choux." - -Luckily Mre Fourcy was in the cellar at that moment, so that she did -not hear the colloquy between the two ladies. Denise longed to learn -something about Auguste, but she dared not take the liberty to ask -Virginie; she was afraid that that young woman would divine her profound -interest in him, and the poor child would have been terribly abashed to -have those fine ladies of Paris, both of whom she believed to be friends -of Auguste, know her heart's secret. To that sweet child love was all in -all; she was very far from suspecting that to her two visitors it was a -very small matter. - -While Denise was preparing the repast, Virginie insisted upon helping -Mre Fourcy to set the table, which the old woman would not allow; and -during the contest between the peasant and the Parisian, a bottle -slipped from under the arm of the former and fell at Czarine's feet, -where it broke and spattered her dress. - -"O Dieu! my merino is all thpotted!" she cried; "what am I going to do? -I haven't got another." - -"You can wear your velvet," said Virginie, motioning to her to be -careful what she said. Czarine, engrossed by her dress, paid no heed -but continued to complain. - -"It'th jutht the dreth that ith motht becoming to me; I wore it when I -captivated Thodore." - -"That's her husband, who's in the army--he's a general.--Come, cousin, -you have made enough fuss over your dress. You have plenty of others, I -should say." - -"I thertainly did have all thothe I put up the thpout----" - -"Up the spout, Mre Fourcy, means cutting them up into towels. You see, -we are all so changeable in Paris--we have to have a new dress every -week; we throw our money out of the window! A wicked place that Paris -is! Happy the people who live in villages! Ah! the country! trees and -animals and rye bread--that's what I call happiness! I hope to end by -buying a little chteau or a cottage--it's all one to me, so long as -it's in the country. As for Denise, whom I love as if I was her mother, -if there's one thing I'd advise her to do, it's to stay here and not go -to Paris again. However, I fancy she don't care much about it; and the -way Monsieur Dalville received her the last time--why, it made me -frantic! And to think that the poor child had brought him fresh eggs and -such a fine cake!" - -Denise, returning with a huge soup-kettle full to the brim, overheard -Virginie's last words and halted behind Czarine, motioning to Virginie -to say nothing to her aunt. Virginie, being accustomed to dissemble, -understood the girl's signs and continued, trying to repair her blunder: - -"After all, the young man is very excusable, for you see, Madame Fourcy, -there are people in Paris who don't like cake; it isn't as it is in the -village, where it takes the place of salad. And then, Auguste is a -little thoughtless; but his heart's in the right place! yes, he has a -very kind heart! I know him better than anybody. Besides, at this time -above all others, I shouldn't think of speaking ill of him; and although -he's ruined----" - -"Ruined!" cried Denise; and in her emotion the girl dropped the kettle, -whose contents completed the disfigurement of Czarine's gown. - -"Great God! but I'm unlucky to-day!" she cried, as she gazed at her -garment; "how do you expect me to go back to Parith, and play -_Andromaque_ on Monday, in thith dreth?" - -Mre Fourcy lost herself in apologies; but Denise paid no heed to the -accident she had caused; she ran to Virginie, exclaiming: - -"Ruined! Monsieur Auguste ruined! Oh! mon Dieu! madame, how did it -happen, pray?" - -"I'll tell you directly, my dear love." - -Virginie, first of all, seated herself at the table; Czarine did the -same and forgot the accidents that had happened to her dress as she -helped herself to double portions. Mre Fourcy stood respectfully before -the young women, and poor Denise, with her eyes fixed on Virginie's, -waited impatiently until she should choose to tell her what had happened -to Auguste. - -"Pray be seated, venerable aunt," said Virginie to Mre Fourcy, who -believed that she was entertaining ladies from the court. - -"Indeed, madame, I shall not think of it!" - -"I thall refuthe to eat if you continue to thtand," said Czarine, as -she ate her third egg. - -"I know too well what I owe you, madame." - -"You don't owe us anything at all, Mre Fourcy; on the contrary, we -ought to be waiting on you." - -"Oh, madame! the idea!" - -"Respect the wrinkled--that's my motto. Sit down, I say!" - -"How well madame would play the mother of Coriolanuth!" - -"Let's drop Coriolanus, cousin, and give Madame Fourcy a chair." - -As she spoke, Virginie rose from the table, seized Mre Fourcy's arms -and led her to a chair. As the peasant woman continued to resist, -Virginie pushed her backward and ended by taking her by the shoulders -and forcing her to the floor beside the chair. The good woman fell -almost under the table, while Virginie, thinking that she was seated, -resumed her own place. But when she found that she could not see her, -she said: - -"I am afraid that I have given you rather a low chair, but, at all -events, you'll be more comfortable than if you were standing." - -"That'th a very nithe theat you've got!" said Czarine, as she assisted -Mre Fourcy to rise. "Why, did you fall? Thee what cometh of holding -back! Did you hurt yourself?" - -"You're very kind, madame--just a little bit, on the hip." - -"That can't help doing you good; it thtirth up the blood. Take a theat, -pray." - -Mre Fourcy did not wait to be urged any more; and when tranquillity was -restored, Denise said once more: - -"And Monsieur Auguste, madame?" - -"Oh, yes! to be sure! I haven't told you how he came to be ruined. The -first reason why I haven't is that I don't know anything about it; but -still, it's easy enough to guess: the fellow acted like a goose, -gambling, spending a lot, and paying his mistresses. I've said to him -twenty times: 'Auguste, you're driving too hard!' Yes, I've told him so -very often, but I always used the familiar thou, because I knew him when -he was such a little fellow!" - -"I should have said the young gentleman was about your age," said Mre -Fourcy. - -"So he is, very near; but we were brought up together--we had the same -nurse--so that I'm deeply attached to him; and although he lives on the -fifth floor now, that won't prevent my going to breakfast with him, as I -told Bertrand yesterday, when he told me that the funds were low." - -"But Monsieur Auguste must be very unhappy, it must make him very sad to -be ruined," sighed Denise. - -"He, my dear girl! not a bit of it! Oh! you don't know him; he's just as -wild and heedless as ever. Bertrand said so yesterday. Poor Bertrand! I -saw a tear in his eye while he was telling me about his master's -follies! He's a faithful servant, that fellow, a real friend! Give me -something to drink, Semiramis, for, I notice that, while I am talking, -you do nothing but fill your own glass. Semiramis is the name of an -estate belonging to my cousin; she has estates in all the suburbs of -Paris." - -"I say, Denise," cried Mre Fourcy, "if that gentleman's lost his money, -hadn't we ought to give back what he left for Coco? What a pity the -cottage is all built!" - -"What's given is given, Madame Fourcy," said Virginie; "that's a -principle I've never departed from. It's a mistake to act on the theory -of returning what you've received." - -"Ah! if I had all I've given to Thodore!" - -"He's a husband of my cousin. She's given him the measles twice, and you -can understand that she wouldn't be overjoyed to have them returned. -Give me something to drink, Semiramis." - -Denise took no further part in the conversation; she was pensive and -entirely engrossed by what she had learned on the subject of the young -gentleman from Paris. The two grisettes, finding themselves very -comfortable at the table, jabbered to their hearts' content. Mre Fourcy -opened her eyes and ears, not always able to understand the pretty -stories that those ladies told her; but as they did not give her a -chance to put in a word, there was nothing for her to do but to stare in -amazement. - -They had been at table a long time, Mre Fourcy seated between them, -doing nothing but turn her head from side to side. Denise had left the -room, unobserved; the poor child's heart was heavy; thinking that -Auguste was in distress, she longed to let her tears flow and wished to -conceal them from the Parisians. Coco, who was playing in the yard, saw -her pass. The boy saw that she was unhappy, so he dropped his toys, ran -to her and said: - -"What's the matter, my little Denise?" - -"You don't know, Coco, that your kind friend, who has given you so many -things, is poor now, and unhappy perhaps." - -"We must carry him some more eggs and cake, my little Denise; he'll like -to have them, if he's poor. When I lived in the old hut with grandma, I -used to be so happy when you brought me some white bread! I didn't use -to have it very often then." - -Denise kissed Coco; what the child said had given rise to a secret hope -in her heart. She wiped her eyes and returned to the living-room, where -the party had been increased by the arrival of a villager, formerly the -school-teacher, who had come to pay Mre Fourcy a visit, and at sight of -the two young ladies from Paris, had come near knocking over a wardrobe, -in order to make a more graceful bow; while Virginie winked at Czarine, -who hid her face in her napkin to avoid laughing in the face of the -newcomer, whose features were an exact reproduction of the absurd masks -sold in Carnival time. - -"Good-day, neighbor Mauflard," said Mre Fourcy to the -ex-school-teacher. - -"Good-day, neighbor Fourcy." - -"How goes it, neighbor Mauflard?" - -"Very well, neighbor Fourcy. Faith, I didn't have anything to do, so I -says to myself: 'I'll just go and see neighbor Fourcy.'" - -"That's right good of you, neighbor." - -"But if you've got company, I don't want to be in the way." - -"Do stay, Monsieur Mauflard," said Virginie; "we should be terribly -distressed to frighten you away." - -"I don't believe that monthieur ith afraid of the fair thex." - -The neighbor replied with a second bow, so low that he could have picked -a coin from the floor with his teeth; then he took a chair and seated -himself. - -"You'll take a drink, neighbor Mauflard, won't you?" - -"With pleasure, Mre Fourcy." - -A glass was filled for neighbor Mauflard, and this he emptied after -bowing to the whole company; then he settled back in his chair, -murmuring: - -"That's good, very good--always the same." - -"Who is neighbor Mauflard?" Virginie asked Aunt Fourcy in a whisper. - -"Oh! he's a very fine man. He used to keep a school in the village; but -not long ago he retired, as he didn't have but two scholars." - -"I'm thorry for that; I'd have thent Hecuba to him." - -"What does she mean by Hecuba?" - -"That's my cousin's daughter--a charming child; she isn't three yet, and -she bites at everything." - -"Oh! that'th tho; the'd bite at marble!" - -"Neighbor Mauflard is one of the most knowing men hereabout." - -"Anyone can see that by looking at him. But he don't say anything. Have -another glass, Monsieur Mauflard?" - -The neighbor's only reply was a prolonged snore; according to his -custom, he had already fallen asleep. - -"Why, he's asleep!" said Virginie. - -"Oh, yes, that's his way; as soon as he comes in, he sits down and shuts -his eyes." - -"That certainly makes him a very pleasant companion!" - -"He'th like that villain of a Thodore, who alwayth uthed to go to -thleep ath thoon ath he had thaid thome blackguardly thing to me." - -"She means her husband, who must always have his siesta. He brought that -habit from Spain, with chocolate." - -"I say, Denise," cried Mre Fourcy; "I know why neighbor Mauflard came -here to-day; didn't we say at Claudine's last night that we'd have the -party here to-night?" - -"Oh! dear, yes!" Denise replied dejectedly; "that was a very unfortunate -idea of yours." - -"A village party!" said Czarine, leaving the table; "oh! what fun that -will be! I've often heard of them, but I never thaw one." - -"Nor I," said Virginie; "and yet I've seen a great many things. I say! -if we should pass the night here, we could attend the party. What do you -say, cousin?" - -"I thay that cabs won't cotht any more to-morrow morning than to-night." - -"It isn't a question of cabs. I know that we didn't bring our own -carriage, so as not to tire our horses; but we must find out whether it -will inconvenience our venerable aunt to put us up to-night." - -"Oh! we've got room, madame." - -"It will be very kind of you to stay," said Denise, hoping to have more -talk of Auguste with Virginie. - -"But the ladies will have to be satisfied with rather a hard bed." - -"We shall be very comfortable." - -"I'm not hard to pleathe; I've thlept on thraw more than onth." - -Virginie nudged Czarine and added hastily: - -"Oh, yes! in the country--as a joke--just for sport." - -"Yeth, and I rather like it; it ith great fun--it prickth." - -"Oh! I don't propose that you shall be pricked," said Mre Fourcy; "I'll -fix up a bed for you in the little back chamber." - -"Don't put yourself out in the least, dear aunt, I beg; the pleasure of -staying with you, of seeing the spectacle of a village party, is all we -want," said Virginie. But the old woman turned a deaf ear and went to -prepare a chamber for her guests, while Denise lighted a great lamp to -illuminate the living-room; for it was growing dark, and the party would -soon begin. - -During these preparations Virginie whispered to her friend: - -"These good people take us for princesses." - -"Well, it theemth to me that I cut a pretty good figure." - -"Yes, but don't make stupid remarks at the party. For my part, I like it -here very much; I would willingly spend a fortnight here." - -"It thertainly wouldn't cotht much to live here." - -"But if all the men are as agreeable as neighbor Mauflard, they must be -a lively set of fellows." - -Night came, and the regular party-goers, who had arranged to meet at -Mre Fourcy's on that evening, began to arrive. One old woman brought -her spinning-wheel, another her knitting; many brought nothing, because -they were to tell stories, which are of no small importance at a village -party. The men brought bottles and pitchers, and every one was provided -with his own supper. - -Virginie and Czarine, seated in a corner of the main room, where it was -not very light, despite the lamp, scrutinized the villagers and made -comments which luckily they did not hear. - -"Oh! what funny creatures!" said Virginie. "Don't they look countrified! -I'd like to show them stars on the ceiling!" - -"Oh! thethe village folkth are more knowing than they look." - -"I'll bet that I play a trick on 'em and fool 'em all." - -"Virginie, you mutht behave yourthelf, you know." - -"That's all right, Semiramis, I know how to behave." - -"Look at that tall young fellow over there--he'th a handthome man. He -hath Thodore'th legth." - -"He looks like a terrible fool!" - -"I don't care for that--he ithn't a bit bad-looking." - -When they first entered the room, the villagers did not notice the two -Parisian ladies; but when they did see them, they gathered in groups and -began to whisper together. Czarine walked toward them and said with an -amiable air: - -"We don't wish to embarrath you, worthy villagerth; we have come to take -part in your games." - -"We're very fond of country life," said Virginie; "and before buying a -farm, we want to know what people do on farms." - -Mre Fourcy's arrival gave the villagers all the information they -desired. - -"They're great ladies from Paris," she told them. "They have a beautiful -house, but they ain't a bit proud; they decided to pass the night here, -so's to be at the party. You'll see how polite they are." - -The peasants bowed low to the great ladies; some young gallants of the -village, in order to win favor with the strangers at once, began to push -one another and exchange fisticuffs, and yelled with delight when one of -them fell to the floor. - -"Our youngsters are beginning their fooling," said the old men; and -Virginie remarked to her friend: - -"If they begin like this, I wonder where they'll end!" - -Amid the uproar, Monsieur Mauflard continued to snore in his chair; and -one of the village wits exclaimed: - -"Look--Pre Mauflard's asleep. I say! we must put up a game on Pre -Mauflard. What do you say?" - -"Count me in on that," said Czarine, seating herself beside the tall, -gawky youth whom she considered handsome, and who lowered his eyes and -flushed to the ears when the lady from Paris looked at him. - -"What shall we do to Pre Mauflard?" asked a peasant. - -"Take his hat." - -"Oh! that ain't funny enough." - -"Steal his handkerchief." - -"Or his snuff-box." - -"Oh! he'll guess right off that it was us who took that. That ain't a -good trick." - -"Do you want a good trick?" asked Czarine; "if you do, jutht quietly -take off his breecheth." - -All the villagers gazed at one another in amazement, for the trick -proposed by the lovely Parisian seemed rather strong to them; and -Virginie trod on her friend's foot and whispered: - -"Will you keep quiet? What are you thinking about? As if anyone ever did -such things as that here!--My friends," Virginie continued, addressing -the villagers, "my cousin said that because she assumed that Pre -Mauflard wears drawers." - -"Oh, yes! but he don't!" said a stout woman, laughingly. Whereupon all -the peasants cried: - -"Oho! Fanchon knows all about it! How do you know that, eh, Fanchon? -Well, on my word! it seems that Fanchon--So you know that, do you, -Fanchon?" - -Fanchon laughed on, and the noise finally woke Pre Mauflard, who rubbed -his eyes and asked what the matter was. - -But Denise's aunt restored order by arranging the whole party in a -circle. The seats of honor by the fireplace were offered to the two -ladies. Czarine, who had seated herself beside the tall lout, said that -she was very comfortable and that the heat made her ill. Virginie sat -between two old men. Denise took Coco in her lap; she alone had no share -in the pleasures of the occasion, and her heart as well as her thoughts -bore her far from the village. - -An old woman began a tale of robbers; another told a ghost story; and as -neither of them interested Czarine, while the simple folk tremblingly -huddled together, she played games with the tall youth, and chucked him -under the chin, saying: - -"How much he looks like Thodore!" - -An old peasant took the floor and announced that he proposed to sing the -lament composed on the extraordinary death of Etienne de Garlande, -formerly lord of Livry, who espoused the cause of Amaury de Montfort -against Louis le Gros; the lament had only seventy-two stanzas. - -As each stanza, sung to a most doleful tune in the measure of -_Malbrouck_, lasted nearly five minutes, Virginie rose at the second, -took a candle, whispered to Mre Fourcy that she was going to bed, and -vanished without diverting the peasants' attention from the dirge. - -But Czarine, who was not at all anxious to listen to the seventy-two -stanzas, interrupted the peasant in the middle of the fourth, saying: - -"My dear friend, your thory ith very pretty, but it will end by putting -everybody to thleep like neighbor Mauflard, who hath been thnoring for -an hour. If you thay tho, I'll give you a then from a tragedy. Do you -know what tragedy ith, my friendth?" - -"No, madame," said the villagers. - -"And comedy--have you ever been to one?" - -"No, madame." - -"Oh! I know what it is," said one of the young blades; "I've been in -Paris. It's a place where you see men and women behind a curtain that -goes up; and then there's lamps, and they say silly things and wave -their arms about, and you can't understand nothing at all; but it's -almighty fine." - -"That'th the very thing, my dear boy; you know all about it. Tho you'll -be able to explain to the company what they can't grathp right away. I'm -going to give you a thene from _Andromaque_. Come with me, my fine -fellow, you're going to be Pyrrhuth." - -Czarine took the tall youth by the arm, placed a wooden bench at the -rear of the room, unfolded her shawl and draped it round her body, and -removed one of her garters, which she knotted about the young peasant's -brow; he allowed himself to be thus decorated, not daring to stir. The -peasants, their eyes fixed on Czarine, waited impatiently to see what -she was going to do. After removing her hat and arranging her hair on -top of her head, Czarine ordered the tall youth to stand on one end of -the bench and took her own place on the other end, saying: - -"Now we're going to begin. But firtht I think I ought to tell you a -little about the thubject of the play. Lithen: Andromaque ith a queen -whothe huthband hath been killed; Pyrrhuth here wanth to marry her, and -the won't. That'th the whole of it--now you underthtand; don't you?" - -"Yes, yes," said the peasants; "anyway Jean-Franois'll explain the -rest." - -"All right. I'll begin; and you, Pyrrhuth, do me the favor not to keep -your eyeth on your big toe all the time, for Pyrrhuth ought not to look -like a zany." - -The gawky youth, in order to obey the lovely lady, at whom he dared not -glance, raised his eyes and thereafter did not take them from the -ceiling. - -Czarine assumed a noble pose and began: - - "And what more wouldtht thou I thould thay to him? - Author of all my i11th, thinktht thou he knowth them not? - My lord, thee to what low ethtate thou dotht reduth me. - I have theen my father dead, and our abode on fire; - I have theen the liveth of my whole family in peril, - And my blood-thtained huthband dragged amid the dutht." - -"Poor soul! think of her seeing all that!" said the peasant women. "Is -that all true, Jean-Franois?" - -"Yes, yes! of course it's true! Don't she tell you she saw it?" - -"My children," said Czarine, "if you interrupt me, I than't be -inthpired any more; a little thilence, if you pleathe." - - "I breathe again, I therve; - I have done more, thometimeth I have ta'en comfort - Becauthe my fate hath exiled me here and not elthwhere; - Becauthe, happy in my mithery, the thon of tho many kingth, - Thinthe he mutht therve, hath fallen beneath your thway; - I have thought that hith prithon would become hith refuge; - Of yore the conquered Priam wath by Achilleth thpared; - I from hith thon e'en greater kindneth did antithipate. - Forgive me, Hector dear----" - -"Friend Pyrrhuth, pray attend to bithneth. Are you looking for thpiderth -on the theiling?" - -The tall youth looked toward the door, and Czarine resumed: - - "Forgive me, Hector dear----" - -"Thilenth, my children," she said, pausing again; "I beg the perthon who -ith thnoring tho loud to do me the favor to go." - -Czarine was about to continue her declamation when there came another -prolonged groan. All the villagers looked at one another, saying: - -"Who on earth is making such a noise as that?" - -"It ain't me." - -"Nor me." - -"Nor it ain't Pre Mauflard neither." - -Another groan woke the echoes of the living-room. Terror was depicted on -every face, and the peasants crowded closer together. - -"Great God! what can that be?" they exclaimed. - -"You are frightened at nothing at all," said Czarine; "it'th thome -brute prowling round the yard." - -"Oh! that ain't no brute's voice, I tell you! it's more like some dead -man's soul." - -"I say! perhaps it's Jacques Ledru, as died a week ago!" - -"Ain't it more like to be the ghost of Mre Lucas, who was so ugly when -she was living? Perhaps she's bent on tormenting us still." - -To set their minds at rest, Czarine was on the point of resuming her -tirade, when the gawky youth, whose eyes were fixed on the door, uttered -a horrible yell and fell from the bench, thereby causing Andromaque to -fall upon him. - -"What is it? what's the matter?" cried the terrified peasants in chorus. - -The tall youth, who had not the strength to speak, pointed to the door; -then hid his face in his hands. All the villagers looked at the place at -which he pointed: the door was thrown open, disclosing in the doorway a -white phantom of extraordinary size, whose eyes flashed fire. - -At that horrible sight, all the women uttered heart-rending shrieks and -tumbled over one another in their haste to get away from the door. Most -of the men did the same, shouting: "Let's get out of this!" But, as they -could not escape by the door, where the phantom stood on guard, they -pushed one another toward the end of the room; and in the hurly-burly, -chairs and benches were overturned, as well as the table that held the -lamp, which fell to the floor and was extinguished. The sudden darkness -added to the general alarm; those who had not seen the lamp fall thought -that the phantom had caused that terrifying obscurity by his mere -presence; the shrieks redoubled; it was impossible to see, they fell -over one another, and everyone thought that it was the devil falling -upon him. To add still more to their terror the phantom uttered -blood-curdling grunts and piteous groans. - -The confusion lasted several minutes, the peasants shrieking in terror -and offering up prayers. Mademoiselle Czarine alone was not heard to -bewail her fate, although she too had fallen, with the tall youth. The -latter had the courage to look toward the door, where he saw the -gleaming-eyed phantom. - -"It's still there!" he said under his breath; "it don't go away!" - -Whereupon Mademoiselle Czarine was heard to say in a stifled voice: - -"Don't thtir, my children, and above all thingth, don't light any -candleth, or the devil will come and carry uth off!" - -Suddenly the barking of a dog was heard in the yard; it was soon -followed by yells from the phantom, who was struggling with the beast -and calling the peasants to its assistance. - -"Mre Fourcy, call off your dog, for heaven's sake! What an ugly beast! -he's biting my legs! Come and drive him away, Czarine!" - -That voice, which was recognized as belonging to Virginie, put an end to -the terror of the peasants, who began to suspect that they had been -fooled by the young ladies from Paris; to put them entirely at ease, the -dog pulled off the sheet in which Virginie had enveloped herself, and -took in his jaws a lantern which she had placed on her head, wrapping -the sheet about it and allowing the light to shine through two small -holes. - -The dog raced about the room with the lantern, and the light disclosed a -ridiculous tableau. The men and women were inextricably commingled, and, -even without mischievous intention, the proprieties had not been -altogether respected, because, when one is frightened, one conceals -oneself as best one can. The position of Czarine and the tall youth was -the most equivocal; but the light of the lantern lighted the room but -dimly, and there were many things which there was no time to see. They -began by setting free Pre Mauflard, who had a table, two benches and -three nurses upon him; then the lamp was relighted and they could -recognize one another. Amid the tumult Denise had remained quietly in a -corner with Coco; but, on hearing Virginie's shrieks, she flew to her -assistance and helped her to rid herself of the sheet in which she was -entangled. - -"Why! was it you playing ghost?" inquired the young girl. - -"Yes, my dear, I thought I'd act a scene from a fairy pantomime for you; -and if it hadn't been for your infernal dog, who jumped at--at the base -of my back, while I was giving a groan, I'd have frightened you a great -deal worse!" - -"Oh! what a pity!" said Czarine, with a languishing glance at the gawky -youth, "it was so nithe! I'm very fond of fairy thenes." - -"Your fairy scene is to blame for my being all bruised up," said Pre -Mauflard. - -The peasants, offended because they had been made game of, refused to -prolong the festivity, and left Mre Fourcy's house, saying: - -"What do fine ladies like them amount to anyway! one wants to see Pre -Mauflard's drawers, and the other dresses up as a ghost; they act as if -they was pretty gay girls!" - -When the neighbors had gone, no one thought of anything but retiring. -Virginie and her friend went to their chamber and to bed, and soon fell -asleep, one nursing her bites, the other lisping that the tall young man -had many of Thodore's attributes. Mre Fourcy and Coco went to sleep -also. Denise alone could obtain no rest; she thought constantly of -Auguste, of the change in his fortunes, and of what she could do for him -to prove her friendship. But she no longer felt any inclination to ask -the advice of the ladies from Paris, because all the foolish antics in -which she had seen them indulge had somewhat lessened her esteem for -them. She felt that she must be guided by her heart alone; she was sure -that it would never give her any advice for which she would need to -blush. - -The next morning, after breakfast, the ladies, being already sadly bored -in the country, where they desired at first to pass a fortnight, bade -Mre Fourcy and Denise adieu and took their places in the Paris coach. - -"Ah! my dear," said Virginie, "how I long to be in Paris! it seems to me -that it's six months since I saw Rue Montmartre and the Ambigu-Comique." - -"What do you think of me, who haven't theen Thodore for twenty-four -hourth!" - -"Say what you will, there's no place but Paris for fun and dress and the -theatre and punch!" - -"Ah! if I had to live in the country, I thould die there!" - - - - -XIX - -A MAN IN A THOUSAND - - -After his visit to the old man on the fifth floor, Auguste had made a -vow to be prudent and to profit by the lesson which the unfortunate -Dorfeuil had unconsciously given him. But an old proverb says: "Drive -away the natural, and it returns at a gallop;" and Auguste's nature -still impelled him to do foolish things. Moreover, being unable -thenceforth, by reason of an instinctive delicacy for which he cannot be -blamed, to seek diversion at his window, he was driven to seek it -elsewhere. From his more prosperous days Auguste had retained the habit -of playing the grand seigneur, of reckoning the cost of nothing, of -following only his first impulse. He was as generous to the unfortunate -as to his mistresses: to confer pleasure on others is such a gratifying -habit that it is very hard to abandon it. There are people, however, who -have never known that gratification. - -Upon examining his cash-box, Bertrand had discovered the enormous -deficit consequent upon Auguste's visit to the old man. Unable to -understand how his master could have spent so much money in so short a -time, Bertrand concluded that they had been robbed, and made an infernal -row. He proposed to go down and cudgel Schtrack and his wife, to teach -them to allow thieves to enter the house; but Auguste detained him, -saying: - -"Don't get excited, my dear fellow, we haven't been robbed." - -"Why, monsieur, we had about ten thousand francs left three days ago; -now I can find only seven--and you say we haven't been robbed!" - -"No, Bertrand; it was I who took the money." - -"Oh! excuse me, lieutenant; if you have got it, that's different." - -"I don't say that I have it; I tell you that I had a use for it." - -"A thousand crowns in three days! you're doing well, lieutenant. I don't -quite see why we came up to the fifth floor, for you didn't spend any -more on the first." - -"I met an old friend, Bertrand,--he was in destitution." - -"We may very well be there, too, and it won't be long either, if we go -on at this rate. Excuse me, lieutenant, I know how generous you are, I -know your kind heart; but still you must remember that you haven't -twenty thousand francs a year any more; and when you can't have anything -but a piece of beef for dinner, it don't seem to me that it's the time -to give other people partridges." - -"Don't be angry, Bertrand; I am going to be prudent--yes, miserly." - -"Miserly! nonsense, lieutenant! you'll never have that fault! In fact, I -don't believe it would help us now." - -"I am not without prospects; I am promised a place in a government -office." - -"Really?" - -"With a salary of six thousand francs." - -"Impossible!" - -"Quite possible, on the contrary; but you see everything in dark -colors." - -"It is you who see everything in rose color, monsieur." - -"If that place should fail me, it is probable that I shall go into a -banking-house, as bookkeeper." - -"Did you ever keep books, monsieur?" - -"No; but what difference does that make? Do you suppose that one has to -study for a place like that, as one would study mechanics? With a neat -handwriting, familiarity with rates of exchange and mathematics, and a -little intelligence, you can fill any sort of clerkship. I know that -there are people who study two or three years to learn how to copy a -letter, and others who consider themselves Archimedeses, Newtons or -Galileos, because they pass their lives doing sums." - -"It seems to me, monsieur, that when a man has a place, he ought to -work." - -"Very well, I will work, Bertrand; that won't trouble me any. I have -done nothing, because I had nothing to do; but the moment I have -employment, you will see how ardently I will go at my work. Ah! I wish I -were there now!" - -"So do I, monsieur; in the first place, because you would be earning -money, and in the second place, because, when a man is busy, he does -fewer foolish things. Who is it who is going to get these places for -you?" - -"For the first one, a lovely woman, who has a cousin who's very intimate -with the minister's secretary. Oh! I tell you, Bertrand, these -women--they're the only ones to obtain things; and, say what you will, -their acquaintance isn't always a burden; when they take a person under -their protection, they go about it with such zeal, such ardor, that they -can't fail." - -"And the other place, lieutenant--is it a woman who is going to obtain -that for you, too?" - -"No, it's a young man, with whom I have dined quite often--an excellent -fellow, and most obliging. His uncle is partner in a bank; he has -promised to speak to him about me, and the first vacant place will be -given me." - -"That would come in very handily, monsieur." - -"But you must see that, in order to make yourself agreeable to those -whose support you require, there is always more or less money to be -spent: with the charming young woman, it's theatre parties and little -presents; with the young man, luncheons and dinners to be given him; for -it isn't fashionable to help people unless you believe them to be in -comfortable circumstances." - -"I understand: one must be ruined altogether before one has any -resources." - -"That is called sowing that you may reap." - -"You've been sowing a good long time, monsieur." - -"I tell you that within a fortnight I shall have employment." - -"When that day comes I'll go for a walk with Schtrack." - -"Give me some money, Bertrand." - -"Money, monsieur?" - -"Yes, Eugne is going to dine with me to-day; he's the young man whose -uncle is a banker. To-night I am going to call on the charmer whose -cousin is to say a good word for me. There will be cards, no doubt, and -if I have the look of being hard up and of being afraid to lose a few -francs, people won't condescend to look at me." - -"Ah, yes, I understand; you want money, so that you can sow." - -"Yes, my friend." - -After filling his purse, Auguste went to meet the friend with whom he -had an appointment, and whom he was to entertain at dinner, together -with several others who might possibly be useful to him. Dalville took -his guests to one of the very best restaurants; he would have felt -ashamed to dine at a place where they would have been as comfortable -and as well served at less expense, but which was not so highly -considered in fashionable society. During dinner they thought of nothing -but laughing and joking, and Auguste was very careful not to mention his -desire for employment; that would have seemed to indicate that he was in -straitened circumstances, which would produce an ill effect. Not until -the dessert, while they were drinking their champagne, did Eugne say to -Auguste: - -"Are you still wanting something to do?" - -"Why, yes; I am tired to death of idleness; I am sick of a life of -pleasure." - -"That's a good idea; work--it will be a little change for you, and it -helps to reform wayward youth. My uncle will think so. I'll speak to him -about you when I see him." - -Auguste dared not say that he would like to have him make a point of -seeing his uncle. The young men, having had an excellent dinner, left -Auguste, making all sorts of proffers of service, and renewing their -assurances of devotion; and he betook himself to the lovely woman who -had promised to assist him and who was to have mentioned him to her -cousin. - -Ladies are beyond question better advocates than men; it certainly is -easier for them to succeed, for they obtain with a smile what has been -denied again and again to obscure merit, to shamefaced poverty. This -fact does credit to our gallantry at least, if not to our justice, and -it is in human nature to submit to be seduced by beauty. - -Madame Valmont was greatly interested in Auguste, who accompanied her -excellently on the piano, and sang nocturnes in her salon with excellent -taste. She had kept her word by inviting her cousin that evening, in -order to introduce Auguste to him. The cousin was a man of fashion, who -was received in the best society; addicted to making promises freely and -forgetting on the morrow what he had promised the night before; but -desirous of playing the patron even when he did not patronize, and -deeming himself a mortal of superior mould before whom everyone should -bow. - -Having listened to Auguste's rendition of a nocturne, he informed his -cousin that he sang divinely and that he would be delighted to do -something for him. When he said this, the cousin expected very humble -acknowledgments from Auguste; but our friend was not the man to bend the -knee in order to obtain favors from anyone. The man who is conscious of -his own worth never stoops to humble himself before his fellowmen, and -to lavish obsequious flattery on those whose merit consists solely in -their rank and wealth--very slender merit indeed in the eyes of those -whose deserts are genuine, but very great in the eyes of the multitude, -who prostrate themselves before fine clothes, decorations and the -glitter of gold pieces, and would dance under a monkey's window if the -monkey would toss money to them. _Numerus stultorum est infinitus._ - -Auguste, who was not of the right temperament to dance for a monkey, did -not lavish compliments on the cousin with the air of beseeching his -patronage; and the cousin, who was accustomed to be lauded and fawned -upon by the poor devils who desired his countenance, was amazed that the -young gentleman who had been commended to his attention, did not fulfil -his devoirs by paying homage to him. So that he began to consider that -Dalville was not such a good singer after all; and to put the finishing -touch to his disgust, Auguste, who had bet on him when he took his seat -at the cart table, presumed to criticise his style of play and to try -to prove to him that he lost a game by his stupidity. The cousin was -exasperated, and he left his cousin's house, declaring that the young -man whom she had taken under her protection was incapable of filling the -most trivial office in the service of the government. - -"Well!" said Auguste to Madame Valmont, at the end of the evening, "when -may I call upon the minister's secretary?" - -"Really, I don't know what to say. My cousin did not seem very well -disposed when he went away. But what a strange man you are! Instead of -trying to make a favorable impression on him, you expressed an opinion -contrary to his several times, you said nothing agreeable to him, and -you annoyed him at the card table." - -"Oh, yes, madame, I understand: I am not worthy of an office because I -did not cringe and crawl, and because I presumed to demonstrate to that -gentleman that he did wrong to play his second queen." - -"I don't say that, my dear Auguste. However, it was a mere spasm of -ill-temper; I will see my cousin again and speak to him, and I still -have hopes." - -"No, madame, don't take any more trouble. I am touched by your interest -in me, but I would rather be unemployed than pose as the humble servant -of idiocy and self-conceit." - -Auguste went home, raging against the vanity, arrogance and pettiness of -mankind. Bertrand, who was impatiently awaiting his return, called out -as soon as he appeared: - -"Well! what about that government office, monsieur?" - -"My friend," said Auguste, squeezing Bertrand's hand, "we will eat black -bread, we will drink water, but I will not be the lackey of men whom I -despise; I will not burn incense to insolent pride and stupidity! I -will not debase myself before my fellowmen!" - -"No, ten thousand squadrons! You mustn't do that, lieutenant. I see the -place has gone to the devil, eh?" - -"I must needs do homage to a fellow who assumed the most patronizing -airs; agree with everything he said, even when it lacked common sense; -and even say that he played well when, by his own stupid play, he caused -me to lose thirty francs that I had bet!" - -"Thirty francs at one crack! That was rather a big stake, lieutenant." - -"What would you have? I was determined to test my luck." - -"But black bread and water make a wretched meal." - -"I still have some hope. Eugne is going to speak to his uncle, and -perhaps I shall have better luck in that direction." - -Several weeks passed, and Auguste finally met his friend, who said to -him: - -"I have spoken to my uncle; you can go to see him--I believe that he has -a vacant place." - -The next morning Auguste called upon the gentleman referred to. He -entered the office and in due time reached the sanctum of Eugene's -uncle, who was seated at his desk writing, and, without looking up, -motioned to Auguste to wait. - -Auguste, receiving no invitation to be seated, began by taking a chair -and stretched out his legs, already looking with disfavor upon the -gentleman who was not courteous enough to offer him a seat. - -Five minutes passed and still the banker wrote on. Auguste, losing -patience, said at last: - -"Monsieur, I came here to apply for employment; Eugne must have told -you----" - -"One moment--I will be at your service directly, monsieur; I am very -busy." - -Five minutes more passed, and Auguste said to himself: - -"The devil! I chose my time very badly. Is the man going to write like -this for an hour? His business must be very important!" - -But, after five minutes more, another person entered the office and went -up to the gentleman who was writing. - -"Good-morning, my dear fellow," he said. "Ah! you are engaged? Very -well! I'll come again." - -The gentleman at once laid aside his pen, rose, and detained the new -arrival, saying: - -"Why, is it you, my friend? Don't go, deuce take it! No one ever sees -you now! I dined yesterday with someone who talked to me about you. -Well, have you sold that cargo of Martinique coffee, the price of which -I predicted would fall?" - -The newcomer was about to reply when Auguste, rising, walked between him -and the banker, and having put on his hat, said to the latter: - -"Monsieur, you have kept me waiting for half an hour, unable to give me -a minute, and you have the impertinence to enter into conversation in my -presence with this gentleman who has just arrived! I have only this much -to say to you--that you're a knave and a rascal! If you can find time to -answer that, here's my address, and I shall expect to hear from you." - -With that Auguste stalked from the room, leaving the _busy_ gentleman -utterly bewildered by the compliment paid to him, and unable to find a -word to say in reply. - -Again Bertrand was awaiting his master's return; but when Auguste -appeared, the other divined the result of his quest. The young man's -eyes shone with anger. - -"Black bread and water, eh, monsieur?" asked Bertrand. - -"Yes, my friend, yes. Ah! these men! Upon my word, I have good grounds -for becoming a misanthrope. I have never known the world so well as -since I lost my money. Parvenus who think that they may presume to go -any length because they are millionaires! Men of intellect who think of -nobody but themselves, and who, provided that they are coddled and -amused, show the most absolute indifference to everything else! People -with the most polished manners who cheat you out of your money! -Conceited asses who want to be flattered, fools who flatter them, -parasites who suck your blood, swindlers who ruin you, and men who turn -their backs on you when you're unlucky! Those are what I see now. And -they are just what have always been seen, so 'tis said. Men are the same -everywhere; they were no different before the Flood, and the study of -history is simply the study of the passions which have ruled the actions -of the human race for ages." - -"In all this, my lieutenant, you forget the women, who----" - -"Ah! let us say no ill of them, my friend, they are a hundred times -better than we. Do we not find enjoyment even with those whom we -deceive? That is one pleasant memory, at all events, of which misfortune -cannot deprive us." - -"That reminds me, monsieur, that Mademoiselle Virginie came to see you -to-day." - -"Poor Virginie! she doesn't know as yet of the change in my fortunes. -Well! what did she say, Bertrand?" - -"She said, first of all, that it wouldn't be well for an asthmatic -subject to come up so high; then she asked me whether you had come up so -many flights so that you could go down in a parachute; but when I told -her how you had been swindled, why, I must do her the justice to say -that she seemed deeply moved; she shed some tears and asked me for a -glass of kirsch to pull her together. She's coming to breakfast with you -some morning." - -"I shall be very glad to see her; she, at all events, won't avoid me -when she meets me." - -"And those good people at Montfermeil--pretty Denise--do you think, -monsieur, that they wouldn't be glad to see you again?" - -"I am afraid that the cold welcome I gave Denise when she came to -Paris----" - -"She won't remember, monsieur, when she finds out that you're -unfortunate. And that child you're so fond of--that you think is such a -fine little fellow--why not go to see him?" - -"Why? You seem to forget, Bertrand, that I can no longer do anything for -him! I promised to educate him, to take charge of his future--and all my -plans are destroyed!" - -"But I should say, monsieur, that you have already done a great deal for -the little fellow; instead of coming to Paris, he will remain in the -village, and he won't be any worse off for that." - -Auguste could not make up his mind to appear in the guise of a ruined -man to the good people who had seen him scattering gold in profusion; a -false shame deterred him from going again to the village, and he who had -just been declaiming against the passions of men showed that he was not -himself exempt from pride and vanity. - -Auguste left Bertrand and went out in search of distraction and to -dispel the black mood to which his reflections gave birth. Bertrand, -left alone, reflected that all hopes of employment had vanished, and -said to himself: - -"What are we going to do when we haven't anything left, which won't be -long? Shall I let him live on black bread and water? Sacrebleu! no, that -shall never be! I am not capable of filling a clerk's place--besides, he -wouldn't want me to leave him--but can't I work without his suspecting -it?" - -Bertrand thought a few moments, scratched his head, then exclaimed -joyfully: "Why the devil didn't I think of it sooner?" Then he went -slowly downstairs and hunted up his friend Schtrack. - -"You make breeches, old fellow, don't you?" said Bertrand to the -concierge; "in fact, you're a tailor----" - -"Ja." - -"Do you always have plenty of work?" - -"Ja, I haf more than I can do." - -"That's because you don't often work. Are you willing to give me some?" - -"Preeches?" - -"Whatever you choose, so long as I have work to do. I shall make a mess -of it at first, but you can show me and I'll do better soon. You see, -I'm anxious to work, I'm no more of a fool than you are, and it seems to -me that I can do whatever you do. So you'll give me some work, will -you?" - -"Sacreti! Monsieur Pertrand, do you mean it?" - -"Why, yes; I want to do something; I am tired of sitting all day with my -arms folded; so I'll fold my legs, that will be a change. Is it agreed?" - -"Ja, Monsieur Pertrand." - -"That's good; but not a word of this before my master, or I'll begin my -apprenticeship by sewing up your tongue." - -"I won't say ein wort." - -That same evening, as soon as Dalville had gone out, Bertrand went down -to the concierge's quarters, and, seating himself in a small room behind -the lodge, went to work with great zeal. At first the ex-corporal had -much ado to use a needle, and he frequently thrust it into his finger; -but when Schtrack said: "You've hurt yourself, mein friend!" Bertrand -rejoined: "Don't you suppose a bayonet hurt more than that?" - -Bertrand passed a large part of the day at work and sometimes he worked -very late. By dint of application, he began to make himself useful; he -earned very little, but he hoped to become more skilful in time. - -Auguste had no suspicion of anything; he was rarely at home and never -inquired what Bertrand was doing. But, when he looked at his faithful -companion, he noticed that his eyes were very red and that he had a -tired look. - -"You're not sick, are you, my friend?" he asked. - -"I, monsieur--I was never so well." - -"You have a tired look, and your eyes seem weak." - -"Oh! that's because I read a great deal at night." - -"I didn't know that you were so fond of reading." - -"That depends on the book, monsieur; I'm reading the life of the great -Turenne." - -"You must know it by heart." - -"I never get tired of it, monsieur." - -Auguste asked no more questions. Some time after, one night when he -could not sleep because, with all his philosophy, his reflections were -beginning to be less cheerful, Auguste got out of bed and determined to -try reading himself. He went to Bertrand's room to get a light, and was -amazed to find that his companion was absent. Bertrand's bed was not -disturbed, so that he had not retired; and yet it was late when Auguste -came home, and Bertrand was apparently waiting for him to come in -before going to bed. - -That midnight absence disturbed Auguste. He had no idea that his -faithful follower would go about to wine-shops with Schtrack, in their -present condition, and as he wished to find out at what time Bertrand -left the house, he went downstairs, having decided to rouse Schtrack if -necessary; he was determined to learn what had become of Bertrand. - -It was three o'clock in the morning and everybody in the house was -asleep, but Auguste saw a light in the concierge's lodge; the door was -ajar and the light came from the room at the rear. Auguste went in and -discovered Bertrand seated on a table beside the sleeping Schtrack, -working resolutely on a piece of cloth in which his tired eyes could -hardly follow the threads which were his guide. - -At sight of his master, Bertrand stopped, crestfallen. Auguste was so -moved that he stood for some moments unable to speak. At last he cried: - -"What! you, working, Bertrand? Have you turned tailor?" - -"Why not, monsieur? I handled a musket a long while, and now I am -handling a needle; they say that an honest man honors whatever he -touches." - -"And you pass your nights working! you are ruining your eyesight in -order to work a little more!" - -"This is a mere chance, monsieur; there was a piece of work to be done -in a hurry to-night, and I thought--But it's the first time, I swear!" - -"Oh! don't try to deceive me any more! It's for me that you sit up all -night and deprive yourself of rest. It's to spin out our funds a little -longer that you are ruining your health. And I--I pass my days in -idleness; I squander in an hour or two what you work like a dog as many -nights to earn." - -"No, monsieur, no, I work because I like it, because it amuses me; and -if I should try to be less of a burden to you, would there be any harm -in that? Haven't you been doing everything for me for a long time? and -do you propose to forbid your old comrade to do something for you?" - -Auguste could not reply, but he opened his arms to Bertrand and pressed -him to his heart; then he forced his faithful servant to go upstairs -with him and go to bed. - -The next day, at daybreak, Auguste sent for an upholsterer. - -"What idea have you got in your head now, monsieur?" queried Bertrand. - -"I mean to sell our furniture, turn everything we own into cash, and -then leave Paris and seek in some other land a means of turning to -account such talents as I have. You will go with me, won't you, -Bertrand?" - -"Anywhere, monsieur, anywhere you choose. But why this sudden decision? -Couldn't you do it without leaving Paris?" - -"No, my friend; in this city, where I have lived the life of a man of -wealth, it would be hard for me, I know, to turn my trifling talents to -account. Forgive this last exhibition of weakness." - -"Before we resort to this step, is there no longer any hope of your -finding employment?" - -"Hope is the very thing that is using up what little means I have left. -Besides, here in Paris I am not able to resist my taste for dissipation. -Perhaps I shall be wiser in some other country. So we must make our -preparations to start. If this experiment isn't successful at all events -it's proper to make it." - -"But, lieutenant----" - -"No objections, Bertrand. Your conduct suggested mine, and my mind is -made up. We leave Paris to-morrow." - -Bertrand saw that it was indeed useless for him to try to combat his -master's plan; he realized too that it was the only course that remained -for them to take, for he could not long support his master with the -twenty sous that he earned by tailoring. So that he set about making -preparations for departure. - -Auguste, who liked to carry out his plans promptly when he had -determined upon them, effected a sale of his furniture during the day, -and the proceeds, added to what cash he had left, made about six -thousand francs. - -"I should like to know," he said to Bertrand, "if, with this amount of -money, we can't go to the ends of the world in search of fortune?" - -"It is certain, lieutenant, that there are a great many people who began -with much less." - -When everything was ready, Auguste, who proposed to go first to Italy, -engaged seats in the Lyon diligence. Bertrand went to say good-bye to -Schtrack. - -"Farewell, old fellow," he said; "we're going round the world; if I come -back, I'll have another drink with you." - -"Sacreti! Good-bye, Monsieur Pertrand." - - - - -XX - -POOR DENISE - - -Auguste and Bertrand had been gone several hours, and Schtrack was -standing in the doorway trying to catch another glimpse of them, when a -young village maiden, carrying a large bag of money in one hand, rushed -into the courtyard and asked for Monsieur Dalville. - -"Monsieur Dalville?" repeated Schtrack, taking his pipe from his mouth; -"he isn't here any more, mamzelle." - -"Not here! What do you mean, monsieur? This is certainly where he lived. -I came here once before. You remember the time, don't you--when you -wouldn't let me go upstairs?" - -"Ah, ja! You had a little poy mit you then." - -"Yes, monsieur. But where does Monsieur Dalville live now? Do you know, -monsieur? It is absolutely necessary that I should see him and speak to -him! Oh! if I only could have got this money sooner--what I owe him! But -tell me, monsieur,--must I go somewhere else?" - -"My little mamzelle, I don't think you will find Monsieur Dalville very -easy." - -"Why not, monsieur? I am ready to go anywhere--no matter where." - -"I tell you it's too late. How do you expect to find the address of a -man who's going round the world?" - -"What's that?--Monsieur Auguste----" - -"He started off this very day mit my friend Pertrand." - -"Gone!" - -"Ach ja! He got ruined here, so he's going to try to make a fortune -somewhere else." - -"He has gone away! You don't know where he is?" - -"Yes, I do--don't I tell you he's gone round the world?" - -"Oh! how unlucky! I have come too late!" - -With that Denise lost consciousness and fell; but Schtrack caught her in -his arms, and after laying his pipe on the post, carried her into the -house. He took her into his lodge. When she swooned, the girl dropped -the bag that she carried; it burst, and the five-franc pieces rolled -about the courtyard. Schtrack, sorely embarrassed because he happened to -be alone for the moment, ran from Denise to the money and from the money -to his pipe, crying: - -"Sacreti! this girl has to go and faint just when my wife ain't in! -Well, well! my pipe's gone out, and the money's rolling all about! -Sacreti!" - -Luckily for the old German and for Denise, another lady entered the -house at this juncture. It was Mademoiselle Virginie, who had come to -invite herself to breakfast with Auguste, and who, when she saw the -five-franc pieces scattered about the courtyard, exclaimed in surprise: - -"Mon Dieu! what magnificence! They throw money out o'window here! I seem -to have come just in time." - -"Don't touch! don't touch!" cried Schtrack from his lodge; "it belongs -to this girl who won't open her eyes." - -"Well, old Dutchman, am I touching your money? What an uncivil old -villain it is! What do you take me for, Monsieur Helvetian?--What girl -can he be talking about?" - -And as she spoke, Virginie walked toward the lodge, and she uttered a -cry of surprise when she saw the young girl from Montfermeil, whom -Schtrack was drenching with vinegar. - -"It's Denise! it's my poor Denise!" she said, pushing Schtrack aside and -taking charge of the young woman. - -"Poor Denise! She ain't so poor, for I tell you that bag of crowns is -hers," said Schtrack, returning to the courtyard to recover his pipe and -pick up the money. - -Virginie's efforts were soon successful in restoring Denise to -consciousness. When she opened her eyes they rested on Virginie, and she -exclaimed, sobbing bitterly: - -"Oh! he has gone away, madame!" - -"Who, pray, my dear love?" - -"Monsieur Auguste." - -"Auguste gone away! nonsense! he'll come back, of course, won't he?" - -"Oh, no, madame! I shall never see him again. He's gone a long way." - -"I say, Dutchman, is it true that Auguste has left Paris?" - -"Ja! ja! he's gone round the world with Pertrand." - -"Round the world! Great God! And I came to ask him to invite me to -breakfast! Come, my little Denise, don't cry like that!--Poor child! she -makes me feel sad.--So you loved Auguste, did you, my dear child?" - -"Oh, yes, madame!" - -"There! I knew it! she loved him! I suspected as much.--And he swore -that he loved you too, of course; for these villains of men, they swear -to that as if they were just saying good-morning." - -"No, madame, Auguste didn't love me, I'm very sure of that!" - -"Then it's very kind of you to weep for him." - -"Oh! I can't help it." - -"I know well enough that love is stronger than we are. I know all about -that! I have been through it. There are men that one can't help -persisting in loving.--And you came to Paris to see him?" - -"Yes, madame, and to give him this money. When you came to see me three -weeks ago, you told us that Monsieur Auguste was ruined. I didn't know -anything about it before." - -"Yes, yes, I remember; and I played ghost; and if it hadn't been for -your dog nipping the calf of my leg, I'd have had the whole village in -the air." - -"Last summer Monsieur Auguste gave me a thousand crowns for little Coco; -but he was rich then; to-day, as he isn't rich any more, it seemed to me -that I ought to give back that money. We had used it for building a -cottage and laying out a garden; but I made my aunt understand that we -mustn't tell Monsieur Auguste that we had used the money at all. My -aunt's kindhearted too. Besides, it was no more than our duty. As I -succeeded in getting the last of the money yesterday, I started to bring -it to him right away. I came alone so as not to be delayed, and after -all I got here too late! He has gone, and he isn't coming back again!" - -Denise began to cry again, while Schtrack returned with the money and -handed it to her, saying: - -"There ain't a single one missing; count 'em, mamzelle." - -"Alas! what shall I do with it now? This money was for him," said -Denise. - -"You had better take it home again, my child; a person can never have -too much of it," Virginie replied, while Schtrack, still holding the -bag, repeated: - -"Count 'em, mamzelle, if you blease." - -"Don't you see that she don't want to count it, you pig-headed old -fool?" said Virginie. "We all know that the Dutchman is honest." - -"Never mind, count just the same, mamzelle, if you blease." - -Virginie decided to count the money, because Schtrack would not -otherwise have left them in peace. Meanwhile Denise said to the -concierge: - -"Did Monsieur Auguste look very sad when he went away, monsieur?" - -"Sad? no, mamzelle, he was fery glad to go, judging from what he said." - -"I'll bet he's gone to pick up a legacy," said Virginie, "and that's why -he went off so sudden. Didn't he tell you so, Dutchman?" - -"No, he haf not said anything of a legacy, but he sold[F] all his -furniture." - -[F] Schtrack is supposed to pronounce the word _vendu_--sold--like -_fendu_--split or broken;--hence the misunderstanding. - -"What's that? He smashed all his furniture? Had he gone mad, then?" - -"I tell you he sold everything, to get money." - -"Oh! sold his furniture! Why don't you say what you mean--with your -Zurich French!" - -"You see how badly off he must have been," said Denise, "to sell -everything he had!" - -"That don't prove anything, my dear girl; in the first place, as he was -leaving Paris, he didn't need any furniture; and then there are people -who prefer to live in furnished lodgings. For my part, I've sold my -furniture four or five times, and yet I stay in Paris; you see that -every day.--But after all, in which direction has the fellow gone? -Didn't he tell you, monsieur le concierge?" - -"Yes; he's gone round the world." - -"The deuce! that's a definite address! Think of writing: 'To Monsieur -So-and-So, going round the world!'--And he's taken Bertrand with him, -has he?" - -"Yes, I'm fery sorry for it, because Pertrand was just beginning to work -fery gut." - -"Bertrand, work? at what, pray?" - -"At making preeches, bantaloons; it was me who taught him." - -"My dear man, I think you must be dreaming now. Bertrand, the old -soldier, Auguste's faithful servant, make breeches?" - -"Like a horse." - -"You're crazy!" - -"No, no, I ain't; Pertrand, he did work. He passed every night working, -and my wife told me he did it to help his master, who was throwing away -all his money." - -Virginie was speechless, but Denise exclaimed: - -"I understand only too well. Dear old Bertrand! I knew he was a fine -fellow! He worked to help Auguste, who didn't know anything about it, -probably." - -"Oh, no! he was going to sew up my tongue if I said a word." - -"Well, madame, if Monsieur Auguste hadn't been without means, would -Bertrand have worked at tailoring--worked all night?" - -"Faith, my dear girl, I don't understand it at all. The last time I saw -Auguste he treated me to punch, and yet he must have moved up to the -fifth floor even then. To be sure, he had such a kind heart, he was so -generous!--Well, well! there she is crying again! My dear Denise, you'll -make your eyes as red as a rabbit's; and that won't bring Auguste back. -Poor child! how she loves him! Those ne'er-do-wells must have some kind -of magic power, to inspire such passions. Don't get excited, -Denise--he'll come back, he hasn't gone away forever. You'll see him -again, I'm sure of it; and when he knows how much you love him, I -propose that he shall love you and cherish you; I'll tell him what grief -and torture he has caused you; I'll tell him how good, how gentle and -sweet you are. Come, don't cry any more. Kiss me, Denise; Auguste will -love you, for you well deserve it." - -Virginie was deeply moved; Denise's suffering had melted her; for the -first time in a very long while, genuine tears fell from her eyes as she -threw her arms about the village girl. - -Nothing pacifies the wretched so quickly as to find that someone else -shares their distress. Denise listened to Virginie's entreaties; she -exerted herself to summon her courage; she wiped her eyes, rose, and -said with a long-drawn sigh: - -"I'll go back to the village then." - -"Yes, my dear girl, that's the wisest thing you can do." - -"But suppose he should come back, madame?" - -"Well, I'll let you know, I'll come and tell you; I promise to do my -utmost to learn something about him." - -"Ah! how good you are, madame!" - -"Why, no--the trouble is that you're a slip of a girl who ought to be -kept under glass." - -"Monsieur le concierge," said Denise, "if you hear anything about -Monsieur Auguste, don't forget to ask where he is, and find out where a -person can write to him." - -"Ja, mamzelle." - -"Don't you be afraid, little Denise: I'll come often and ask Dutchy if -he knows anything. He's a good fellow, though he does smoke all the -time, is Monsieur--What's your name?" - -"Schtrack." - -"Schtrack! Oh! what a name! Schtrack! I believe that that means -blackguardism in German. Never mind--au revoir, Monsieur Schtrack. Come, -my love, I'll walk to the diligence office with you." - -Denise left Auguste's late abode, and, with her arm through Virginie's, -returned to the diligence office, carrying the bag of money which she -had no choice but to take back to the village. Virginie offered to take -the trip with her, but the girl declined her offer with thanks, and, -after urging her to try to find out something concerning the man whom -she had hoped to find in Paris, she entered the stage and rode sadly -back to Montfermeil, saying to herself: - -"Alas! I am not lucky in my trips to Paris." - - - -XXI - -THE TRAVELLERS' FIRST ADVENTURE - - -Auguste and Bertrand had taken the Lyon diligence. The young man was -inside, and his companion on the box,--in order to enjoy the fresh air, -so he told Auguste, but in reality as an economical measure. - -It was the first time that Auguste had ever found himself in a public -conveyance; accustomed as he was to drive in a light cabriolet, drawn by -spirited horses, and to follow naught save his own desires and stop -whereever he chose, it was not without a feeling of disgust that he -found himself compelled to travel with people whom he did not know, to -be pushed by this one, elbowed by that one, and forced to listen to -conversations which had no interest for him. - -At his left was a stout party of some fifty years, with a cotton cap on -his head, surmounted by a red handkerchief, and over it all a -helmet-shaped cap trimmed with fur, with vizors before and behind. At -his right was an old woman, whose face luckily was concealed beneath a -shabby black satin bonnet, over which was thrown a green veil that no -one was tempted to raise. - -The vehicle had barely started when the man on Auguste's left began to -perform like neighbor Mauflard, and the lady on the right followed his -example. But in his sleep the stout gentleman dug his elbow into -Auguste's ribs, and the old lady dropped her head on his shoulder. -Finding his hands full with repelling the elbow of the one and avoiding -the other's head, he said to himself: "It's great fun to travel by -diligence! Oh! my pretty cabriolet, which Bbelle drew so swiftly -through the dust, where art thou? Alas! if I had been more prudent, I -should still possess thee; for if I had not begun to anticipate my -income, I should not have encroached on my capital; if I had not done -that, I should not have dreamed of disturbing my funds, which were -safely invested; and I should have found that twenty thousand francs -absolutely assured was better than thirty thousand due solely to -speculation.--Pray remove your head, madame, if you please.--In that -case, I shouldn't have put my property in the hands of that knave of a -Destival, who consequently would not have run away with it; and then I -should still be as rich as ever. I should have been able to do good with -my money; and I would have gone to Montfermeil again and kept my promise -to that pretty boy; I would not have made love to Denise, as she loves -some man in the village who is probably married to her before now; but -I would have seen her married, and would have reminded her in jest of -that fall from her donkey in the woods; perhaps--Oh! for heaven's sake, -monsieur, keep your arms still--you are breaking my ribs!" - -Auguste's opposite neighbors were two gentlemen and a lady. The latter, -who sat between the two men, was directly opposite Auguste; but as she -wore a very large hood, and as she kept her head lowered, he could not -see her face. - -"Probably she isn't pretty," said our traveller to himself, "or she -would have raised her head before this." - -The lady's dress was very simple--a travelling costume. The two men -beside her were travelling salesmen, one in wines, the other in linens; -they had begun a conversation which seemed likely not to end before they -reached Lyon. - -Auguste was dazed by their constant chattering about casks, _veltes_, -_jouys_, Rouen silks, good years and failures; and, disgusted by the -proximity of the sleepers, he was regretting that he was not with -Bertrand, and longing for the first halt, when the lady in the hood -moved her foot and touched Auguste's. A "pardon, monsieur" was instantly -pronounced in a very pleasant voice. This incident roused Auguste from -his despondency, inspiring the wish to see the face of his vis--vis; -and as his legs were in close proximity to hers, he moved them slightly -and said a few words as to the lack of space in diligences;--an excuse -for beginning a conversation. The lady replied with a "Yes, monsieur," -but did not raise her head; whereupon our young man's curiosity became -all the keener. She did not seem disposed to talk, but she did move her -knees, which touched those of her vis--vis. Auguste was conscious of a -desire to press one of those knees between his own, but was deterred by -this thought: "Suppose she should prove to be ugly! How I should regret -having made her acquaintance!" - -Notwithstanding, the young man ventured to press one knee gently; she -did not withdraw it, but she did not raise her head; and Auguste, -secretly enjoying the knee-play, said to himself: "Perhaps it's as well -that I can't see her features, for I can at all events imagine that she -is charming, adorable. With that idea in my mind, the mere rustling of -her dress causes me a pleasant sensation, and it helps me to forget the -tedium of the journey. Ah! madame, if you are ugly, do not look up, I -pray, for you would thereby put an end to a too delicious illusion." - -As they descended a hill, a violent jolt nearly overturned the -diligence. The stout man and the old lady woke with a jump. At the same -moment the hooded lady uttered a shriek of alarm and raised her head. -Auguste saw a pretty face of twenty to twenty-five years, fresh and -blooming, regular features, expressive eyes--in short, a charming -ensemble which delighted him and caused him to press more tenderly the -knee that was between his. - -But she had already dropped her head again. The scare was at an end, the -commercial travellers resumed their conversation, Auguste's neighbors -closed their eyes once more, and he, enraptured by what he had seen, -moved constantly nearer to his vis--vis, who allowed him to place his -feet on hers. - -"She is lovely," thought Auguste, "but her actions are very strange. If -she allows me to press her knees like this, it must be that she likes -it, or that she doesn't dare to take offence. In the first case, she is -a woman who is not inclined to avoid adventures; in the second case, she -is an innocent young thing, who has never travelled by diligence -before. I will satisfy myself that the second conjecture is the true -one; we should always look at the best side." - -The diligence stopped at Corbeil. The two salesmen hastily left the -vehicle; the stout man extricated himself from his corner with -difficulty; the old woman of the green veil dropped into the arms of the -man who held the door open, and Auguste, having alighted, offered his -hand to the young lady in the hood. But she replied with a faint sigh: - -"Thanks, monsieur, I am not going to get out." - -"She isn't going to get out!" repeated Auguste to himself, as he stood -by the door. "Poor thing! she isn't coming to the inn to dine, which -ordinarily indicates obligatory economy." - -"Coming to dinner, lieutenant?" inquired Bertrand, who had climbed down -from his seat on the box, and was awaiting Auguste at the inn door. - -"Yes, yes, here I am." - -"Have you left anything in the diligence?" - -"No, but I would have liked----" - -"Do you hear that? they say that the passengers must hurry." - -Bertrand came forward to see what was keeping his master by the -diligence; he spied the young lady and muttered: - -"Morbleu! another! I might have known that there was a petticoat at the -bottom of it! Remember, lieutenant--we left Paris in order to be good, -to reform." - -"You are right, my friend," said Auguste; and he turned regretfully away -from the vehicle and followed Bertrand to the inn. - -The travellers' dinner was soon at an end; urged on by the driver, they -all returned to their places, the old lady carrying her dessert. -Auguste gazed with renewed interest at the young woman, who probably had -dined on a modest loaf, and he placed his knees against hers once more -with greater respect than before, because the idea of misfortunes puts -thoughts of pleasure to silence. - -The old woman requested Auguste to break some nuts which she had brought -from the table, the stout man offered him snuff, the commercial -travellers entered into conversation with him, everyone trying to become -better acquainted with his fellow-passengers. The little lady in the -hood alone held her peace. But darkness began to fall. Auguste longed -for it; his neighbors dozed, the salesmen did likewise, and he moved his -knees forward, trying by that means to establish an understanding with -his vis--vis, and saying to himself: - -"If she is unfortunate, I must try to comfort her. Moreover, I squeezed -her knees this morning, and should I act as if I thought her less -attractive just because she hasn't the means to dine at inns? That would -be worthy of Monsieur de la Thomassinire." - -As he did not wish to give his vis--vis such an opinion of him, the -young man tenderly pressed the limb which she abandoned to him, and -ventured to take a hand, which she did not withdraw. Night does not -always bring gloomy thoughts, and Auguste looked forward to obtaining a -kiss from the little lady, who seemed of so yielding a humor. But his -two neighbors embarrassed him; at the slightest motion on his part -toward leaning forward, the old lady and the stout man fell across his -back, and he could not return to his place until he had thrust them back -into their corners. The two salesmen, too, in their slumber, leaned -against the young woman who separated them, and their heads frequently -came in contact with her hood. - -"Riding in a diligence is not all pleasure," said Auguste in an -undertone. - -"Oh, no! it isn't all pleasure, monsieur," replied the young woman. - -But, in order to enjoy greater pleasure, the young man leaned forward -again and bestowed a loving kiss on one of the salesmen, whose face was -at that moment in front of the hood. The salesman woke, trying to guess -the source of that mark of affection, and Auguste was amazed to find -that the young woman's chin was less soft than her hand. - -The salesman could see nobody save his neighbor who was likely to have -kissed him while he slept; and although he was unaccustomed to inspire -passions, he was convinced that he had kindled a flame in the heart of -the young woman by his side. As he did not choose to be behindhand with -her, the young man, who had hitherto had no thought for anything but his -samples, and the duties imposed on his wares, began to think of -something different, and to play with his hands on the young woman's -knees. She made no resistance, while the two men, who seemed to be -playing the _pied de boeuf_, seized each other's hand and pressed it -with a vigor which surprised them both. - -The first rays of dawn surprised the travellers in this situation. -Auguste laughed heartily, the salesman testily withdrew his hand and the -young woman her knee; but she glanced furtively at Auguste, and he -promised himself compensation for the blunders of the night. - -In the morning they arrived at Auxerre; again the young woman remained -in the diligence. Toward evening they halted at Avallon, where they were -to dine. The young woman alighted, but she did not enter the inn; having -purchased a loaf of bread and some other things, she sat down a short -distance from the inn. Auguste, who had followed her with his eyes, -allowed Bertrand to go in alone, saying that he was not hungry as yet, -and joined his fair fellow-traveller, with whom he entered into -conversation. - -"Are you leaving Paris, madame?" - -"Yes, monsieur"--with a sigh. - -"Have you lived there long?" - -"I was born there, monsieur." - -"And you are turning your back on your native place?" - -"I have no choice, monsieur"--with another sigh. - -"Are you going to live in Lyon, madame?" - -"I don't know, monsieur." - -"Ah! you have no settled plan?" - -"I am so unfortunate, monsieur!" - -"You arouse my profound interest, madame; but we can talk more -comfortably elsewhere than on this road. If you will take my arm, -madame, we might take a walk about the place until it is time to start." - -"With pleasure, monsieur." - -The lady took Auguste's arm, and they walked away from the inn, talking. - -"If I were not afraid of being too inquisitive, madame, I would ask what -makes you leave Paris." - -"Oh! I am very willing to tell you, monsieur. I am the child of -respectable tradespeople; they married me when very young to a man whom -I did not love; but I felt bound to obey, in order to gratify my -parents." - -"That was very good of you, madame." - -"There was a very agreeable gentleman who had courted me before I was -married; I didn't love him either, but I listened to him to gratify -him." - -"I understand, madame." - -"My husband didn't make me happy; he was never willing that I should go -out, and I stayed at home because that gratified him. But sometimes I -had visitors, among others the gentleman who used to court me." - -"And that didn't gratify your husband?" - -"Apparently not, monsieur; for not long ago, happening to find him with -me, he turned me out of doors. I undertook to be angry, and he beat me, -monsieur; and said he'd do it again whenever he chose." - -"He is a man who has a most brutal way of procuring himself pleasure." - -"As I didn't care to be beaten again, I left my husband, and started for -Lyon, having barely enough to pay for my passage." - -"I suppose then, madame, that you have friends in Lyon?" - -"Oh! it was that gentleman who used to come to see me--he said that he -was going there. However, I am no more anxious to go to Lyon than -anywhere else. I wanted to get away from my husband, who made me so -unhappy." - -Meanwhile the fellow-travellers had reached a small restaurant. Auguste, -remembering that his companion had not dined, proposed that they should -go in and regale themselves, and she assented--to gratify him. - -They entered the restaurant. Auguste asked for a private room, because -one does not need witnesses to console a young wife whose husband has -beaten her. He ordered as toothsome a repast as the place could afford, -because he forgot as usual that he was no longer rich, and readily fell -into his former habits. The Avallon restaurateur was put to his mettle -to provide a dainty refection for the strangers who had honored his -establishment. The dinner was served; Auguste urged the young woman to -partake, and she, although she said that she complied only to gratify -him, ate everything and did not need to be urged to drink freely of a -native wine which the host declared to be of the vintage of the year of -the comet. - -Dining together, they became more and more friendly. At first Auguste -seated himself opposite the young lady; but he reflected that they were -much nearer than that in the diligence, and that it was, to say the -least, unusual for two persons to keep at a respectful distance, -tte--tte in a private dining-room, when they have pressed each -other's knees before witnesses. So he took his seat beside the young -lady, who sighed from time to time, but did not repulse the young man, -who seemed most anxious to console her. He tenderly squeezed a very soft -hand, expressing great surprise that a husband could be so brutal as to -hurt such a charming woman. - -"Men are cruel," said the young woman, who continued to keep her eyes on -the floor. - -"They are tyrants," rejoined Auguste, pressing her plump hand to his -lips. - -"They cause all our misery!" added the young woman, as she allowed her -companion to kiss her. - -"Ah! they cause something very different!" cried Auguste, throwing his -arms about her. - -"They do! they do!" whispered the young woman, apparently no longer -conscious what they do or what she did; but after several meagre -repasts, it was no wonder that the wine of the comet year caused her to -lose her head. - -On recovering his wits, Auguste said: - -"By the way--the diligence?" - -"Oh! that's so--the diligence!" echoed the young woman, heaving a sigh, -presumably from habit. - -"I am inclined to think, my dear love, that it is high time to return to -it." - -"Very well! let us return, my friend." - -As you see, the wine of the comet had established most friendly -relations between the travellers. But as a general rule, affairs that -are negotiated in diligences are speedily consummated. - -Auguste summoned the keeper of the restaurant and paid for the dinner. -The young lady replaced her hood, which was no longer on her head, I -know not why. Then they left the private room and walked back, -arm-in-arm, toward the inn where they had left the diligence. - -As they walked Auguste talked with his companion, who seemed to him to -have a very sweet disposition, but whose wit did not respond to the idea -suggested by her decidedly expressive countenance. There are women whose -wit is all in their eyes, and with them one must content oneself with -pantomime. - -As they approached the inn Auguste espied Bertrand, striding back and -forth in front of the establishment, looking to right and left with -gestures of impatience, and swearing energetically from time to time. -When he caught sight of Auguste, he ran to meet him and made a horrible -wry face at the young woman who was hanging on his master's arm. - -"Here you are at last, monsieur! Sacrebleu! I thought that you'd left me -here to chase the swallows!" - -"Don't get excited, Bertrand, I am here. I am not lost, you see. Well, -when do we start?" - -"Start! start for where, monsieur?" - -"Why, for Lyon, of course!" - -"And is that why you let the diligence go--that you made me wait and -call you and look everywhere for you?" - -"What's that? the diligence has gone?" - -"Morbleu, yes! more than an hour ago; but the time evidently didn't seem -long to you!" - -"The diligence has gone!" repeated Auguste, dropping his companion's -arm; but she, evidently setting great store by its support, instantly -took it again, saying: - -"That's very amusing! isn't it, my dear friend?" - -"It no longer seems so amusing to me," said Auguste; while Bertrand -walked away, and muttered with an oath, stamping the ground: - -"Her dear friend! Ten thousand bayonets! this is a very pretty mess!" - -"But couldn't they have waited a little while for us, Bertrand?" asked -Auguste. - -"They waited two minutes, monsieur, and that's a long time for a -diligence." - -"And you didn't go?" - -"Do you suppose that I would go without you? Ain't I attached to you, -and to nobody else? What's the sense of my being at Lyon if you ain't -there?" - -"You did well, Bertrand. And our valises?" - -"Oh! they're here. As I had a shrewd idea that there was something new, -I wouldn't let them go without us." - -"Bless my soul, my friend, we must make the best of this accident. After -all, it matters not whether we go to Lyon or somewhere else; and whether -we arrive there to-morrow or a week hence." - -"Mon Dieu! my dear friend, it's a matter of indifference to me too," -said the young woman. - -Bertrand frowned and motioned to his master that he wanted to speak to -him in private. Auguste succeeded in making the young woman understand -that she must let go his arm for a moment, and he joined the -ex-corporal, who said to him with a stern expression: - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, but who is this woman who sticks to your arm -as if you had glue on your sleeve?" - -"She's a young woman who was with us in the diligence." - -"And why didn't she stay there?" - -"Because I took her to walk with me." - -"Who is the woman?" - -"A very entertaining person." - -"She didn't tell you what she is doing, did she?" - -"To be sure: she's going to Lyon, in order not to stay in Paris." - -"The deuce! if that's her only motive, I can understand that she doesn't -care whether she goes there or somewhere else. But why is she leaving -Paris? A young woman don't travel alone like this, just for the pleasure -of travelling." - -"Oh! she had a very urgent reason--her husband beat her." - -"Perhaps he was justified, monsieur." - -"Oh! Bertrand!" - -"Why does she call you her dear friend so soon?" - -"Because--because----" - -"Oh, yes! because--I understand perfectly. But after all, monsieur, what -do you expect to do with this woman?" - -"I don't quite know; but you must see that I can't desert her here after -being the cause of her losing the diligence." - -"I should say rather that she made you lose it by telling you fairy -tales, and arousing your pity by adventures that never happened, I'll -wager. Besides, monsieur, a woman who takes up with the first man that -comes along can't be anything but an adventuress. I'll bet that you -don't even know her name?" - -"Faith, no. But what does the name matter? Can't a person assume any -name at pleasure? Whether this young woman has told me the truth or not, -I won't leave her penniless far from the place to which she is going." - -"Oho! she hasn't any money, eh?" - -"Why, she had nothing for dinner but bread." - -"This is a very excellent find that you've made! So, monsieur, when you -left Paris, in order to be prudent and economize, here you are with a -woman on your hands barely sixty leagues from Paris!" - -"Bah! what can you expect? Is it my fault? Come, Bertrand, don't scold; -hereafter I'll reflect a little more; meanwhile let us abandon ourselves -to our destiny." - -Auguste returned to the young woman and Bertrand followed him, saying to -himself: - -"I am very much afraid he's incorrigible." - -The young woman promptly resumed possession of Auguste's arm. - -"My dear friend," he said to her, "as the diligence has gone off without -us, we need not hurry now." - -"Oh, not at all." - -"We can even pass a day or two here." - -"I should like to if it would gratify you." - -"Then we will consider how we will continue our journey--whether by some -chance conveyance, by stage--or even on foot, so that we can admire the -country in case it is worthy of admiration." - -"Whatever will gratify you, my friend." - -"You see, Bertrand," said Auguste in an undertone, "this little woman is -good-nature itself, she seeks only to gratify me." - -"She doesn't gratify me in the very least, monsieur." - -"Because you don't choose to be gratified.--By the way, as we are to -stay here," continued Auguste, "we will take rooms at this inn. -Bertrand, see that rooms are prepared for us." - -"Yes, monsieur;--and for madame, too?" - -"That goes without saying.--By the way, as we are under the necessity of -economizing, one room will be enough for madame and myself. Isn't that -so, my dear love?" - -"Mon Dieu! yes, if that will gratify you." - -"By the way, my dear love, you haven't yet told me your name." - -"My name is Adle--or Madame Florimont, as you please." - -"Rather as you please." - -"Call me Adle--I shall like that." - -"Adle it is." - -"Madame Florimont!" muttered Bertrand with a shrug; "that's a stage -name--she got that in the wings of some theatre." - -"My name is Auguste, my dear Adle; for it is right that you should know -who I am." - -"Oh! mon Dieu! it's all one to me!" - -"I see that you think more of the person than of the title, and that you -judge people by their faces; if that method never deceives you, I -congratulate you. But it is still light and the weather is fine; the -best thing for us to do before supper, I think, is to take a walk. Will -you come with us, Bertrand?" - -"No, lieutenant, I have no desire to walk." - -Auguste walked away with the emotional Adle. They traversed the pretty -little town of Avallon in every direction. Auguste commented upon what -he saw and the young woman invariably agreed with him; so that he -finally decided that a woman who can only assent to everything that is -said without making any observations on her own account, is rather -monotonous company. But Madame Florimont had very pretty eyes, and it -was not long since she had first fixed them upon Auguste; so that, when -he had discoursed for some time without obtaining anything but -insignificant replies, he played with Adle with his eyes, whereupon she -said in pantomime the sweetest things imaginable. - -Only in front of the shops did the young woman make any remarks of her -own motion. She stopped to gaze at a shawl and heaved a profound sigh. - -"Would you like it?" Auguste asked. - -"Oh! it would give me great pleasure." - -"Very well, let's buy it." - -Giving way to his former habit, the young man bought the shawl for -Madame Florimont, who at once threw it over her shoulders, having rolled -up the little neckerchief which she wore about her neck, and placed it -under her arm. A little farther on she stopped and sighed again as she -eyed a pretty cap. At Auguste's instance she tried it on; and as it was -wonderfully becoming under the great hood, the cap was purchased. Next, -it was in front of a jeweller's establishment that the young woman -stopped and sighed: she wanted a little ring which would remind her of -the day she met Auguste! He considered that desire too flattering not to -be satisfied. But after that he took his companion back to the inn, not -allowing her to stop anywhere, lest she should sigh again. - -The young woman was very pretty in the shawl and cap. But when Bertrand -saw her in that guise, he took Auguste aside once more and said: - -"Monsieur, she wasn't dressed like that this afternoon." - -"You will certainly agree, Bertrand, that she looks much better -to-night?" - -"But, monsieur, what are you thinking about?" - -"I am thinking about supper, for I am very hungry;--and you, my dear -friend?" - -"I too shall be glad to have supper." - -Bertrand said nothing more; but he went into a corner and beat his head -against the wall. In due time the supper was brought; Auguste went to -the table with Adle, and urged Bertrand to sit with them, explaining to -the young woman that he was his factotum, his cashier, and not his -servant. - -Bertrand made a wry face at the word cashier; but he decided at last to -seat himself respectfully at the other end of the table. To put him in -good humor, Auguste ordered several bottles of good wine. The ruse was -successful. By dint of drinking, Bertrand recovered his spirits and no -longer looked askance at the young woman. - -But when, after supper, he saw Auguste retire with Madame Florimont to a -room in which there was only one bed, he muttered: - -"You will certainly be taken for the lady's husband, monsieur." - -"Faith, Bertrand, it will look very much like it to-night." - -"But afterward?" - -"Oh! the most important thing to my mind at this moment, my friend, is -to get to bed. Do the same. Good-night; to-morrow it will be light." - -"Yes," said Bertrand, filling his glass once more, "to-morrow it will be -light, and we shall still have this hussy on our hands! It would have -been just as well to stay in Paris and let me make breeches with -Schtrack." - -And Bertrand fell asleep finishing the bottle. - - - - -XXII - -BERTRAND'S STRATAGEM - - -A night's sleep suffices to banish the fumes of wine and to restore -calmness to our minds; a night of love often suffices to banish many -illusions and to restore calmness to our senses. After the night at the -inn with Madame Florimont, both Auguste and Bertrand reflected more -coolly concerning their position: the latter had not for a moment failed -to realize the fresh embarrassment in which Auguste had involved -himself; and Auguste, who perhaps was already weary of playing pantomime -with his young fellow-traveller, felt that he had made a fool of -himself. But how was he to rid himself courteously of a lady who -constantly said to him: - -"I will go wherever you please, my friend." - -After breakfast, Auguste asked if they could obtain a conveyance to take -them to Lyon. To travel by post would be too expensive for people who -wished to be economical, although no one would ever have suspected -Auguste of such a wish, as he always insisted upon being entertained _en -grand seigneur_. - -A leather dealer, who owned a large two-seated cabriolet, offered to -take the travellers with him. To be sure, he would take four days for -the trip, because his business compelled him to stop at several places; -but they were in no hurry, so they made a bargain with the leather -dealer, who packed our three travellers in his vehicle. - -Auguste and the emotional Adle took their places on the back seat, -Bertrand beside the tradesman on the front seat, and they started, drawn -by a single horse, large enough for two, but with no apparent -disposition to take the bit in his teeth. - -Bertrand chatted with the driver, a tall fellow of twenty-eight or -thirty years, who passed a large part of his life on his wagon, was -better acquainted with taverns than with his own house, where he spent -less than three months of the year, and declared that not a maid servant -within a radius of thirty leagues had been unkind to him. - -Auguste looked at the landscape and tried to make Madame Florimont talk. - -"What do you think of this view?" - -"Why, it's very ugly." - -"What? That wooded slope, the valley on the left, with the stream -flowing through it, and yonder pretty village in the background--you -call that ugly?" - -"Oh, no! it's very pretty." - -"Would you like to travel?" - -"I don't know, my friend." - -"Have you never been away from Paris?" - -"Oh, yes! I've been to Saint-Cloud and Passy." - -"Would you like to go to Italy?" - -"If it would gratify you." - -"But what about the gentleman who's expecting you at Lyon?" - -"Oh! I don't know whether he's waiting for me!" - -"I may be compelled by circumstances to leave you." - -"Oh! but I won't leave you, my friend." - -"But suppose I should return to Paris?" - -"I would go there." - -"But what about your husband, who beat you?" - -"Oh! I wouldn't tell him that I had returned." - -"I see that I shan't be able to get rid of this woman!" said Auguste to -himself. "Infernal diligence! That great hood, those knees against mine, -that night on the road--all those things go to one's head. You imagine -that you have made a glorious conquest; you fancy yourself in love, and -for twenty-four hours you are! But after that! Mon Dieu! what a mess I -have got into!" - -Bertrand, who had overheard a part of the conversation between Adle and -Auguste, leaned over to the latter and said in his ear: - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, but this woman seems to me as stupid as a -pot." - -"So she seems to me, Bertrand." - -"Are we going round the world with a doll like that?" - -"I'm afraid so, my friend. She has determined never to leave me." - -"I promise you that I will make her change her mind." - -Bertrand said no more. They drove for some time in silence. From time to -time the leather dealer cast a furtive, lady-killer's glance at Madame -Florimont, and said to Bertrand whenever they passed through a hamlet or -village: - -"I once knew a pretty woman here. I had an intrigue here. I set people's -tongues to wagging here." - -"It seems that you're a sad rake." - -"Oh, yes! I'm well known in this region." - -At nightfall they stopped at a small place where they were to pass the -night. They alighted at a wretched inn; the leather dealer went out to -attend to some business, and after supper Auguste, thinking that the -most sensible course to pursue with the emotional Adle was to go to -bed, withdrew with her, leaving Bertrand with his pipe at a table. - -The tradesman returned in due time and Bertrand invited him to drink; he -was not the man to decline such an invitation. He was almost as -accomplished a drinker as Schtrack; after the second bottle they became -confidential and Bertrand said to his companion: - -"You look to me like a good fellow." - -"You're very kind!" - -"You might do us a great favor, my lieutenant and me." - -"If it won't cost me anything, I'm your man." - -"It not only won't cost you anything, but I'll give you fifty crowns -bonus." - -"Say it quick, then!" - -"Judging from all that you've told me, you're not a foe of the fair -sex?" - -"On the contrary, I am their dearest friend." - -"What do you think of that young woman who's travelling with us?" - -"Why----" - -"Come, speak frankly." - -"Faith, I think she's very fine! she's got a pair of eyes that she knows -how to work mighty well!" - -"So she takes your eye, does she?" - -"To be sure, she would if she was free; but you understand I can't think -of----" - -"Well, listen to me; the very greatest service you could do us would be -to rob us of that beauty." - -"You're joking, aren't you?" - -"No; this is how it is: my master is a reckless fellow; he is travelling -to learn how to be prudent, and you can understand that the way to do -that isn't to travel with a little woman who, as you say, works her eyes -so well that she makes him long for her. But I must have common sense -for him: now the best thing that I can see to do is to separate him -from this highway heroine, who, I am sure, pretends to be devoted to him -only because she thinks he's rich." - -"So she didn't come from Paris with you?" - -"Oh, no! it was a fine chance encounter we had in the Lyon diligence. It -would have done a hundred times better to upset us than to contain that -princess! But you, who are always on the road--she won't be in your way -in your wagon; besides, I fancied that I saw you looking her over like a -connoisseur." - -"I don't say no; but how do you expect----" - -"You're a fine man, an attractive-looking fellow!" - -"I certainly am not very ill-looking," said the tradesman, complacently -viewing himself in a fragment of looking-glass on the chimney-piece. - -"To-morrow, on the road," said Bertrand, "I will take pains to refer to -the fact that we are hard up, while you, on the contrary, must jingle -your coins. When we reach the place where we are to sleep, my lieutenant -will pretend to be sick and say that he can't continue his journey. The -next morning he will stay in bed; then you must seize the opportunity -for a tte--tte, make your declaration, and propose to the young woman -to take her off before we wake up. She'll accept--I'd bet my moustaches -if I still had 'em." - -"Agreed, my fine fellow--and the fifty crowns?" - -"I'll pay them to you when I see you ready to start. You can go to Lyon; -we won't go there, so as not to run into you." - -"Shake; I'll abduct your charmer; and, as you say, she probably won't -resist, because, although your companion's good-looking enough, he -hasn't this figure, this build--in fact, this fascinating air; ain't -that so?" - -"I should say so! you remind me of a drum-major." - -The bargain being made, Bertrand and the tradesman, after drinking a -glass to the success of their scheme, went to bed. - -The next day they resumed their journey. Auguste seemed more bored than -ever by Madame Florimont's company; he dared not tell Bertrand so; but -the ex-corporal observed the young man's ill-concealed yawns and stifled -sighs while the emotional Adle continued to tell him that it would be -her delight to stay with him always. After some time Auguste gave way to -the drowsiness that overpowered him. He fell asleep on the back seat of -the vehicle, beside the young woman, who said not another word. -Bertrand, pretending to think that she too was asleep, said to the -driver in an undertone: - -"Poor fellow! if only sleep might put an end to his anxieties and pay -his debts!" - -"Is he in debt, do you say?" - -"That is why we left Paris; and I am very much afraid that we shall be -pursued by creditors at Lyon." - -"That's a pity! A business like mine is the thing! it always goes right -on. Leather will never go out of fashion--it's like bread." - -"It is precisely the same thing. So you are well off, are you?" - -"Why, I am very comfortable." - -Bertrand noticed that Madame Florimont raised her hood in order to see -the tradesman better; whereupon he said nothing more, but looked off -into the country so as not to interfere with his neighbor's ogling of -the young woman, which she received with a smile, probably to gratify -him. - -They reached the place where they were to pass the night. Bertrand had -not as yet mentioned his project to Auguste, but chance seemed to favor -him. On leaving the wagon, the young man was attacked by a violent -sick-headache, and immediately upon entering the inn went to his room to -lie down, telling Madame Florimont to order whatever she pleased. - -Bertrand made an excuse for leaving the tradesman alone with their -travelling companion; he went out to walk and did not return until very -late. The tradesman was alone, admiring himself in a mirror. - -"Well?" queried Bertrand. - -"You can pay me the fifty crowns." - -"Do you mean it?" - -"It's all arranged: at daybreak to-morrow I abduct your charmer; she is -to tell your companion that he can lie abed as we don't start till ten -o'clock." - -"Morbleu! a victory wouldn't give me more pleasure! My poor master! I -would like so much to see him become more reasonable! to see him get -over his nonsense! I'll treat to a bottle--two bottles over and above -the bargain." - -"I accept." - -"So she didn't make any very great resistance?" - -"I should say not! I had taken her fancy; besides, she told me that her -sense of delicacy wouldn't allow her to travel with a man who is in -debt." - -In his delight, Bertrand ordered several more corks drawn; he paid the -tradesman his fifty crowns on the spot, and he did not go to bed, so -that he might, unseen, witness Madame Florimont's departure. She rose at -daybreak, without waking Auguste, and drove off with the leather dealer. - -"A pleasant journey!" exclaimed Bertrand as he looked after the wagon. -When it was out of sight he ran to Auguste's room and woke him, crying: - -"Victory, lieutenant! I have driven the enemy from the citadel!" - -"What's the matter?" inquired Auguste, rubbing his eyes. - -"The matter is that I have relieved you of your emotional -travelling-companion, who went off this morning with our leather man." - -"Is it possible, Bertrand?" - -"Why, yes, monsieur; she's gone, I tell you. You are not inclined to run -after her, I trust?" - -"God forbid!--So she has ceased to love me?" - -"As if that adventuress ever loved you! She goes with the first comer -who looks to be rich! And yet that's the woman, monsieur, that you had -on your hands! You fall in love in a diligence, and crac! you scrape -acquaintance, and--Look you, lieutenant, I'm no lady-killer myself, but -it seems to me that a man ought to say these two things to himself in a -public conveyance: 'If this woman is respectable, she won't listen to -me; if she isn't, it isn't worth while to speak to her.'" - -"You are right, a hundred times right! But this folly shall be my last." - -"Do you know that counting everything--conveyance, presents and board -bills--your intrigue has cost us at least five hundred francs? A pretty -beginning for a man who is going to try to make a fortune!" - -"Oh! you'll see, Bertrand, after this, that I'll be so good----" - -"God grant it! But to avoid meeting that lady again, my advice is that -we don't go to Lyon." - -"Agreed; let's push on to Italy at once. Beneath the beautiful sky that -saw the birth of Virgil and Tibullus, in the fatherland of all the -arts--there will I, impelled by a noble emulation, turn my talents to -account and try to acquire additional ones. Perhaps fortune will smile -on my efforts! Music, painting, offer resources which I must not blush -to employ! We will spend very little and I will try to earn a great -deal; for, in all lands, the higher prices one charges, the more merit -is attributed to one. And then, when I have saved a neat little sum, we -will return to France to enjoy the fruit of my labors." - -"That's the talk, lieutenant; and, more fortunate than the great -Turenne, who was killed on the battlefield, we will enjoy the blessings -of peace after the war." - - - - -XXIII - -THE WEDDING PARTY - - -The travellers allowed the leather dealer plenty of time, in order not -to overtake Madame Florimont. The proprietor of a small _carriole_ -offered to drive them whereever they chose to go, representing himself -as a public carrier, and assuring them that his vehicle was in condition -to take them to Naples, which journey it had made at least fifteen -times. - -Although the _carriole_ bore no resemblance to the _berline_ of an -ordinary carrier, our travellers made the best of it; but before -entering, Bertrand satisfied himself that there were no women inside. A -dress terrified him; he would not even have left his master alone with a -nurse. - -The vehicle contained no other passengers save an honest peasant of some -fifty years, whom Bertrand scrutinized a long while, to make sure that -he was not a woman disguised, while Auguste took his seat, laughing at -his companion's fears. - -"Are you going to Italy too, my good man?" Auguste asked the peasant. - -"Oh, nenni, monsieur," was the reply; "I ain't going so far as that; I'm -only just going to my sister's, who lives a short three leagues out of -Lyon; she's marrying her youngest son Eustache, my nephew." - -"Oho! so you're going to a wedding? That's delightful! A wedding's great -fun." - -"Oh, yes, monsieur; for we be all great jokers to our place! and sly -dogs!" - -"One can see that by looking at you." - -"And the way we drink--it's a regular benediction!" - -"That's very good," said Bertrand; "so you have good wines, do you?" - -"Oh, famous! My sister's got her own vineyard; she's one of the biggest -farmers in the place; and see! when a woman marries off her son, why she -makes the corks fly, you know. The wedding'll last at least a week. If -you think you'd enjoy it, messieurs, you'd better come with me; you'll -be made welcome, and you'll see some good fellows. My sister'll be glad -to see you, and so will Cadet, for he likes folks from the city. You're -Parisians, ain't you, messieurs?" - -"As you say, Monsieur----" - -"Rondin, at your service. Well! do you accept?" - -Auguste looked at Bertrand; the idea of attending a village wedding was -decidedly attractive to him, and the ex-corporal, for his part, felt a -secret longing to make the acquaintance of Monsieur Cadet Eustache's -wine; but the fear that his master would become too well acquainted with -the ladies of the party led him to resist the longing, and he whispered -to Auguste: - -"Decline, lieutenant; that's the wisest thing to do, believe me; if we -keep stopping on the road, our tour of the world will be simply a short -trip to Bourgogne, which is not the land of your Virgils and Tibulluses; -and we shall return to Paris without making a fortune." - -"I am very sorry to decline your invitation, Monsieur Rondin," said -Auguste, "but my companion reminds me that our business requires our -presence in Italy as soon as possible. In truth, if we keep this -conveyance, I don't think that we shall arrive there for a long time to -come; I believe that the knave is driving at a walk; so that his -miserable vehicle can make its sixteenth trip to Naples, no doubt.--I -say, driver--are you asleep, my friend? Do you think it's a joke to -drive like this?" - -The driver turned and coolly informed his passengers that his horses -were going at their ordinary pace, which they never varied, but that he -would undertake to set them down without mishap at their destination. - -"That is very pleasant," said Bertrand; "it means that we are to go all -the way to Italy as if we were following a hearse; if the driver has -made the trip fifteen times at this gait, he must have begun very young. -And you, Monsieur Rondin, on your way to a wedding--aren't you in a -hurry?" - -"Oh! they'll wait for me. Besides, Cadet must have a chance to rest -before he gets married." - -"Has the groom been travelling too?" - -"Yes, monsieur, he's just come from Paris--that's where he brought his -bride from." - -"Aha! so he went to Paris for a wife?" - -"I'll tell you, messieurs: Cadet's a sly one, who'll never let anyone -play it on him! The girls of his village, they're a lot of hussies, and -so, to be sure of getting something good, he went to Paris to look for a -wife." - -"He must be a very clever rascal." - -"Oh! he's the shrewdest lady-killer within six leagues; his mother she -lets him do just as he wants to, so off he goes to Paris, where he had -business anyway. After some time he writes home as how he's found the -woman as suits him. Well, well! she must be virtue and innocence itself, -you see! for Cadet knows what's what in the matter of women." - -"And he found this treasure in Paris?" - -"Not just in Paris, but in the outskirts. So, as he took his charmer's -fancy, he brought her back with him, and he's going to marry her. That's -why I'd like to have you come to the wedding, to tell me what you think -of my nephew's choice." - -Auguste would have liked to make the acquaintance of the bride whom -Monsieur Cadet Eustache had found in the suburbs of Paris. He thought of -Denise, and imagined that Monsieur Rondin's nephew had found some young -village maiden as fresh and pretty and alluring as the little milkmaid. -That thought made him sigh. - -"Perhaps she too is married!" he said to himself; "for she was in love -with someone; she told me as much when she said that she would never -love me." - -Auguste had ceased to smile since his memories had taken him back to -Montfermeil. The peasant, surprised by his neighbor's melancholy, dared -not suggest again his coming to the wedding, and Bertrand said under his -breath: - -"It would certainly be good fun to stay at table for a whole week; but -there's always some pretty face at a wedding party, and I musn't expose -my lieutenant to the risk of running off with another woman, for I -shan't always have the good fortune to fall in with a leather -merchant." - -Nothing more was said, and the _carriole_ crawled on. In four hours they -made but one league. At the end of that time, Pre Rondin, who was fond -of talking, said to Auguste: - -"If you're going to Italy on business, it's safe to say you won't get -there in time. Be you an attorney?" - -"No, I am a painter and a musician." - -"A painter and a musician! Jarni! that's just what we want! you could -play for our girls to dance, and paint a picture of the bride! That -would be a nice surprise for Eustache!" - -"Parbleu!" thought Auguste, "it would be funny enough if I should make -the first trial of my talents on these good people!--What do you say, -Bertrand? I rather like the idea of painting the bride's portrait." - -"You see, Cadet wrote me as how she's a fine figure of a girl," said -Pre Rondin. "Be you good at catching resemblances?" - -"Why, I haven't tried anything else as yet. However, I'll paint whatever -you wish.--Come, Bertrand, this decides me. We'll go to the wedding." - -"The wedding it is, monsieur. But for God's sake, don't do anything -foolish, but remember your resolutions." - -"Never fear, you will be satisfied with me." - -Pre Rondin was overjoyed that he had induced the travellers to attend -the wedding; he was even on the point of inviting the driver too, when -the vehicle, which was moving at a snail's pace, was overturned into a -ditch, the only one by the road at that time, and the travellers rolled -over one another. Luckily they got off with a few bruises, and the -driver calmly busied himself with getting his horses on their feet, -informing his passengers that he was sorry that he had not warned them, -but that ever since he had been driving over that road he rarely failed -to be upset there, because his horses had fallen into that habit. - -That accident put the finishing touch to the travellers' disgust with -the wretched _carriole_. - -"It ain't only a day's walk from here to our place," said Pre Rondin; -"let's foot it. We'll get there a blamed sight quicker if we walk." - -The peasant's suggestion was accepted. They left the _carriole_. -Bertrand took one valise, Auguste absolutely insisting on taking the -other, and they started. - -It was a lovely country. They were delighted that they were travelling -on foot. Pre Rondin was familiar with the roads. They halted only once -for refreshment, and the next morning they arrived at Monsieur Cadet -Eustache's farm. - -They were not a hundred yards away when a tall youth rushed out and -threw himself on Pre Rondin's neck, crying: - -"Here's uncle! come on, uncle! I'm only waiting for you to get married! -and I tell you, I just long to be!" - -"Good-day, Cadet. See, I've brought along a couple of good fellows, my -boy; this gentleman who makes pictures and music, and Monsieur Bertrand, -who drinks straight, I warn you." - -Monsieur Cadet Eustache bowed low to the two travellers, then said to -his uncle: - -"Haven't you brought anybody else?" - -"What do you mean by that, my boy?" - -"Why, if you'd had some more too, it would have been all the better, -because we mean to have some fun, you see! But never mind--they make two -more, anyway." - -"Haven't you got many people at your wedding?" - -"Oh! there's eighty of us already." - -"That's doing pretty well, seems to me." - -"Oh! but we must have some fun! I want to have some fun! and it takes a -lot for that; for my part, I never laugh unless there's at least a dozen -in company." - -"I told you my nephew was a joker," said Pre Rondin to Auguste, who -looked at Bertrand and smiled, while the latter muttered: - -"This bridegroom impresses me as a big idiot." - -"But take us into the house, Cadet; we're tired, and we want something -to eat and drink." - -"Oh! excuse me, uncle; you see, my wife that is to be is on my -brain.--Ah! messieurs, you'll see, that's all I've got to say; you'll -see such a fresh and blooming young woman! She's like a poppy! And a -figure! oh! I tell you--round and plump everywhere!" - -"Ah! you rascal! you seem to have found out about all this while you was -bringing her home." - -"Oh, uncle! I should never have thought of such a thing, because she's -innocence itself, you see, and she'd have given me a good crack! and -she's a strong one, my girl is. She's a good stout sample of virtue. -However, she's my choice, and as you've got here, we'll have the wedding -to-morrow." - -During this dialogue they had arrived at the farm-house, which was a -substantial one and indicated that its owner was in comfortable -circumstances. - -"Jrme," said Monsieur Cadet to one of his men, "go and let everybody -in the neighborhood know that the wedding will be to-morrow, and that -we're getting everything ready for the supper and the ball; and go and -tell the musicians I've engaged.--I'll go and get my bride that is to -be; she and mother are at one of the neighbors', but I want you to see -her right away, and these gentlemen too." - -"The fellow's terrible far gone," said Pre Rondin as he escorted the -travellers into the house and invited them to be seated. - -Madame Eustache soon appeared; she kissed her brother, then proceeded to -kiss the new arrivals; for that is the way acquaintances are made in the -country. - -"But where's the bride?" queried Pre Rondin; "ain't we going to see -her?" - -"In just a minute, brother; she's gone to prink up a bit for the -company. Ah! my eye! she's a fine girl, and Cadet knows what's what!" - -"Has she got any money?" - -"She's got a nice little pile that the gentleman she worked for gave -her; and he told my boy he was giving him a real _rosire!_[G] And -Cadet's a shrewd one, you know, and wouldn't let anybody take him in." - -[G] _Rosire_ is the name given to the maiden who is awarded the prize -for virtue in a village competition. - -"Morbleu!" whispered Bertrand to Auguste, "if the rosire corresponds -with the bridegroom, I'll bet we're going to see some stout Pontoise -cowherd." - -At last they heard Cadet Eustache's voice introducing his chosen bride -to the guests, and Auguste was not a little surprised to recognize -Mademoiselle Tapotte, Monsieur de la Thomassinire's gardener. - -Mademoiselle Tapotte had grown taller, and she was still very plump; she -was, in truth, a fine figure of a girl, and, as formerly, she kept her -eyes on the floor and bowed without looking at anybody. - -"Superb!" cried Pre Rondin; "bravo! you've made a great find, Cadet, on -my word! And it's a fact that you can still see on her cheeks the down -of chastity." - -Monsieur Cadet received these compliments with a smile and said: - -"I have the honor to present Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, who will be -Madame Eustache to-morrow if God lets us live." - -Everyone kissed the bride--that is also the custom--and Bertrand, who -knew nothing of Auguste's adventure at Fleury, was reassured at sight of -the maiden and flattered himself that she would not lead his master into -any fresh folly. - -But, when it came Auguste's turn to kiss Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, -that young woman, despite her ingenuousness, raised her eyes, and a -little shriek escaped her when she recognized the young man. - -"I am very awkward," said Auguste instantly, "to tread on your foot! I -beg your pardon, fair fiance!" - -"Oh! was that what made her cry?" said Cadet, laughingly; "when anyone -treads on the feet of our girls about here, they don't yell; they know -what it means. They ain't like Suzanne! By the way, monsieur, uncle says -you make portraits; do you make faces too?" - -"What do you suppose that I make?" - -"Why, I mean a head, with eyes and a nose, et cetera." - -"I generally find nothing else to paint." - -"Pardi, monsieur, if you had time to catch the likeness of my bride, -just the face alone, I'd like it mighty well." - -"I haven't anything but my pencils in my valise, but I can try to draw -her." - -"Draw her! Will that be just the same?" - -"To be sure." - -"Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, monsieur is going to make your portrait; -he's going to catch you." - -The bride made some objection to allowing herself to be drawn; but -Monsieur Cadet was obstinate about it, and she finally consented to lend -her face to Auguste, who asked for a room where he could work quietly -and without being disturbed. - -He was taken to a small room at the top of the house and furnished with -all that he required. Monsieur Cadet brought his fiance, who seated -herself, with downcast eyes, beside the table at which Auguste was -working. Monsieur Cadet was preparing to watch the process of catching -his charmer's likeness when Auguste said to him: - -"I am very sorry to send you away, but I cannot draw before anybody. If -you want your wife's portrait, you must leave me alone with her; indeed, -that is the custom; a painter doesn't like to have anyone see his work -before it's finished." - -"Oh, yes, that's right," said Cadet; "and then, if I watched you, I -wouldn't have any surprise." - -"That's so." - -"All right, I'll go away. You needn't be afraid to stay alone with -monsieur, Mamzelle Tapotte; he's an artist--he's going to catch you and -surprise me. Ah! how nice that'll be!" - -Mademoiselle Tapotte smiled without raising her eyes, and Monsieur Cadet -left her alone with Auguste, while he went to oversee all the -preparations for the wedding. - -Bertrand was already at table with Pre Rondin. They were soon joined by -several farmers of the neighborhood. Neighbors, male and female, kindred -and friends came to take up their quarters under Eustache's roof on the -day before the wedding. Long tables were laid and covered with dishes -and pitchers. They laughed and sang and shrieked and made a great -uproar, for the hilarity of the peasant is exceedingly noisy. It seemed -as if the wedding festivities had already begun; and Bertrand, who found -the wine excellent and did not notice among the village girls any faces -likely to inflame his master, concluded that they might safely pass a -week at the farm. - -But everybody asked for the bride, and Monsieur Cadet said: - -"Someone's catching her just at this minute, getting up a surprise for -me, copying her face. I guess I'll go and see how it's coming on." - -Monsieur Cadet went up to the room where he had left Auguste and -Mademoiselle Tapotte. But the door was locked, doubtless so that they -might not be disturbed. The groom tapped gently on the door, saying: - -"It's me,--is it done?" - -"No, not yet," Auguste replied. - -"Is it coming on all right?" - -"Yes, it's coming on well." - -"What are you doing now?" - -"An ear." - -"Is it a good likeness?" - -"It will be very striking." - -Cadet went down to the company, exclaiming: - -"I couldn't get in; he was just doing an ear, that's going to be -striking. Oh! that painter seems to be a smart one! I tried to look -through the key-hole, but he must have her posed in profile, for I -thought I saw an eye instead of an ear. I'm going to put my wife's -picture in our big room opposite the one of the boar my grandfather -killed." - -At last, after two hours, Auguste appeared, leading the bride that was -to be, who would not have raised her eyes to look at a diamond, and who -was even more ruddy than usual. Everyone exclaimed at her beauty, her -bloom, and her innocent air, and Monsieur Cadet swelled with pride. - -The groom asked to see the portrait and Auguste exhibited a face which -was as like that of the queen of clubs as one drop of water is like -another. The guests all went into ecstasies over it, saying that the -resemblance was striking, and furthermore that it had the advantage of -resembling the groom and Pre Rondin as well. Monsieur Cadet was -overjoyed, and Auguste received compliments from the whole company. - -The rest of the day passed in dancing and recreation; many guests did -not leave the table except to go to bed, and Bertrand was among them. - -The wedding day arrived at last. At daybreak the farm-house was astir. -Monsieur Cadet donned a costume that he had had made in Paris: nut-brown -coat, waistcoat and trousers. Mamma Eustache went to dress the bride. -Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte was soon led in, armed with the virginal -bouquet; whereupon they set out for the church, with the musicians at -the head of the procession. - -Bertrand enjoyed the festivities immensely; Auguste too, seemed not to -be bored; he danced with the girls, while his companion kept the corks -popping. The whole night was passed in games, feasting and carousing. -But at midnight Monsieur Cadet led his wife away to the nuptial chamber, -leaving the rest to drink and dance. Two hours later they were amazed by -the apparition of the husband, in nightgown and nightcap, in the -ball-room, crying: - -"My friends, I am the happiest of men, that's all I've got to say." - -And Monsieur Cadet returned to his spouse amid a shower of -congratulations and jests from his friends, while Pre Rondin said to -Auguste: - -"Didn't I tell you my nephew was a sly one, and that it's a sort of -rosire, as you might say, that he's brought from Paris?" - -Auguste added his congratulations to those of the other guests. At -daybreak, weary of dancing and eating, he went to bed, leaving the -dauntless Bertrand to hold his own with three farmers, two of whom were -all ready to slide under the table. - -Auguste and his faithful companion passed the week of the wedding -festivities at Monsieur Eustache's farm; and during that time the bride -gave the young man several more sittings, for she always found something -to change in her nose or her eye or her ear. - -At the end of the week the travellers resumed their journey, not without -an invitation from Monsieur Cadet to repeat their visit. - -"_Beati pauperes spiritu!_" said Auguste as they left the farm. To which -Bertrand replied: - -"Yes, lieutenant. Here is one place at all events where you have behaved -yourself." - - - - -XXIV - -A SKETCH OF ITALY - - -Auguste and Bertrand arrived at Turin, undelayed by any fresh adventure. -They took rooms at a modest hotel, for, before continuing their journey, -Auguste desired to make the acquaintance of that pleasant Italian city, -where one may fancy oneself in France, and where reigns an attractive -mixture of French manners and Italian morals. The ladies of Turin are -pretty, agreeable and piquant; in addition to the charm of our -Frenchwomen they have more fire in their glance, a more sensuous -intonation to the voice, more abandon in their bearing. Bertrand, -observing that his master gazed persistently at the Italian women, said -to him again and again: - -"Look out, lieutenant; we are travelling in search of fortune and not of -conquests; we didn't come to Italy to admire black eyes and Greek -noses." - -"True, Bertrand; but as we find them here, there's no reason why we -shouldn't admire them." - -"Remember, monsieur, that the fine arts alone are to occupy your mind." - -"The sight of a lovely woman kindles the flame of genius. Raphael was in -love with his Madonna model." - -"Perhaps that wasn't the best thing he did, lieutenant." - -"Bertrand, you understand nothing about art." - -"Perhaps not, but I know enough about it to calculate." - -"I want to paint one of these charming heads that have caught my eye; I -want to take for a model one of the piquant faces that I notice among -the girls of this region." - -"In that case you will do like Monsieur Raphael, you will fall in love -with your model." - -"So much the better, if it results in my producing a chef-d'oeuvre." - -"I'm afraid that it will result in your producing something else." - -"Have you heard them sing, Bertrand?" - -"Who, monsieur?" - -"The young girls in the suburbs, the villagers, the simple -working-girls; they all sing with such taste and harmony! I hear -delightful concerts every evening when I am walking. We are in the land -of music, my friend." - -"I should prefer to be in the land of gold mines." - -"Here the common people, the workmen, are born musicians; the petty -tradeswoman seeks recreation after her day's labor with her guitar. The -boatman as well as the great nobleman, the peasant woman as well as the -rich lady, blends her voice with the chords that she strikes on that -instrument." - -"It seems, then, that everybody plays it." - -"And the Italian women have a nonchalant air when singing that forms -such a striking contrast to the fire of their eyes." - -"I certainly shall go back to Paris and make trousers, monsieur." - -Auguste left Bertrand and went out to walk in the suburbs of the city. -The season being farther advanced in that beautiful climate, there was -already a wealth of verdure, shrubbery and fragrant groves, which the -Italian regards with the indifference of habit, but which arouse the -admiration of the stranger who sees for the first time that lovely sky, -that delicious landscape, and those flowering orange trees which spread -the sweetest of perfumes all about. - -In a pleasant country everything is calculated to inspire pleasure. The -climate of Italy seems to be the fitting climate of love. The aspect of -a wild landscape, of a rugged and sterile country inclines the soul to -melancholy and sadness; that of a verdant grove, of a valley studded -with flowers, makes our hearts beat more gently and gives birth to no -thoughts save of pleasure and of love. - -Auguste, who did not need to be in Italy to have his imagination take -fire, was conscious nevertheless of the soothing influence of the -climate; he sighed as he glanced at the lovely women who passed him by; -and as the young Frenchman was a comely youth, his sighs were answered -by some very expressive glances. - -Among the attractive young women whom he met in the street, Auguste -noticed one, modestly but respectably attired, who usually had an older -woman on her arm. The young woman's face was fascinating; but her timid -glances, far from challenging the young foreigner's, were modestly -lowered when they met. Auguste followed them, however. Sometimes the -older woman turned her head, and, when she saw the young man, urged her -companion to quicken her pace. When they reached a distant suburb of the -city, the ladies entered a small isolated house. The young woman -afforded Auguste one more glimpse of her lovely features as she -furtively glanced at him; but the old woman closed the door behind them -and the enchanting image vanished. - -Auguste stood some time in front of the house which the pretty Italian -had entered; but at last, tired of staring at a door and windows that -did not open, he returned to his hotel, saying to himself: - -"She's an angel! she is ideally beautiful, the model of the Venus de -Medici, of Girodet's Galatea, of Psyche, of Dido; and I must make the -acquaintance of such charms." - -The next day he went out to walk again, and again he saw the two ladies. -Grown bolder, he approached them and, as a stranger, asked the older one -for information concerning the first thing that his eyes fell upon. She -answered courteously, and the young woman, without joining in the -conversation, turned her beautiful eyes on the Frenchman from time to -time. The old lady, who was very talkative, soon informed the young -Frenchman that her name was Signora Falenza, and that her companion was -her niece Cecilia; that they were far from rich, and for that reason -lived in a retired quarter, and that they let a portion of their -lodgings when they had applications from quiet and orderly people, -because that enabled them to increase their slender income a little. - -The old woman had not finished speaking when Auguste asked her to let -the little apartment to him. - -"I have come to Italy to study painting," he said, "and I have rather -neglected it; I have nobody with me but an old soldier, and we are as -orderly as young ladies. I flatter myself that you will have no cause to -regret having us for tenants." - -Signora Falenza made some objections; but Auguste was so urgent that she -consented to show him the apartment. It consisted of two rooms, rather -shabbily furnished; to be sure, the price asked was very moderate. -Auguste expressed himself as delighted; he was satisfied with -everything, and, after casting a passionate glance at the fair Cecilia, -he hurried away to make his arrangements to return the same evening and -take up his abode beneath the same roof with the two ladies. - -"Pack our valises and pay our bill, Bertrand; we are going to move." - -"Are we going to leave Turin, monsieur?" - -"Oh, no, my friend; I am more pleased with it than ever!" - -"In that case, why do we leave this hotel, where we are well -accommodated, and at not too high a price?" - -"For economy's sake, Bertrand; I have found much pleasanter lodgings, -which will cost only half as much; I trust that you won't find fault -with me this time." - -Bertrand frowned and muttered: - -"There's a petticoat under this, I'll wager." - -However, he packed the valises, paid the bill, and followed his master, -who led the way to the suburb. - -"We don't seem to be moving into the fashionable quarter, monsieur," -said Bertrand. - -"What do we care, so long as the lodgings suit us?" - -"True." - -"See, there's the house." - -"It's a long way from any other. Do you remember that we're in Italy, -monsieur? It looks to me like a cut-throat sort of place." - -"Do you mean that you're afraid, Bertrand?" - -"Oh, lieutenant!" - -"You are growing absurdly suspicious. This is a very pleasant house; the -outlook is on fields and gardens. It's very quiet here, and that is what -I like." - -"Ah! you like quiet now, do you?" - -"Very much." - -Auguste knocked. The door was opened by Signora Falenza, at sight of -whom Bertrand said to himself: - -"If there's only faces like this one here, we shall certainly be very -quiet." - -The old woman escorted the strangers to their rooms, showing them every -courtesy. As they passed through a passageway they met the fair Cecilia, -who bowed pleasantly to the young Frenchman. Whereupon Bertrand heaved a -sigh and thought: - -"This is the economy the lieutenant mentioned!" - -The travellers being installed in their apartment, Signora Falenza left -them, saying: - -"When you gentlemen wish for anything, you need only come to my room; my -niece and I will hasten to offer our services." - -"In that case," thought Auguste, "I hope that I shall frequently have -occasion to seek them." - -Bertrand inspected the two rooms, and at each object that he examined, -frowned and muttered: - -"This is very nice!" - -"Isn't it, Bertrand?" - -"Yes, indeed! a wretched bed and no pillows!" - -"So much the better! we will go and ask for one." - -"Two broken chairs!" - -"So much the better! I'll go and change them." - -"Closets that won't lock!" - -"Bah! they're good enough for what we have to put in them." - -"A desk that I can't find any key to!" - -"I'll go and ask the ladies for it." - -"Not a candlestick on the mantel!" - -"The ladies will give us one." - -"Not even a jar of water." - -"Perhaps it isn't the custom in the country." - -"Well! it's a very clean custom that don't allow a person to wash his -hands! In fact, monsieur, we lack everything here." - -"We shall lack nothing if we ask the ladies for it." - -"The ladies! the ladies!" - -"And the low rent, Bertrand--don't you take that into account?" - -"If there wasn't anybody but the old landlady in the house, you wouldn't -have been tempted to come here to live." - -"That may be; but if I can enjoy the company of a pretty woman, and at -the same time reduce my expenses, it seems to me, Bertrand, that you -can't object to that." - -Bertrand said no more; he went into a corner and filled his pipe, and as -it was growing dark, Auguste went to his landladies' room to ask for a -light. The old lady was absent, but her niece was there, and our -Frenchman, overjoyed at the opportunity of a tte--tte with the fair -Cecilia, sat down beside the young woman, who seemed less shy at home -than on the street, and who replied with a smile to the soft avowals -that he addressed to her. The conversation lasted until very late. -Auguste forgot Bertrand, who was without a light; he was in a fair way -to forget a great many things, but Signora Falenza returned and by her -presence revived his memory. He went up to his own room; Bertrand had -thrown himself on the bed and was asleep. Auguste did not think it best -to wake him, and he too fell asleep, his mind full of the fascinating -Cecilia's image, convinced that he had never been more comfortably -bedded. - -Three days passed in the new lodgings. Auguste almost never went out; he -watched for opportunities for a tte--tte with Cecilia; but the aunt -was seldom absent and kept a much closer watch upon her niece. However, -Auguste obtained a sweet avowal; he knew that he was beloved; but that -was not enough, and Cecilia's eyes seemed to promise him more. - -Bertrand had become accustomed to his new quarters; but he said to his -master every day: - -"You came to Italy to study and work, monsieur; instead of doing that, -you pass all your time running after our young landlady." - -"Cecilia is teaching me to speak Italian better, Bertrand; and I am -teaching her French." - -"I don't see what good this reciprocal teaching will do you." - -"Why, the pleasure of it, Bertrand--is that to be counted nothing?" - -"Are we travelling for pleasure?" - -"Not entirely; but, when it offers itself, why not make the most of it?" - -"Remember, monsieur, that your pleasures have always cost you dear." - -"You can't say that I am squandering my money here; I have never been so -quiet and orderly. I never go out; these ladies, when I invited them to -go to the theatre, declined." - -"I agree that they are stay-at-homes and don't try to make you take them -all over the city. But I don't like that old Falenza with her reverences -and her compliments." - -"Really, Bertrand, you are getting to be too particular. When you -travel, my friend, you must accustom yourself to the idea of finding -different customs and different manners." - -"True, monsieur; but I'm very much afraid that the foundation is the -same everywhere! Selfish men, coquettish women, schemers who make a -great show of wealth in order to make dupes more easily, rascals who -open their mouths only to lie; and here and there a few honest people, -who nevertheless consider their own interests before everything. I fancy -that that's what we shall find in every country." - -"Travelling makes you very eloquent, Bertrand. Write down your -reflections; I'll read them--when we return to France." - -"It will be high time, monsieur." - -Auguste was no longer listening to his companion; he had overheard -Cecilia's voice, and he went to her. But the young Italian had but a -moment to speak to him, as her aunt would soon return. Yielding to the -young man's urgent entreaties, she gave him an assignation for the next -day. A pretty little wood, about a fourth of a league from the city, was -the spot to which Cecilia was to go secretly. The time was agreed upon, -and they parted, to avoid arousing her aunt's suspicions. - -Auguste returned to his room with the inward satisfaction that one -always feels at the approach of a long-desired moment. Never did evening -seem longer to him, and he retired early so that the morrow would come -the sooner. - -Day broke at last. Auguste rose, dressed himself with care, and went -out, leaving Bertrand still asleep. The place appointed for the meeting -was a very long way from Signora Falenza's abode; but Auguste supposed -that Cecilia had chosen it from prudential motives. He traversed a large -part of the city, followed the bank of the Po, and at last reached the -little wood, where he hoped soon to see his young landlady. - -He waited patiently a long while; hope sustained him; it must be that -some accident had kept Cecilia at home. But several hours passed and the -fair Italian did not come. Auguste, weary of walking back and forth on -the same spot, decided at last to return to the house, cursing the -mischance that had prevented Cecilia from keeping her appointment. - -As he approached the suburb where he lived, Auguste saw Bertrand in -front of him, evidently returning home, like himself; he quickened his -pace in order to overtake him. When the ex-corporal caught sight of his -master, he uttered a cry of joy, saying: - -"Morbleu! you are not wounded?" - -"Why in the devil should I be wounded?" demanded Auguste. - -"What would there be so surprising about it, monsieur, when you have -been fighting a duel?" - -"A duel--I?" - -"At all events that's what our landlady told me this morning; she -declared that a young man called for you at daybreak, and that from the -few words that fell from you she gathered that there was a duel in the -wind." - -"Parbleu! this is very strange!" - -"She even mentioned several places where she thought you might have gone -to settle your dispute; so that, since early morning, I've been running -in all directions, and have been well laughed at by everybody that I -asked if they'd seen two men fighting." - -"I don't understand it at all, Bertrand." - -"Do you mean to say that it isn't all true?" - -"There isn't a word of truth in it." - -"Ah! that old signora shall learn that I'm not to be made a fool of like -this." - -"Let's hurry, Bertrand." - -"What's the matter, lieutenant? You seem anxious." - -"Yes. I'm afraid that the niece has made a fool of me too. Here have I -been waiting for her in vain three hours and more at the other end of -the city." - -"Ten thousand bullets! there's something very crooked in this long -excursion they made us both take. Didn't I tell you, lieutenant, that -the old woman made too many reverences?" - -"Perhaps we are frightened without cause. But here we are. Knock, -Bertrand." - -Bertrand knocked, but no one opened the door. He knocked again until the -window panes rattled, and there was no response. - -"What does this mean, lieutenant?" he cried, looking at Auguste. - -"Why, it means that there's no one here, that is very certain." - -"Still, we must get in." - -As he spoke, he broke in the door with a kick, and entered the house, -followed by his master. It was deserted; they had carried off everything -except a few wretched pieces of furniture, and the travellers' apartment -too was dismantled. - -"We are robbed, monsieur," said Bertrand. - -"It looks to me very much like it, my friend." - -"Did you leave our money here?" - -"Alas! yes, in the desk. It was all there except these ten gold pieces -that I have in my pocket." - -"Ah! the rascals! To the devil with signoras, fine eyes and reverences! -Why did we leave our hotel?" - -"It was my fault, Bertrand, I realize it. It is my folly again that has -caused this misfortune. But what's the use of talking? the harm is -done." - -"We must enter a complaint, monsieur; we must obtain justice." - -"Enter a complaint, my friend, in a country where we are strangers, and -when we have nothing with which to pay for obtaining justice, which is -very dear everywhere?" - -"In that case, monsieur, we must allow ourselves to be robbed and say -nothing, must we?" - -"That is the wisest course in this case, Bertrand." - -"It's very amusing!" - -"We must make haste, too, to leave this house, which was undoubtedly let -to those sharpers, and of which we have smashed the door; for we may be -asked by what right we are here, and be punished for breaking in as we -did." - -"That would be the last straw! Ah! my poor old Schtrack, it would have -been much better to stay with you!" - -"Courage, Bertrand, let us rise superior to disaster. We have nothing -left--very good! that compels me to work. We will travel on foot; in -that way one doesn't run the risk of making evil acquaintances as one -does in a diligence. And then our baggage is lighter than ever, and each -of us can say with the Greek philosopher: _'Omnia mecum porto.'_" - -"That must mean that he hadn't a sou, doesn't it, lieutenant?" - -"Pretty nearly that, Bertrand." - -"In that case we are getting to be mighty philosophical!" - -"Let's leave Turin and go elsewhere in search of prudence." - -"Ah! where shall we stop, monsieur?" - - - - -XXV - -WHICH COVERS A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS - - -Let us leave Auguste and Bertrand to pursue their travels, the one -promising never again to allow himself to be led astray by the sly -glances of the first pretty face he may meet; the other, swearing -because his advice was not heeded, and reviling the sex which led his -master into so many scrapes. You must forgive Bertrand, ladies, and -pardon his ill humor; he really had some reason to distrust beauty. But -if he had been twenty years younger, and some pretty creature had -undertaken to make a conquest of him, who can say that, like his master, -he would not have succumbed? Let us return to the village, to the little -milkmaid, from whom Auguste's follies have kept us away too long; and -may the picture of innocence and of true love give our eyes a little -rest after that of the passions and intrigues of cities, and the -hypocrisy and selfishness of society. It is like turning to a lovely -landscape of Regnier after looking at one of Gudin's tempests; but, if -the representation of the conflict causes us keen emotions, the sight of -a pure sky and fields bright with blossoms brings sweet repose to our -souls and often arouses pleasanter sensations within us. - -Denise took back to her aunt the three thousand francs that she had -intended to force upon Auguste; she heaved a profound sigh as she handed -her the bag of money. - -"Wouldn't he take it?" asked Mre Fourcy. - -"Alas! it was too late, aunt! he had gone away! He's gone round the -world! and God only knows when he will come back!" - -"It ain't our fault, child; we got the money together just as quick as -we possibly could; for, you see, three thousand francs ain't like a -cheese. If he's gone travelling, it must be that he wasn't in need of -money; at any rate we've nothing to blame ourselves for, and when he -comes to see us again, he'll see what a pretty cottage we've had built -for Coco." - -Denise felt confident that Virginie would keep her promise, that she -would succeed in finding out where Auguste had gone, and that she would -send her news of him; that hope was the sole joy of her life. Hope -always counts for much in the sum total of happiness that we mortals -enjoy on earth; how many people have never known any other happiness -than that which it gives! - -Virginie had said to Denise, to console her: - -"You will see Auguste again, and when he knows how dearly you love him, -I am sure that he will care for you." - -Those words were engraved on the girl's heart, and she said to herself -every day: - -"That lady will tell him that I love him, and when he comes here again I -shall blush to meet him! I shan't dare to look him in the face! Perhaps -he won't like it, but it's his own fault; why did he tell me that he -loved me? Ought a man to say such things if he doesn't mean them? I made -believe to laugh when I heard him, but in the bottom of my heart I -realized how happy it made me! Of course he only meant to joke with me; -he talked to me as he does to all the women he thinks pretty. He doesn't -know what misery he has caused me!" - -On the site of the hovel occupied by the Calleux family, a pretty -cottage had been built, consisting of a ground floor and attics only. -Behind it was a garden of considerable size, surrounded by a fence. The -cottage was constructed with the three thousand francs left by Dalville; -it belonged to Coco, although he was still too young to live there. But -Denise took pleasure in beautifying the little place for which the child -was indebted to his benefactor; and there she passed a large part of -every day, after performing her morning tasks, dreaming of him whose -return she never ceased to expect. There, alone with the child, she -talked to him about Auguste, taught him to love him, to remember that he -owed everything to him, and never to enter the cottage without giving a -thought to gratitude. - -The garden was carefully tended. Denise planted flowers there. She -remembered what she had seen in the lovely bourgeois gardens that she -had visited, and she determined that the garden of the cottage should be -laid out on the same plan. She desired that Auguste should be agreeably -surprised when he visited the cottage, and should compliment her on her -taste. - -"He will see these shrubs," she thought, "these beds of verdure; and he -will be surprised that peasants should have done it all as well as -people from Paris." - -But in another moment the girl would sigh and say to herself sadly: - -"If he has gone to the end of the world, it will be a long time before -he comes to see my garden." - -The winter was succeeded by the lovely days of spring, and Denise heard -nothing from Virginie. - -"She hasn't found out anything about him," thought the girl; "otherwise -she would have come to tell me about it." - -The hope of hearing from Auguste induced Denise to make another trip to -Paris. She easily obtained her aunt's permission, and one morning she -appeared at Auguste's former abode. - -As usual, Schtrack was smoking on a bench in front of his lodge. He -recognized the girl, and although it was nearly four months since she -had fainted in his arms, he called out when he saw her: - -"Wasn't all the money in the bag?" - -"What, monsieur? what bag? Has Monsieur Auguste come back?" inquired -Denise, gazing anxiously at the old German. - -"Oh, no! no! The young man is still travelling with Pertrand. But I -thought you haf come about the bag of money that fell in the yard, and -that you didn't find it all. Sacreti! you see, Schtrack don't joke -about questions of honor." - -"Oh, monsieur! of course I didn't come about that!--Haven't you heard -from him, monsieur?" - -"From who, my child?" - -"From Monsieur Auguste." - -"How in the devil do you suppose I could hear from him when he's gone -round the world?" - -"And that lady--have you seen her?" - -"A lady?" - -"The one who was here with me the last time I came, and who was kind -enough to help me." - -"Oh ja! the demon! the hussy! the little grenadier!" - -"Has she been here, monsieur?" - -"Oh ja! she's been twice to ask for news of the young man." - -"And she told you nothing about Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Sacreti! don't I tell you that she came to ask about him? Don't you -understand?" - -"Do you know her address, monsieur?" - -"The little hussy's?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"No, I don't know it." - -Schtrack resumed his smoking, and as Denise could learn nothing from -him, she turned away, regretting that she did not know Virginie's -address. If she had, she would have gone to see her, not because she -supposed her to be any better informed than herself concerning the -whereabouts of the travellers, but because she could, at least, have -talked with her about Auguste; and it is so great a delight to talk of -the person we love, especially with someone who understands us! - -Several more months passed without bringing any news of Auguste, nor had -Virginie come to the village. Hope began to fade in Denise's heart, but -love did not die out; that sentiment, when it is genuine, defies -obstacles, time, and absence, and it alone does not pass away when -everything about it passes away. - -Denise was seventeen years of age. She had grown no taller, but her -features seemed to have acquired a greater charm, her face more -expression; the secret sentiment that engrossed her thoughts gave to her -features a gentle melancholy which was most becoming to her sweet face. -Village maidens rarely have that look; perhaps that is why the young men -of Montfermeil and the neighborhood found in Denise a something that -fascinated them and turned their heads. But she had very little to say -to them, she no longer laughed and joked with them, she shunned their -dances and their sports; and the other girls sneered at the little -milkmaid, saying: - -"How high and mighty she is! She puts on the airs of a great lady! She's -trying to copy city folks. But with her scowling face she won't get any -lovers." - -Despite the prophecies of the peasants, Denise, involuntarily and -unconsciously, made conquests every day; and the village maidens, with -all their loud laughter, their merriment and the lusty blows they dealt -out to the beaux of the neighborhood, saw that they all sighed for her -who did nothing to attract them. And as Denise, in addition to her sweet -face, was an excellent match, several young men applied to Mre Fourcy -for her hand. - -The excellent aunt had noticed that there had been something wrong with -her niece for a long time; but she was convinced that marriage would rid -her of that something which caused her to sigh night and day. Mre -Fourcy flattered herself that she had had much experience, and -remembered that a great many young women, after taking unto themselves -husbands, recover the fresh color that is beginning to fade. So one fine -morning she went to her niece, who was, as usual, alone in the garden of -Coco's cottage. - -"My child," said Mre Fourcy, sitting down beside her, "I have come here -to talk to you about something." - -"Whatever you please, aunt," replied the girl, with her eyes fixed on a -marguerite from which she had just plucked the petals, and in which she -had read that the young traveller loved her dearly. - -"My child, you were seventeen years old on Saint-Pierre's day. A girl of -seventeen ain't a child any longer--do you understand that, Denise?" - -"Oh, yes, aunt!" - -"Besides, you've known all about housekeeping for a long time, and your -sewing's like a charm, and you make cheeses that a body could eat all -day long without hurting 'em; and then you know all the ins and outs of -a house. You're active and a good worker; you have three times more wit -than you need to guide a man who might try to go wrong; and morguenne! -the man who gets you won't ever regret it!" - -Denise looked at Mre Fourcy in surprise, and faltered: - -"I don't understand, aunt." - -"That makes a difference, my dear; I'll cut it short. You're old enough -to get married, and there's several chances offered. First of all, big -Fanfan Jolivet, and then neighbor Mauflard's nephew, and tall -Claude-Jean-Pierre-Nicolas Lathuille, who's just inherited his father's -estate; there's lots more too that would like you, but those three are -the best fixed. They're good boys and hard workers. It's your business -to choose which one you want for a husband." - -Denise had turned pale and shown great embarrassment during her aunt's -speech; but she glanced again at the remains of her marguerite and -replied in a very low tone: - -"I don't want any one of them, aunt." - -"What do you say, my child?" - -"I say that--that I don't want to marry." - -"You don't want to marry? Nonsense! You're joking when you say that! As -if girls mustn't marry! I tell you, on the contrary, marriage will do -you good. For a long time now you haven't been yourself, you don't laugh -or sing any more. A husband, my child, makes you sing, brings back your -spirits, and--Great heaven! you're crying, my poor Denise! Do you think -I mean to make you feel bad? No, no! I'll send all your suitors to the -devil first. My poor child crying! I don't want you to do that. Come, -tell me right away what makes you cry." - -"To have to refuse you, aunt." - -"The idea of crying for that! Do you think I'll ever drive you to do -what you don't want to do?" - -"Oh, no! you're so kind to me, aunt!" - -"But if you cry, I'll scold you. You don't want any of these husbands, -so we won't say any more about it, my child. But, jarni! something's the -matter with you, all the same. A girl don't sigh all day thinking about -flies." - -"Oh, aunt!" - -"Tell me what the trouble is, my child." - -"I don't dare to." - -"I want you to dare to. You've got a pain in your heart, that's sure." - -"Oh! I am very silly! I know that." - -"You, silly! you, the cleverest, the smartest, the shrewdest girl in the -world! Anyway, my dear, a body don't cry because she's silly. It can't -be you're in love with anybody, are you?" - -Denise heaved a profound sigh, and replied at last, lowering her eyes: - -"Yes, aunt." - -"Well, my dear, there's no law against it! and if it ain't one of the -fellows that's offered himself, why, never mind, so long as he's an -honest man and will make you happy; for he loves you dearly too, no -doubt?" - -"No, aunt, he doesn't love me at all; he doesn't give me a thought." - -"Jarni! I'll go and tear his eyes out! Do you mean to say he's forgotten -you, or deceived you? The idea of my Denise loving him, and him not -being too happy to marry her!" - -"But he has never spoken of marrying me, aunt." - -"Then he's a deceiver, is he, a rake?" - -"No, aunt; but he's--it's that gentleman from Paris." - -"Monsieur Dalville?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"O mon Dieu! what on earth are you thinking about, Denise? You're in -love with a fine gentleman from Paris, a man in the best society, a man -who would never look at a peasant girl!" - -"Oh, yes! he did look at me a great deal, I assure you." - -"But you can't think of such a thing as loving Monsieur Dalville, my -dear!" - -"Alas! it isn't my fault--I can't help it." - -"How did this love come to you, my child?" - -"When I fell from my donkey, aunt." - -"Is it possible?" - -"Mon Dieu! yes. I met Monsieur Auguste on the road; he was in his -cabriolet and I was walking behind Jean le Blanc." - -"You told me that, my child." - -"He kept looking at me, and I pretended not to notice it. He got out of -his carriage and followed me along the narrow path through the wood; he -told me I was pretty and I laughed at his compliments." - -"You told me that, too." - -"He tried to kiss me, and in defending myself I scratched his face." - -"You didn't tell me that, my dear." - -"Oh! I was very angry then! I hated the man! I got on Jean le Blanc so -as to get away from him faster, but Jean began to gallop and threw me -off. I fell--I don't know how." - -"Mon Dieu! my child! And then what?" - -"The gentleman ran up to me; but he lifted me up so respectfully--he -seemed so sorry for my fall--he was paler and trembled more than I did. -Then, I don't know how it happened, but all of a sudden my anger went -away, and--and I believe that I loved him already." - -"And then?" - -"Bless me! you know, aunt, that we found what he'd given Coco and his -grandmother, and I felt that that made me love him still more. I saw him -again at Madame Destival's, and he told me to take care of Coco; and -since then, you know, aunt, he hasn't been to see us but once." - -"Have you told him that you loved him?" - -"No; on the contrary, as Monsieur Bertrand told me that would keep him -from coming to see us, I told him that I should never love him." - -"You did well, my child." - -"Oh, no, aunt! I think that I did wrong rather, for he hasn't been here -since then, and he went away without bidding us good-bye." - -"Well, well, now she's crying again! But, my child, what good does this -love do you?" - -"None at all, aunt." - -"Monsieur Auguste wouldn't have married a poor village girl. Now he's -gone away, and we shan't ever see him again probably." - -"Do you mean to say that he may not come back? Won't he want to -see--Coco again? He will come back, aunt; ah! I am still hopeful." - -"Even if he should, remember that he's a gentleman, and used to fine -ladies; while you--Well! what are you looking at that flower so for?" - -"It told me that Auguste loved me dearly." - -"Who told you so?" - -"This marguerite, aunt." - -"Pluck another one to-morrow, my dear, and it will tell you just the -opposite." - -"Oh! I pluck them every morning, aunt." - -"And does the flower always tell you he loves you?" - -"When there's one that doesn't I question another, and I keep on till I -find one that gives me the answer I want." - -"That's the way girls tell their own fortunes. But look you, my child, -it would be much more sensible to forget a man who don't give you a -thought." - -"I can't do it, aunt." - -"If you should take a husband instead of plucking marguerites, your love -would soon pass away, I promise you." - -"No, aunt, I don't want to marry. Leave me at liberty to think of him -and to consult the flowers, and I promise you that I won't cry any -more." - -"As you please, my dear Denise; and if that's your taste, stay -unmarried. But you're so pretty, and such a figure. Ah! it would be a -great pity if you should pass your youth consulting flowers." - -The worthy aunt said no more to Denise on the subject of marriage, and -the suitors were dismissed. The villagers indulged in various -conjectures concerning the girl's conduct. The young women laughed at -the gallants who had been rejected; the gallants hoped that in time -Denise would be less cruel. But time passed and Denise's determination -did not waver. - -Mre Fourcy became infirm and her niece waited upon her with the most -loving solicitude. Coco, who as he grew up had learned to love his -benefactresses as dearly as his goat, strove to make himself useful, and -often diverted Denise from her melancholy by his childish prattle. She -loved to watch and to fondle the child whom Auguste had loved; she had -him taught all that could be taught him in the village; she guided his -heart into the paths of virtue, for she wished him to do credit to his -benefactor. - -Two years had passed since Auguste and Bertrand started on their -travels. During that period Denise had been to Paris six times in quest -of news of the travellers; but Schtrack had never been able to give her -any, and she heard nothing from Virginie. At the end of two years Mre -Fourcy fell sick, and, despite her niece's care, soon died in her arms. - -The loss of her aunt caused Denise the keenest sorrow; we can but regret -profoundly those who throughout their lives have sought only to make us -happy, without ever reminding us of what they have done for us--the -latter being a method of conferring favors which freezes gratitude; for -there are many people who do good, but there are very few good people. - -Denise was left alone on earth but for Coco, who was not yet eight. She -let her house, which was now too large for her, and went to live in -Coco's cottage, to which she added a small wing. There Denise was -happier: it seemed to her that she was nearer Auguste. She was no longer -obliged to be a milkmaid, and she hired an old peasant woman who -undertook the house work. Denise busied herself about her garden and -sought additional knowledge in books. In her aunt's lifetime she was -rarely able to gratify her taste for reading, because Mre Fourcy -considered that she already knew too much for a peasant. But nothing now -prevented her from following her inclination and trying to train her -mind. - -One by one Denise laid aside the coarse woolen skirt, the apron, the -sackcloth waist; she wore clothes which, while they were most simple and -unpretending, approximated the costume of Parisian ladies. Thereupon the -villagers said to one another: - -"Denise Fourcy is trying to play the fine lady, that's sure. Don't you -see that since her aunt died she don't dress like us any more, but puts -on style and uses big words when she talks?" - -Denise cared little what the people of the village thought; her only -desire was to please him whom she still expected; and she would say to -herself as she looked in her mirror: - -"Perhaps he'll like me better like this. He won't find me so awkward and -embarrassed as I was; but it will be all the same to him, for he doesn't -love me, and he thinks that I don't love him either. Mon Dieu! why did I -tell him that? It was Monsieur Bertrand that made me do it; he deceived -me by telling me that Auguste wouldn't come to the village if I loved -him. Yes, I am sure that he deceived me; for it was after that that -Auguste received me so unkindly in Paris; and he didn't come here again. -But when I see him, ah! then I'll tell him the truth; it is always wrong -to lie. And I will beg him not to lie to me either." - -Another year passed; Denise was twenty and Coco nine. The child was -happy; mirth and health shone on his pretty face. Denise was still -melancholy; she tried in vain to banish from her mind the memory of -Auguste whom she was beginning to lose hope of seeing again. - -"Perhaps he has settled in some foreign land!" she would say to herself; -"perhaps he is married--and will never come back!" - -Then her eyes would fill with tears, and the child's caresses served -only to intensify her grief, for he was forever asking her: - -"Shall I see my kind friend soon?" - -Denise often determined to be sensible, to drive her insane passion from -her heart, and to think no more of Auguste. Then she would go out to -seek distraction in the fields; but, whether by chance or from -preference, she always found herself on the narrow path in the wood, -where she fell from her donkey. - - - - -XXVI - -THE RETURN - - -One lovely spring evening Denise sat under the shrubbery in the garden, -reading, while Coco played in front of the cottage, beside the old -peasant woman, who had fallen asleep on a bench. - -Happening to look out on the road, Coco saw a man standing there, -apparently gazing at the house, and so engrossed by his thoughts that he -did not notice the child playing near by. - -The man was not dressed like a peasant; a gray woolen jacket, trousers -with gaiters, and a bundle slung over his shoulder, seemed to indicate a -traveller. He wore a shabby round cap, and in his hand he carried a -stick which he evidently needed to lean upon; for his face was pale and -worn, and his long beard and the expression of his eyes denoted poverty -and suffering. - -Coco stole toward him, staring at the stranger with childish curiosity -and was surprised to see tears falling from his eyes as he gazed at the -cottage. - -The child had learned from Denise to be compassionate to the sufferings -of the unfortunate. He stood in front of the stranger and said in an -artless and kindly tone: - -"Are you unhappy, monsieur? If you'd like to rest in our house, come in -and we'll give you some supper." - -The child's voice startled the stranger, he started in surprise and -scrutinized Coco closely; then he took his hand and squeezed it -tenderly, saying in a voice choked by emotion: - -"What! is it you, my friend?" - -The boy, surprised to be addressed in that way, answered with a smile: - -"Do you know me, monsieur?" - -The wayfarer sighed, and replied after a moment: - -"Yes, I saw you once, long ago, here, on this spot; but at that time, -instead of this pretty cottage, there was only an old ruined hovel here! -What a transformation has taken place!" - -"Oh! it was my good friend who gave me the money for all this; for -that's my house, monsieur, that is; but when he comes back, I'll thank -him ever so much!" - -The stranger pressed the child's hand again, as he continued: - -"Won't you come in? Come, I'll tell Denise that you're going to have -supper with us." - -"Denise! what, is Denise here?" exclaimed the stranger, detaining the -child. - -"Yes, monsieur, we've lived together ever since her dear aunt died." - -"And is Denise married?" - -"No, monsieur.--Well, are you coming?" - -After a moment's hesitation, the stranger decided to follow the child, -who took his hand and led him into the house. - -"Denise! Denise!" cried Coco, "here's some company! here's a gentleman, -who's hungry!--You are hungry, ain't you?--Denise, come, I say!" - -But Denise was at the end of the garden and did not hear the child's -voice; so he ran to the thicket of shrubbery to fetch her, and the -stranger slowly followed him. - -"Dear Denise," said Coco, "I just saw a man on the road who looked very -unhappy, and I asked him to come into the house; we'll give him some -supper, won't we?" - -"Yes, my dear." - -"I did well to bring him in, for he looks as if he was poor; and yet he -didn't beg." - -"Yes, you did well; let's go to him." - -"Look, he has followed me--there he is." - -The stranger had stopped at a little distance and was looking at Denise; -the last rays of daylight rested on his face, and the girl examined him -with interest as she walked toward him. But she had not taken four steps -when she gave a little cry and ran, flew toward the stranger. - -"Auguste!--Monsieur--is it you?" - -That was all she could say; and Auguste, for he it was, received her in -his arms. - -"Denise! dear Denise!" said Auguste, pressing to his heart the girl whom -surprise and joy had almost deprived of consciousness. - -At last she recovered the power of speech. - -"Coco, it is your kind friend," she cried, "your benefactor has come -back! Come and kiss him." - -The child stared at Auguste in open-mouthed amazement; he had difficulty -in reconciling himself to the idea that that shabbily dressed man with -the long beard was his benefactor; but if his eyes did not recognize his -kind friend, his heart was not silent: something drew him to the -stranger, so that he ran joyfully to Auguste and kissed him, and the -latter abandoned himself for some moments to the pleasure of holding -the child and the girl in his arms. - -"So you knew me, did you, Denise?" he said at last. - -"Oh! always! I shall always recognize you! Even if your face were not -the same, my heart would tell me that it was you." - -"Dear Denise!" - -"Well, I didn't know you, my kind friend," said Coco, "because you've -got a beard; and then, you were crying." - -"Alas! you did not expect to see me in this pitiable costume, did you?" - -"Oh! we expected you, dressed no matter how! In our eyes, aren't you -always well dressed? But when I see you like this, I fear that you have -been unfortunate; and that is what grieves me." - -"Yes, Denise, yes, I have been unfortunate, but I have earned it! It's -my own folly that has reduced me to this condition! But as I still have -your friendship and this little fellow's, I feel that I have not lost -all." - -"Oh! monsieur, is it possible that you could doubt our hearts?" - -"What would you have? misfortune often makes men unjust. I was wrong, I -see. I will tell you everything that has happened to me, Denise; I will -tell you frankly what I have done; you are the last one from whom I -would conceal my shortcomings, for I am sure beforehand that you will -forgive me." - -"Oh! I am so glad to see you again, monsieur! But come in and sit down -in the house, and rest; you must want something to eat and drink." - -"It is true that I have had nothing since yesterday." - -"Since yesterday!" cried Denise; and a deathly pallor overspread her -cheeks, her eyes filled with tears, and she could not speak; she laid -her head on Auguste's shoulder and gave free vent to the tears that were -choking her. - -"Denise, dear Denise, pray be calm! I am with you; I have already -forgotten part of my misfortunes--don't be alarmed about me! Besides, I -am not entirely without resources. The reason why I have eaten nothing -since yesterday is that sad thoughts took away my appetite. I still have -a little money, but I am saving it to procure lodgings in Paris; for -nothing is so conducive to economy as misfortune. Oh! the loss of my -wealth is not what grieves me most, as you know; blest with a happy -disposition, hope and cheerfulness continued to travel with me even when -my purse was light; but the ingratitude of men, the desertion of him -whom I loved like a brother--that is what cut me the deepest! that is -what took away my courage! I know that a man may bear the blows of -destiny philosophically; but I could find no philosophy to enable me to -bear the loss of a friend, the pains of the heart." - -"O mon Dieu!" said Denise; "is it possible! But, it is true, you are -alone--What has become of Bertrand?" - -"He has deserted me! He got tired of my follies, and he left the man -who, in his prosperous days, treated him as a friend, not as a servant." - -"Bertrand deserted you--left you when you were unfortunate and a long -way from home! Oh, no! no! that is impossible, monsieur! He loved and -honored you! Bertrand is an old soldier, he has not forgotten all that -he owes you; I will answer for his heart as surely as for my own." - -"Nevertheless, Denise, I have told you the truth. But let us go into the -house; later I will tell you the story of my travels." - -"Oh! forgive me, monsieur; to think of my forgetting! Let's go in -quickly; come and rest." - -Denise led Auguste into the house. Coco followed them, jumping and -crying aloud for joy. - -"Here's my kind friend come back! Denise won't be sad any more!" - -The girl ran to wake her old servant, and turned everything topsy-turvy -in her haste to set before the wayfarer the best that she had; and as -she went to and fro by Auguste, she stopped constantly to look at him, -as if to make sure that he was not a delusion, then exclaimed: - -"He is here! he has come back at last! he hadn't forgotten us!" - -And she wiped away a tear born of her emotion, which was instantly -succeeded by a smile. Auguste was deeply moved by the pleasure that his -arrival caused in the cottage. He did not tire of gazing at Denise, he -noticed the change that had taken place in her language and manners and -dress; and as he turned his eyes upon himself, he sighed and said: - -"The three years that have passed have wrought vast changes: instead of -the milkmaid, a rather awkward village girl, I find in you a young woman -full of charm. And I, whom you used to see so dandified and -elegant--here am I arrayed like any poor devil who travels on foot -without the means to pay for a lodging!" - -"What difference does that make? Are you Coco's benefactor any the less? -or he who made love so ardently to the little milkmaid?" - -"You will agree, Denise, that in this costume I don't look very much -like a benefactor or a seducer." - -"For my part, if you don't like me this way, I will very soon go back to -the woolen waist and the little cap." - -"You will always be lovely. However, I have no right--I must not -forget----" - -Auguste paused and Denise looked at him anxiously; but he seemed to make -an effort to banish a painful memory and took his place at the table, -saying: - -"Let us not think of anything but the pleasure it affords me to be here! -Denise, Coco, come beside me; one evening of happiness will help me to -forget several months of suffering." - -They sat down at the table. Auguste was the object of the most zealous -attentions on the part of the occupants of the cottage; the presence of -a sovereign would not have made them so happy as that of the poor -wayfarer. - -When Auguste had recovered from the fatigue of his journeying, he took -Coco on his knee, seated himself in front of Denise, and began his -story: - -"I determined to travel, hoping that travelling would ripen my wits; -moreover, it was necessary that I should make an effort to put my -talents to some use. I know how to paint, I am a good musician, but it -was very hard for me to look for pupils in Paris, the scene of my days -of splendor, where I could not take a step without meeting old -acquaintances, who turned their heads to avoid bowing to me when they -learned that I was ruined! So I started with Bertrand----" - -"Yes, and without coming to bid me good-bye!" interjected Denise with a -profound sigh. - -"I was afraid to see you again. I supposed that you were married. I have -not forgotten what you told me in your garden when I came to call on -you." - -Denise blushed, and Auguste continued: - -"So I started. We had six thousand francs left; with economy, that was -enough to carry us a long way. But it is so hard for me not to do -foolish things!" - -"And to be good!" said Denise under her breath. - -Auguste smiled and continued: - -"At Turin we were robbed by adventuresses of our whole fortune except a -few gold pieces, with which we travelled to Rome. There I worked and -earned a little money with my violin, and Bertrand gave fencing lessons. -We went to Naples, where I met by mere chance a lady whom I had known in -Paris; she interested herself in my behalf and procured me some rich -pupils. We had lived there very comfortably for a year when I received -two or three stiletto thrusts on account of an Italian damsel's lovely -eyes." - -"Mon Dieu!" cried Denise; "why did you need to love an Italian too?" - -"I was driven to seek distraction. That adventure disgusted me with -Italy, where, in truth, I saw no prospect of making a handsome fortune. -I determined to go to England, where moderate talent often commands a -very high price. Bertrand was still ready to go with me; we left Italy -and reached London without mishap. There, after a very short time, -having acquired the friendship of a man who frequented the first -society, he made me the fashion, and I had more pupils than I could give -lessons to. I charged very high rates, and I was overjoyed to find that -I should be able some day to return to my native land with a good round -sum of money. But, alas! I had the ill luck to become acquainted with a -young English-woman." - -"Well! still another woman!" exclaimed Denise testily. - -"She lived with some relations, who, so she said, made her very unhappy. -She proposed to me to carry her off, and I dared not refuse. Despite -Bertrand's advice I indulged in that escapade. But the abduction created -an uproar, and I was proceeded against; I was obliged either to marry -the young woman, or to pay a large sum; for in England one must always -give compensation. I did not choose to marry, so I paid." - -"Ah! that was much better than--than to marry by force," said Denise. - -"But that adventure caused me to lose my pupils and the fruit of my -labors. Distressed by this catastrophe, for which I could accuse no one -but myself, I proposed to Bertrand that we take a trip to Scotland -before returning to our own country. One of my pupils had presented me -with a horse, I bought one for Bertrand, and we left London in the -saddle. We stopped at a lovely village called, I believe, Newington. -After breakfasting at an inn, I sat alone, waiting for my companion, -whom I had sent to pay our bill. Surprised at his failure to return, I -went downstairs and made inquiries. 'Your companion has gone,' they told -me; 'he just mounted his horse and rode off at a gallop.' Utterly unable -to understand his absence, I remained at the inn all day, waiting for -him. I could not imagine that Bertrand had left me; but the next day -again I waited in vain. I questioned the people at the inn; they could -tell me nothing except that, after paying our bill, he had crossed the -courtyard, and a moment later they had seen him riding away at full -speed. I was driven at last to a realization of the fact that Bertrand -had voluntarily turned his back on me. Ah! Denise, I can't tell you how -I suffered because of his desertion! Accustomed to living with my old -friend, I had often paid little heed to his advice, but I set great -store by his friendship. No doubt he was tired of my foolish -performances; he probably lost patience, and despairing of making me -less reckless, did not choose to share my evil fortune any longer. -However, he had often sworn never to leave me while he lived, and I -trusted his oath, for a friend's is more sacred than a mistress's." - -"Bertrand--leave you! I can't understand it!" said Denise. - -"I changed my plans, and, having no further desire to go to Scotland, -determined to return to France. Oh! how I longed to stand on my native -soil! I felt a most intense craving to see you and to embrace this -little fellow! I sold my horse to pay my passage. When I arrived at -Calais, I reckoned up my resources and determined to travel on foot. -But, I confess, my strength frequently betrayed my courage. Accustomed -as I am to wealth, to the comforts of life, my health is still that of a -dandy, while my modest costume stamps me a humble wayfarer; and more -than once I had to stop on the way. At last I reached this village; -before going on to Paris, I longed to see this spot once more, to learn -what you were doing, Denise. And here I am by your side! Unhappiness, -fatigue, everything is forgotten; and to-morrow, with a razor, clean -linen, and a few changes in my costume, you will see once more, not the -resplendent Dalville, but at least poor Auguste, for whom your -friendship is not dead." - -Auguste kissed the child. Denise, who had taken the deepest interest in -his story, said to him: - -"I trust that now you will not go travelling over the world any more?" - -"You must stay with us, my kind friend," said Coco. - -"Yes, I see that I must abandon the hope of making my fortune with such -talents as I have. I have ceased to think of travelling. As to what I -shall do--I haven't any clear idea as yet; but still, among my dear -friends in Paris, who no longer deign to look at me, there are many whom -I have obliged, and who are still my debtors. There is something like -twelve thousand francs owing to me, and I propose to try to collect at -least half of it; then----" - -"You will come and settle down near us, won't you, monsieur?" - -"At all events, Denise, I will come to see you often." - -"But you won't go to Paris right away; you won't leave us for a long -while----" - -"No, I promise." - -"Remember that you are in your own house here; we built this cottage -with what you gave Coco, so you see that it belongs to you." - -"No, Denise, this house is the boy's fortune; I am too happy to have -been able to contribute to his welfare, and I only regret that I didn't -use in this way all the money I have wasted on my pleasures!--Nothing is -left to me from my follies; but something always remains of the good -that one does!" - -"Then you have reformed? You won't fall in love any more--with every -woman you see, will you?" - -"Faith, Denise, I wouldn't swear not to as yet. I received a bitter -lesson on my fifth floor--and in my travels I turned it to no advantage -whatever. Ah! if I had won the love of a sincere, true-hearted, virtuous -woman--like you, Denise--perhaps I should have reformed before this!" - -"What, monsieur!" said Denise, blushing; "do you mean that I don't love -you?" - -"No--you love me like a brother, I know, and your touchingly warm -welcome of me, the delight that my return has caused you, show plainly -enough your deep affection for me; but, my dear Denise, there is a -sweeter, tenderer sentiment which I hoped to inspire in you before you -told me that you could never love me. Don't lower your eyes, Denise; I -am not reproaching you; we cannot control our hearts, and I admit that I -did not deserve yours. I tried to accustom myself to look upon you as a -sister; that is what I have been trying to do ever since our interview -in your aunt's garden. It will be hard, but with time I shall -succeed--perhaps. Let us leave that subject; I am so happy to be with -you now!--Well! haven't you anything to say to me, Denise?" - -"Yes, monsieur, yes! But you must feel the need of rest." - -"It is true that my journey has tired me; and my story has kept you up -late." - -"Come, monsieur; I'll take you to the little summer-house that I have -had built in the garden; it makes the prettiest room in the house. I -wish I could give you even better quarters----" - -"You forget, Denise, that I am no longer the dandy of the -Chausse-d'Antin! Just cast your eye at my costume." - -"Oh, to me you are always the same, monsieur!" - -She took Auguste to the summer-house and left him there with a loving: -"Until to-morrow;" then she returned to the house and her own room, -saying to herself: - -"He thinks that my only feeling for him is friendship; he is very much -mistaken; what I feel for him is love! Mon Dieu! why did I believe -Monsieur Bertrand at that time? Why did I tell him that I didn't love -him? This is what comes of lying! But I'll tell him the truth now, -because I don't want him to try to look on me as a sister." - - - - -XXVII - -AVOWALS.--THE PROPOSAL - - -After travelling about for three years in quest of riches, and finding -in all lands the same vices, the same passions, the same folly,--when -one returns home even poorer than one went away, how delicious it is to -wake beneath a hospitable roof, with faithful friends whom one's evil -fortune has not changed, and who are made happy by one's return! It is -the harbor after a gale; it is the clear sky after a storm; it is the -gleam of dawn after a long night. - -Such was Auguste's waking; in his eyes the cottage was a palace, aye, -better than a palace, since it held Denise and Coco. He rose, and after -revelling for a few moments in the pure air of the garden, he turned his -attention to his costume. Not with impunity does one live under the same -roof with a lovely girl whom one has once loved, and still loves, -although resolved to be nothing more than her friend. Moreover, it is -quite natural to try to recover some of one's former attractions, after -making one's appearance in the costume of an impoverished wayfarer. - -In a short time, the razor had disposed of the beard. But Auguste's -modest portmanteau contained only a coat, a waistcoat and almost no -linen. He was inspecting it with a dejected air when there came a soft -tap at his door and he heard Coco's voice: - -"It's me, my kind friend." - -Auguste opened the door to the child, who had a large bundle which he -placed on the bed. - -"What's all this, my friend?" queried Auguste, after he had kissed the -little fellow. - -"I don't know, my kind friend; it was Denise that told me to bring it to -you. Good-bye; I'm going to feed my goat. You didn't see her last night; -hurry up and dress yourself and come and say good-morning to her." - -When the child had gone, Auguste opened the package, which contained a -supply of linen and a paper on which was written: - -"Coco gives you this; remember that he didn't refuse your gifts a long -time ago." - -"Dear Denise!" said Auguste; "how thoughtful of her! And to think of her -being able to get them so early! She can't have slept at all--she must -have ransacked the village already. If this is the way her friendship -works, what would happen if one had her love!" - -However, it was a bitter thing to Auguste to accept the girl's gifts; -when one is in the habit of giving, it is hard to make up one's mind to -receive. He overcame at last the feeling of pride that caused him to -hesitate; he realized that it would hurt Denise if he refused, and that -consideration decided him to accept her presents. - -After completing his toilet, Auguste went into the garden and found -Denise there. She came to meet him with the most engaging smile, and a -look in which there was something more than friendship. Coco ran to -Auguste and said: - -"Ah! I know you now--this is the way you used to look." - -"Thanks to you, Denise!" said Dalville in an undertone. - -But the girl put her hand over his mouth, and he seized the hand and -pressed it to his heart without more words. They showed him the cottage, -the garden, every nook and corner, and Denise said to him at every step: - -"Do you like this? Are you satisfied with the use I have made of your -money?" - -"What surprises me," said Auguste, "is that you can build a house with -three thousand francs." - -"In the first place, monsieur, we had the land; and then, you see, the -cottage has only four rooms and attics above." - -"But that pretty summer-house where I slept last night?" - -"Oh! I had that built after my poor aunt's death. I preferred to live -here than in our house. I felt as if I weren't so far away from you." - -These words were accompanied by another sweet smile; all of which was -not calculated to induce Auguste to look upon the lovely girl as his -sister simply. - -After breakfast they sat in the shade of a clump of lilacs. They talked -a long while, having so much to say to each other after a long -separation. The girl did not weary of listening to Auguste's stories of -his travels. When he mentioned Bertrand's name, a sigh escaped him; -whereupon Denise took his hand and pressed it affectionately, to give -him to understand that he still had friends. He continued his story, but -her hand remained in his, and she did not think of withdrawing it. - -Engrossed by the pleasure of being with Denise, of exchanging soft -glances with her, it did not seem to occur to Auguste that he must look -upon her only with a friend's eyes. Nor did Denise seek to conceal the -state of her feelings from him; on the contrary, she wished him to read -in the lowest depths of her heart. - -Several days passed swiftly. In the morning Auguste and Denise went to -walk in the country. Coco always went with them, but his presence did -not incommode them; for their eyes alone betrayed their feelings, and an -innocent heart has no fear of witnesses. At night, when they were -together in the cottage, the hours flew more swiftly still, and when -they separated, they exchanged a loving: "Until to-morrow." - -Auguste could not conceal from himself the fact that he adored Denise, -and, being persuaded that she had no other feeling than friendship for -him, he said to himself: - -"This girl will end by turning my head. But she loves me only as a -brother; she doesn't know how dangerous to my repose her affectionate -glances and caresses are. I must leave her and return to Paris; a few -days more and I shan't have strength to do it." - -On her side Denise said to herself: - -"Great heaven! doesn't he see that I love him? I do all that I can to -show him! Is it that he doesn't choose to understand me? In that case I -must just tell him how it is; and now that he has nothing at all and I -have a little money, perhaps he'll not despise the little village girl." - -Although he continued to tell himself that he must go away from Denise, -Auguste did not leave the cottage, where he was so comfortable. But one -evening when he was alone with her, he inquired: - -"How does it happen, Denise, that you are not married?" - -"Because I didn't choose to marry, monsieur!" she replied, raising her -lovely eyes to his. - -"But you were in love with someone, surely? You told me so. What -obstacle has prevented you from marrying the object of your choice?" - -Denise blushed and no longer dared to look at Auguste. At last she -faltered in a tremulous voice: - -"I--I lied that time, monsieur." - -"How so, Denise?" - -"You know, that time in my aunt's garden, when I told you that I had a -sweetheart, it was because Monsieur Bertrand had told me that you didn't -come to the village for fear of falling in love with me; and I longed so -to see you that that was why I said I didn't love you." - -"Dear Denise! is it possible?" cried Auguste, throwing his arms about -her. - -"Yes, that's the truth; and since then I've been awfully unhappy because -I told you that; for you didn't come again, and you thought I loved -somebody else." - -Auguste gazed lovingly at the girl; but soon his brow grew dark; he -fixed his eyes on the ground and seemed to be meditating deeply. Amazed -by his silence and his depression, she drew nearer to him and said -timidly: - -"Are you angry because I love you?" - -"Ah! Denise, it might once have made me perfectly happy--but now----" - -"Well--now?" - -Auguste made no reply; and after a moment she asked him: - -"Will you marry me, monsieur?" - -"Marry you, Denise?" - -"Yes; formerly I wouldn't have dared to hope for such a thing, for you -were very rich, and you couldn't have taken a village girl for your -wife. But you have lost the fortune which kept you in fashionable -society. You say every day that you no longer care for the fine ladies, -the coquettes, who deceived you.--Now, if you want me, I am yours. I -haven't a great fortune, but I have enough for us two; and I will never -deceive you!" - -Auguste was deeply moved by Denise's affecting offer; but he contented -himself with pressing her hand and heaving a profound sigh. She -impatiently awaited his reply; his silence made her think that her -proposal had offended him; she walked away from him, and, unable to -restrain her tears, faltered: - -"I made you angry by proposing that you should marry me. Forgive me, -monsieur; I forgot that I am only a peasant. I thought that you loved -me." - -"Ah! I love you, Denise, more than I ever loved! my feeling for you is a -hundred times sweeter and fonder than the passions which have led me -into so many follies. You are only a peasant, you say! but your virtues -and your good qualities make you the equal of a great lady, even though -you had not in addition such lovely features, such charming ways, and a -melting voice that goes to one's very heart!" - -"You love me! Oh! how happy I am! Then you will take me for your wife?" - -Auguste gazed tenderly at her, and said at last: - -"You shall have my reply to-morrow, Denise." - -"To-morrow! Why not at once? Do you need to reflect about it?" - -The girl said no more. During the rest of the evening Auguste seemed -more affectionate, more in love than ever; his eyes, which were -constantly fixed on Denise, expressed the most genuine passion, and when -he left her, to return to his summer-house, he pressed her to his heart -and seemed unable to tear himself from her arms. He left her at last, -and Denise said to herself: - -"Oh! he will certainly marry me! but why not say so at once?" - -She did not sleep; she was too excited to close her eyes. In default of -dreams, her imagination conjured up a thousand delightful pictures: she -saw herself the chosen companion of the man she loved; she passed the -rest of her days with him. So charming a future is surely not inferior -to the pleasantest dreams, and we do not try to sleep when we possess -the reality of happiness. - -Day broke at last. Denise rose and spent a longer time than usual at her -toilet. That is a venial offence when a woman knows that she is going -into the presence of the man whom she wishes to call her husband. She -left her room and went into the garden, where she found Auguste every -morning; but he was not there, and the girl was surprised that he was -still asleep; for she thought that he must have been unable to sleep, -like herself, and that he would be in haste to see her. - -She seated herself in the shrubbery where they had talked the night -before. She could see the summer-house from there, and she waited -impatiently for Auguste to come out. But the door did not open, and at -last Coco, whom Denise had not yet seen, came running toward her with a -letter in his hand. - -"Here, my dear Denise, my kind friend gave me this for you," he said, -holding out the letter. - -"Your kind friend! Why, have you seen Monsieur Auguste already?" - -"Oh, yes! he was up before sunrise." - -"Where is he now, then?" - -"He kissed me and then he went away; I don't know where he went." - -Denise had a presentiment of evil; she opened the letter with a -trembling hand and read: - - "I love you, my dear Denise; do not doubt my love; but shall I join - my poverty to your comfort, after I have lost my money by my own - fault? shall I bestow on you the hand of a man who has not even any - knowledge of the agricultural labors by which your little property - can be made profitable? No, Denise, I am not worthy to be your - husband, I cannot make up my mind to live at the expense of a woman - who would sacrifice a happy future for me. Doubtless your kind - heart led you to offer me your hand; perhaps you even pretended to - love me so as to induce me to accept your generous offer; but I - must not do it. Adieu, Denise! If I should become rich again, I - shall fly to you; but I have no hope of it now. Adieu! I shall come - to see you when I have strength enough to look upon you as my - sister." - -The girl turned deadly pale and dropped the letter, crying: - -"He doesn't believe in my love!" - -"Well, where's my kind friend? Did he write you where he's gone?" - -"Alas! he has abandoned us, he has run away from us, he thinks we don't -love him!" - -Denise burst into tears; the child ran to her arms and she pressed him -to her heart, sobbing: - -"Oh! I shall die of grief, and you must tell him that he's the cause of -it; then perhaps he'll believe that I loved him!" - - - - -XXVIII - -VIRGINIE AGAIN - - -It was very early in the morning when Auguste left the pretty little -cottage where he had passed a fortnight which he looked upon as the -happiest period in his life. It was not without a mighty effort that he -tore himself away from Denise; it requires a deal of courage to leave a -woman whom one loves, when she has voluntarily offered one her heart. -But we must remember that Auguste had been rich, and that every feeling -of pride was not extinct within his breast. His pride could not accustom -itself to the idea of offering Denise the hand of a penniless -unfortunate; and furthermore he feared that it was from gratitude for -what he had done for Coco that the girl offered him her hand. A heart -bruised by misfortune is easily frightened; dread of humiliation makes -us unjust; a benefaction seems like almsgiving, and consolation is -nothing more than condescending pity. - -With his little bundle tied to the end of his staff, Auguste started for -Paris. When he saw the great city once more, he could not restrain a -sigh. But he pulled his hat over his eyes and walked with lowered head, -in dread of meeting some former acquaintance. However, it is no crime to -be poor; why, then, should the unfortunate seem to avoid men's eyes when -so many scoundrels go about with their heads in the air? Why should one -be any more ashamed to say: "I haven't a sou," than to say: "I owe a -hundred thousand francs"? Because in society we see and seek and care -for none but those who have money; because we too often close our eyes -to the source of the wealth of a multitude of schemers who cut a dash at -the expense of the scores of families they have ruined, and who from -their magnificent equipages look down in derision on those whom they -have reduced to destitution; because we pardon all sorts of vices in the -man who is able to cover them with gold, and refuse to pardon a trifling -peccadillo in a poor devil; because we lavish attentions on a Messalina -arrayed in silk and diamonds, and close our doors to a girl who has -given herself for love to a man who cannot support her. All this is very -sad, but it is all true. - -Auguste was careful not to go near Rue Saint-Georges; he went in the -direction of the Marais. It was necessary that he should be most -economical in his outlay, and he found in an old house on Rue de Berry, -a closet, said to be furnished, on the sixth floor, which he could hire -for fifteen francs a month. He paid half of the first month's rent in -advance. - -The man who formerly passed his life in dissipation, who set the fashion -in manners and style, who was sought after and fted, for whom women -disputed at parties, and whom they were proud to subjugate,--the -brilliant Dalville found himself reduced to the necessity of occupying a -garret and sleeping on a wretched pallet. When he entered the miserable -den he had just hired, he could not control a feeling of regret, and he -threw himself on a chair which wavered under him. As he glanced at the -walls, only partially covered by a few tattered strips of paper; as he -contemplated the furniture of his closet, and the tumbledown roofs near -by, Auguste recalled old Dorfeuil's room; he remembered especially the -old man's story and he dropped his head on his hands, saying: - -"And that did not reform me!" - -In a few moments, summoning his courage, he took his portfolio, glanced -over a list that he had made of all the people who owed him money, and -determined to spend the next day calling upon his debtors. At that -moment, the payment of a single debt would be of great service to him; -for, despite the economy with which he had travelled, he had but eleven -francs left after paying his rent for a fortnight. He had given his name -to the landlady as a teacher of music and drawing; but was he likely to -find any pupils, and how could he live before he received the price of -his lessons? Such reflections were ill adapted to make the aspect of his -abode more attractive. If only his former companion had been there to -comfort him and revive his courage! Again and again, impelled by the -force of habit, Auguste turned and looked about the room for Bertrand; -but, just as he was on the point of calling him, he remembered his -desertion, and his heart was torn anew. - -For a moment Auguste had thought of going to his former lodgings to -inquire whether Schtrack had seen Bertrand, and whether the ex-corporal -was in Paris; but he abandoned the idea when he reflected that he might -meet Bertrand in the old concierge's quarters, and that he ought not to -risk encountering a man who, by his ingratitude, had rendered himself -unworthy of being regretted. - -It was by thinking of Denise, by recalling the happy moments that he had -passed with her, that Auguste strove to forget his deplorable plight. He -was well aware that he would always find shelter under Denise's roof, -but he could not make up his mind to live at her expense. - -"It may be that it was from compassion that she offered me her hand," he -said to himself. - -On the following day, after carefully brushing his old coat, and trying -to dissemble his destitution, Auguste set out to visit his debtors. His -first two calls were not fortunate; one man was dead, the other had gone -to Bordeaux, whither Auguste could not go to seek him. At his third -attempt he was more fortunate; the debtor was a young man who, like -Dalville, was devoted to pleasure; he was in the act of performing his -second toilet when his creditor was ushered into his presence. - -One does not put oneself out for a poorly dressed person, and the young -man, who did not recognize Dalville, said to him while continuing to tie -his cravat: - -"What do you want?" - -"First of all, to see you. Is it possible that Lon does not recognize -me?" - -Surprised at being addressed by his baptismal name, the young man -bestowed a contemptuous glance upon Auguste and said: - -"Deuce take me if I know you. Can it be that we have ever had anything -to do with each other?" - -"Yes, monsieur, for Auguste Dalville has had the privilege of doing you -a favor more than once." - -"Auguste Dalville!" cried the young man, turning his head once more; -"what! can it be you, my dear fellow?" - -"Myself!" - -"Oh! it's impossible! you are dressed like a highwayman! Are you just -out of prison?" - -"No, thank God! unfortunate as I am, I have never put myself in the way -of being imprisoned." - -"Look you, my dear fellow, that doesn't prevent one's being an honest -man; I've been to Sainte-Plagie more than once myself, and it's likely -that I shall go again. Poor Auguste!--Damn this knot! I shall never get -it tied.--Well, what chance brings you here, my dear friend? You -haven't been seen anywhere for a century." - -"It's three years since I left Paris; I have been in Italy and England." - -"The devil you say! Tell me, is it true that the English tie their -cravats like a groom?" - -"That isn't the kind of thing I gave my attention to on my travels. As I -have told you, Lon, I am not in luck; but when I was rich you had -recourse to my purse more than once. I lent you more than a thousand -francs; half of that sum would be of great service to me now, and I have -come to ask you to pay me five hundred francs on account of what you owe -me." - -"Parbleu! my dear Auguste, you have chosen a very bad time. I lost at -roulette yesterday all the money I had. I determined to put my luck to -the test. I have nothing left, and if I can't pick up ten louis or so -to-day, to take a lovely little woman to the Bois, I am a lost man. My -charmer will probably go to the Bois with somebody else, and you can -understand--Does my cravat look all right?" - -"I thought that you had a better heart, Lon. You will find ten louis to -take your charmer to drive, but you can't find them for me, to whom you -owe them, and who am in a lamentable plight." - -"I don't say that I won't find them for you, my dear fellow. Come again -in a few days; I promise to put aside all I win at cards, and it shall -be for you. Poor Dalville--on my honor, I am distressed.--This corner of -my collar won't stay in place; it's terribly annoying, it spoils all the -harmony of a costume." - -Auguste left the young dandy's apartment, wondering how he could ever -have been the friend of a man whose head was as empty as his heart. He -called upon others of his debtors: some were out, some had moved. He -returned home, tired out and with little hope of faring better on the -morrow. For several days he persistently pursued them; but the majority -were not to be found or not to be seen; those whom he succeeded in -seeing never had any money, and it was impossible for him to catch young -Lon at home again. He sought fruitlessly the abode of the Marquis de -Cligneval; but one day, as he was going home, he saw monsieur le -marquis, ran after him and stopped him. - -"What do you want of me?" said Monsieur de Cligneval haughtily. - -"I have something to say to you, monsieur." - -"I don't know you." - -"You don't know me!" cried Auguste angrily, standing in front of the -marquis, who was about to walk away. His tone and the flash in his eyes -evidently refreshed Monsieur de Cligneval's memory, for he replied, -trying to smile: - -"Oh! I beg pardon! a thousand pardons! It's Monsieur Dalville. I was so -engrossed--I am going out to dinner--I am late, and----" - -"Monsieur, you have owed me money for a long, long time, which you -borrowed for a few days only." - -"I, owe you money? Oh! you are mistaken, I assure you." - -"What, monsieur?" - -"I beg pardon--I paid you! I give you my word that I paid you, a long -time ago; that's why you have forgotten it." - -"You dare to assert----" - -"My dear sir, you confuse my debt with somebody else's; really I paid -you. Think carefully and you will remember. When you lend to a number of -people, you get them mixed and forget; it's like boston--there are -people who always ask you twice for the trick.--Adieu! au revoir! I am -going out to dine." - -Monsieur de Cligneval was already far away. Auguste stood still, -petrified by his debtor's impudence; but what is one to do with a man -who denies a debt, when one has no evidence thereof? To thrash him would -be some compensation at least, but the law would put you in the wrong. - -Auguste went home more depressed and dejected than ever, and, to cap the -climax of his misfortunes, fatigue and anxiety had inflamed his blood. -He was consumed by fever; he was alone, on a bag of straw, and ere long -it would be impossible for him to obtain those things which were -essential for his restoration to health. - -Stretched on his bed, where he had passed the whole day, Auguste courted -sleep, which avoided his eyes. He was in pain, he breathed with -difficulty, and sounds of mirth disturbed the silence of his abode. The -person who lived below him seemed to be singing over her work; her voice -pierced the thin ceiling that separated her from the hapless invalid, -and the latter, on his bed of suffering, distinguished from time to time -a vaudeville air or the refrain of a _chansonnette_. - -"Those people haven't a fever like me," he said to himself. "Oh! this is -an excellent time to be philosophical, but nature speaks louder than -philosophy." - -After a sleepless night, the poor fellow, devoured by thirst, found that -he had no more water with which to satisfy it. He summoned all his -strength, left his bed, and dragged himself down to the concierge's -room; for he dared not apply to any neighbors, and moreover he was -alone, between two lofts, on his sixth floor. - -"Oh! are you sick, monsieur?" cried the concierge, at sight of Auguste. - -"Yes, I have been suffering greatly since yesterday." - -"You must take care of yourself and not go out." - -"Oh! that would be impossible!" - -"Leave your key outside, monsieur; I'll come up to-night to see if you -want anything." - -Auguste thanked the woman, crawled back to his garret with much -difficulty, and threw himself on his bed once more. - -The concierge, like all of her class, loved to talk, and very soon all -the lodgers who stopped at her lodge knew that there was on the sixth -floor a young man with a very distinguished bearing who was probably -going to have inflammation of the lungs. - -Among the persons who stopped to chat with the concierge was the singer -who lived below the sick man. This singer was no other than Virginie, -who had not succeeded in making a fortune by riotous living. Dissipation -soon banishes the hues of health, late hours circle the eyes, fatigue of -all sorts impairs beauty, and beauty was almost the sole possession of -Virginie, who, with three years added to her age, had fewer lovers than -of yore. All this was the reason why she was living in the Marais, in a -very modest fifth floor apartment; that she often passed her evenings in -working, because she no longer had some pleasure party for every -evening; and lastly, that she sang over her work, because she had -retained her voice and her cheerfulness. - -Virginie had a kind heart, she had never sinned except through excess of -sensibility. There are women who have no sensibility except where -pleasure is concerned, but Virginie was still capable of sympathy with -the unfortunate. On learning that there was a young man above her who -was alone and ill, Virginie asked the concierge: - -"Have you been up to see if he wanted anything?" - -"I haven't been yet because I've got to watch my stew; but I'll go up -to-night." - -"Well! you are a good one! Suppose the man gets sicker before then? I'll -go myself. I'm only sorry I didn't know it sooner, for I sang all last -evening, and when a person is feverish he don't like trills; but I was -in good voice! I could have sung _Armide!_ I'm going up to see my -neighbor. He's young, you say?" - -"Why, yes--twenty-nine or thereabouts." - -"Poor boy! perhaps he's lovesick. But no, men never lose their health -for love. I'm curious to see him; if he was old, I'd go all the same; -but a young man is always more alluring." - -Virginie went upstairs, and kept on to the sixth, passing her own door -without stopping. The key was on the outside of Auguste's door. - -"When a man lives in this hole," thought Virginie, "he don't eat green -peas in January." And she tapped softly on the door, saying aloud: "It's -your neighbor from downstairs, monsieur, come to ask if you want -anything." - -There was no reply, so she decided to open the door noiselessly. She -entered the hovel, in comparison with which her room was a palace. She -went to the bed on which lay the sick man, whose fever had increased, -and who no longer had the strength to open his eyes. She leaned over him -and gave a little shriek when she recognized Auguste. - -That shriek caused the invalid to open his eyes; he tried to give -Virginie his hand, while she threw herself upon him, kissed him again -and again, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and the next moment -drenched his face with her tears, crying: - -"It is you, Auguste! it is really you! O mon Dieu! in this garret! on -this wretched bed! My poor dear! sick, alone--and I didn't know it! Poor -Auguste! and I sang last night while he was groaning here! Oh! I feel as -if I should choke! I can't say any more." - -But at last Virginie realized that her tears and kisses were no longer -sufficient for the invalid, who motioned that he was consumed by thirst. - -"Wait--wait, my dear," she said, "I'll give you--Great God! there's -nothing here but water! Why, that's no good--it increases the fever. -I'll go--the doctor must come right away; I'll go and fetch him. I'm -going. Don't be impatient, my friend; I won't be long; and after this -you won't be alone any more; I shan't leave you again!" - -Virginie ran to the door, returned to the bed, pulled the clothes over -the sick man, arranged his head, then ran downstairs four at a time, and -arrived at the concierge's door all out of breath, saying: - -"A doctor! where's there a doctor?" - -"Why, there's several in the quarter. Is the gentleman sicker?" - -"His address--quick!" - -"A doctor's address? There's one on this street--yonder, next to the -fruit store; then there's the one that bled me; but----" - -Virginie was no longer listening; she was already at the door the -concierge had pointed out. She ran up to the doctor's room and begged -him to come instantly to see a sick man, in the tone that only women can -assume when the object of their affection is involved. The doctor made -no reply but took his hat, which was much better, and followed Virginie, -who led the way to Auguste's garret. He ascended the six flights almost -as quickly as she did, and when he entered the room apparently saw -nothing but the invalid. All honor to the men who devote their lives to -relieving the ills of mankind, and who show the same zeal for the poor -as for the rich. Their number is large, and although Molire did poke -fun at the doctors, doubtless he would be the first to do them justice -to-day. - -Virginie gazed anxiously at the doctor's face while he was feeling the -invalid's pulse. His eyes gave no favorable indication; while Auguste, -heedless of everything that was going on about him, seemed neither to -see nor to hear anything. - -"Well, monsieur?" queried Virginie at last. - -"The young man is in bad shape; he has a high fever and there is every -reason to expect that it will increase; however, with extreme care, I -hope we shall save him." - -"Oh, monsieur, don't neglect anything, I beg you!" - -"But he is very badly off here; the room is so small, there is so little -air, and the sun beats down so fiercely on the roofs, and makes these -garrets burning hot; this is a very unhealthy place." - -"Oh! he shall leave this garret this very day; he shall live in my room -as long as he's sick. It's right below here; he'll be much more -comfortable there, for it's a good size, at least--one can turn round in -it. He'd have been there before this if I could have carried him alone. -If you would be kind enough to help me, monsieur, it would soon be -done!" - -"Let's try it, mademoiselle." - -And the doctor went to the bed and lifted the only mattress that there -was on the straw; Virginie did the same on the other side, and thus they -carried Auguste to the floor below and laid him upon the only bed in the -room. - -"Where will you sleep, mademoiselle?" queried the doctor. - -"Oh! that don't worry me, monsieur. I'll bring down the straw bed from -upstairs; indeed, I shan't feel like sleeping as long as he's sick." - -The doctor looked at her again, then wrote a prescription and took his -leave, promising to come again early the next morning. - -When Virginie was alone, she looked at the prescription and tried to -read it. - -"Bless my soul!" she muttered, "how badly these doctors write! like -cats. 'Syrup of--infusion of'--No matter, the druggist will understand; -this much is clear, that here's syrups and infusions--consequently, -money. Poor Auguste! I'm quite sure he hasn't any. And I haven't much -more. But never mind--I have got to find some. He gave me enough when he -was rich. I must go at once and get whatever he needs." - -Virginie took her purse and went out to buy what was required for the -draught the doctor had ordered. She did not amuse herself by babbling -with the concierge, but made haste back to her room to nurse the sick -man. His fever had changed to delirium; he did not know her, and he -seemed to be much worse. Virginie nursed him with redoubled zeal. She -succeeded, not without difficulty, in making him take the potion -prescribed for him. She did not take one moment's rest during the night; -she was constantly beside the sick-bed, leaving it only to return to her -work. Her work was making linen garments, for since her opportunities -for pleasure had fallen off, she had realized that in order to live -something more was required than fine eyes and a fetching smile. This -work brought her but little money; but she redoubled her efforts when -she had Auguste to care for. - -While she worked, Virginie kept her eyes on the invalid. - -"Poor boy!" she would say to herself; "his travels evidently didn't -bring him luck. But how does it happen that good old Bertrand isn't with -him? He must be dead, not to be with Auguste. He was a true friend, he -was! not like those popinjays who swindled him! And Denise, who loved -him so dearly! If she knew he was in this condition! Suppose I should -write to her? But no, that might make Auguste angry; perhaps he's seen -her again, and they've had a row; one can never tell! I must cure him -first; then he will tell me all his adventures." - -The doctor came the next day, as he had promised; he was unable as yet -to give a definite opinion, but he agreed to come again in the evening, -and told Virginie to follow the same treatment. - -For three days Auguste was very ill. The doctor was not sparing of his -visits, and Virginie followed all his prescriptions to the letter. But -in the afternoon of the third day she found nothing in her purse, and -she had no work ready to carry back. She needed money, however, for a -thousand things that her patient must have. Virginie was not at a loss; -she took off her bracelets and earrings, the sole relics of the days of -her early prosperity, and sold them to a jeweller as gayly as if she -were going to a party. - -The doctor's treatment and Virginie's nursing were not thrown away. On -the fourth day Auguste was better; he was no longer delirious and was -surprised to find himself in a room which he did not recognize. He -pressed Virginie's hand and would have spoken; but the doctor had -prescribed perfect rest, so Virginie said to him: - -"Hush! wait till you're better before you talk; meanwhile, don't worry -about anything; you're in my room, and I'll take care of you as well as -if you had a dozen black servants. All that I ask you is to drink your -medicine like a good boy, and think of nothing but rose-bushes. When you -are getting better, I'll sing as much as you want me to; I'll even go so -far as to dance, if that will amuse you, so as to bring back your -spirits." - -Auguste smiled and held his peace. He continued to improve, but his -convalescence bade fair to be very long; and as a sick man always -requires innumerable things, the jewelry money was soon expended. -Thereupon, while Auguste was asleep, Virginie looked over her wardrobe -to see what she had that she could do without. In reality it contained -nothing that was not strictly necessary, but she succeeded in finding -several things of which she made a bundle, saying to herself: - -"This will rid me of a lot of old stuff that I am sick to death of." - -And the bundle went to join the jewels. - -When Auguste had recovered a little strength, he was able to tell -Virginie the story of his adventures. When she learned that Bertrand had -voluntarily left his master, she dropped a glass of medicine that she -was about to hand to Auguste, and exclaimed: - -"My arms have gone back on me! That Bertrand, whom I always thought -worthy of being embalmed! whom I looked upon as a faithful dog in his -attachment to you! You can't trust a man! My friend, the English beer -must have changed all his feelings!" - -But when Auguste told her of his stay at Denise's cottage, Virginie -interrupted him to describe the peasant girl's grief and despair when -she learned of his departure--in short, all her love for him. - -"Is it possible?" said Auguste; "she really loves me? Then she did not -deceive me! it wasn't pity that made her offer me her hand!" - -"Does she love you! She adores you, monsieur. The poor child made me -feel so sad. She cried so! But you men are unique! when a woman loves -you, you're surprised, and when she doesn't love you, you're surprised -too." - -"Oh! how happy you make me, Virginie!" - -"In that case, get well right away, and go and console poor Denise." - -"Oh no! I shall not go there." - -"What's that? you won't go? You know that she loves you, that she is in -despair at your absence, and you won't go back to her?" - -"I am destitute--I can't accept her hand." - -"My dear friend, that's a piece of delicacy that I can't understand. -When a person loves us, what's theirs is ours; and if a prince should -fall in love with me, although I haven't any more money than you have, I -shouldn't hesitate a moment about marrying him." - -Auguste held his peace, and Virginie said nothing further on a subject -that seemed to distress him. To restore the sick man's strength, he was -given no more infusions to drink; old wine and rich soups were -prescribed by the doctor, and Virginie, who searched her drawers in a -vain endeavor to make money, decided to sell a shawl which was her most -beautiful possession, and which she almost never laid aside. - -But Auguste saw how much he was costing Virginie, and his distress on -that account retarded his convalescence. He watched her as she worked -incessantly, often passing a large part of the night at her sewing, and -he sighed, as he said to himself: - -"She is killing herself for me! and I shall never be able to requite all -her care of me!" - -When Virginie returned after procuring a sum of money by means of her -remaining resource, Auguste noticed that she was without the shawl she -usually wore. - -"Where have you been, Virginie?" he asked in a feeble voice. - -"For a little walk, to take the air. I saw that you were asleep and -didn't need me." - -"Why aren't you wearing your shawl?" - -"My shawl? Why, I didn't put it on because it's too warm." - -"You had it on when you went out." - -"Did I?--Well, the truth is that I've lent it to a friend of mine who's -going to a party to-night; but she'll give it back." - -"You are deceiving me, Virginie." - -"No, monsieur, I am not deceiving you." - -"I am costing you a great deal; and you deprive yourself of everything -in order to take care of me, so that I may lack nothing! You are -stripping yourself clean for me!" - -"What are you talking about, Monsieur Auguste? I deprive myself of -everything! Let me tell you, monsieur, that I deprive myself of nothing. -Who told you that I am not well fixed, that I haven't money put by?" - -"And you work a great part of the night!" - -"I work because it amuses me, and because I don't care to sleep. The -fact is that I have all I want; I had a hoard; I am certainly at liberty -to spend it as I please.--The idea of telling me that he is a burden to -me! How shameful of him! I, whom he has been kind to so many times! And -he is angry because I am taking care of him!--Monsieur would prefer that -somebody else should do it, perhaps. If you give me any more nonsense -like that, I'll throw the stew out of the window. As for my shawl, it's -true that I haven't got it now; but I didn't like it. In the first -place, the color isn't in fashion any longer; and then I don't want a -flower pattern--it's bad form." - -Auguste said no more; he simply sighed as he took Virginie's hands in -his; and she pretended to be more lighthearted than ever, and sang all -day to prove that she did not regret her shawl. - -The doctor came to see his patient; he found him much better, and -complimented Virginie on her nursing. She, although she had no idea how -she was going to pay him, asked him to tell her how much she owed him. -But the doctor replied that he never charged anything when he went -higher than the fourth floor; and he ran away from the thanks of Auguste -and Virginie, enjoining anew upon the convalescent to be careful and to -wait until his strength had returned before going out. - -"There's a mighty fine man!" cried Virginie, looking after the doctor. -"He isn't handsome; certainly no one can say he's handsome; in fact, one -eye's smaller than the other. But for all that he's been a little Cupid -in my eyes ever since I saw what zeal he showed in his care of you." - -Auguste smiled; Virginie's remarks often made his eyes sparkle; but when -he thought of his plight, his brow darkened and he sighed, despite all -the efforts of his nurse, who said to him constantly: - -"You didn't use to sigh like that when you made love to me." - -Auguste was anxious to get up and go out, but he was not strong enough; -and yet Virginie gave him everything that the doctor ordered. But his -convalescence seemed certain to be very slow, and although she told -Auguste every day that he must not worry, that she had money enough to -last a long while, Virginie discovered one morning that she had nothing -left of the proceeds of the sale of her shawl. - -But the doctor, who had called on the evening before, had said that -Auguste could eat chicken, and Virginie, after searching her boxes, her -drawers and her purse, where she found nothing, muttered under her -breath: - -"It's no use for me to look; there's nothing to raise money on--not even -enough to buy a lark; and my work won't be done till day after -to-morrow! No matter! if I have to put myself in pawn, he shall eat -chicken to-day!" - -And Virginie put on her cap and the little neckerchief which had -replaced her shawl; then, leaving Auguste still asleep, she stole softly -from her room, saying to herself: - -"I won't come back without a chicken." - - - - -XXIX - -WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED.--RETURN TO THE VILLAGE - - -Virginie walked along the street, with no very clear idea as to where -she was going; she cudgelled her brains to think of somebody who might -accommodate her, but the memory is often in default when one asks it the -name of a true friend. If Czarine had been in Paris, Virginie would not -have hesitated to call on her, because she knew her kindness of heart; -but Czarine was then on the track of her Thodore, who had left the -capital, and her Thodore was likely to lead her a long way. - -Virginie's other acquaintances offered too unpromising a prospect; there -were several to whom she would not have dreamed of applying. However, -the result of her reflections was always the same:--"I must have a -chicken for Auguste, and I will have one. I don't know just how I shall -do it; but whenever I've taken it into my head to do a thing, I've -always succeeded in doing it, and it's often been a question of things -much more interesting than a chicken; it would be a deuce of a go, if I -couldn't acquit myself creditably in the matter of a little chicken!" - -And Virginie stopped in front of poultry shops and cookshops; she walked -back and forth, cudgelling her brains to no purpose; she found no money, -and she heaved a sigh as she gazed at the delicacies with which she -desired to regale the convalescent. - -The amusing faces that Virginie made--her decent dress did not indicate -want--and the way she glared at the roast chickens, made the passers-by -smile now and then, for they saw in the grisette's emotion only an -outburst of gluttony; and she, seeing them smile as they looked at her, -muttered between her teeth: "The idiots! Suppose they do laugh in my -face--what difference does that make to me? Isn't there one of them who -will be polite enough to offer me a chicken? Men are getting to be -brutes!" - -For ten minutes Virginie had been walking back and forth before a -cookshop, beside which was the small establishment of a linen-draper. -Virginie had not noticed the proprietress, because she had no eyes for -anything but the chickens; but through the gloves, ribbons and drygoods -in her window, the tradeswoman had noticed Virginie, whose strange -behavior was calculated to arouse curiosity. Women have a sentimental -instinct which enables them to understand at once what men cannot divine -in an hour, or what they cannot divine at all. The young linen-draper -saw in Virginie's eyes that it was not gluttony that caused her to stand -in contemplation before her neighbor's merchandise. She went out of her -shop by the rear door,--her yard and that of the cookshop were the -same,--entered the cookshop, purchased a fine, fat chicken, wrapped it -in two thicknesses of paper, and returned to her own shop by the same -road. Then she stood in her doorway and looked at Virginie, not knowing -how to proffer her gift. For some time Virginie paid no heed to the -young woman; but the latter gazed at her with such a meaning expression, -and seemed so anxious to speak to her, that Virginie walked toward the -shop-door. - -The young tradeswoman at once said to her, in a low tone and blushing -hotly: - -"Madame, you have forgotten your purse, haven't you? If you would allow -me to offer you----" - -And as she spoke, she thrust the chicken under Virginie's arm, trembling -as if she had done a ridiculous thing; but one often trembles much more -when doing a kind deed. Virginie could only squeeze the young woman's -hand and say: - -"You guessed my plight. Ah! if you knew how happy you have made me! if -you knew why--But you will see me again; I will come again to thank you -and pay my debt to you." - -"Yes, yes, madame," said the young tradeswoman; and she retreated, -sorely embarrassed, to the back of her shop, while Virginie, light as a -feather, tripped gayly homeward, her chicken under her arm, saying to -herself: - -"I knew that I'd get one! I never lose hope, I don't!" - -However, the chicken had not yet reached Auguste. At a street corner, -Virginie, who probably was looking at her feet and nothing else, was -roughly jostled by a man who knocked the chicken to the ground. - -"You infernal idiot!" cried Virginie, stooping to pick up the chicken. -But her voice caught the ears of the man who had jostled her, and who -had simply apologized and kept on his way. He stopped, retraced his -steps and exclaimed in his turn: - -"Why--yes! ten thousand bayonets! it's Mamzelle Virginie! Morbleu! -perhaps she'll be able to tell me something about him." - -"Hallo! it's Bertrand!" said Virginie, as she recognized the -ex-corporal; "it's good old Ber--But what am I saying! he's a villain, -an ungrateful, hardhearted wretch, and I don't like him any more. Let me -carry my chicken--don't hold me, monsieur." - -"Whether you like me or not, mademoiselle, isn't the question just at -this moment. One word, if you please: have you seen him, do you know -where he is, what's become of him?" - -"Of whom?" - -"Morbleu! my lieutenant, Monsieur Auguste." - -"On my word! do I know where he is? What a question! when he's been -living in my room a fortnight!" - -"He's in your room?--I have found him! I shall see him again!" - -In his joy, Bertrand embraced Virginie and once more knocked the hapless -chicken to the ground. This time it fell into the gutter and Virginie -was ready to weep. - -"Won't you please let me alone!" she cried; "this chicken's for Auguste; -and after I've had so much trouble to get it, you'll be the cause of -his not being able to eat it!" - -"Oh! don't cry! I'll buy you more chickens--ten--twenty--an ox, if you -choose! But, for the love of God, take me to my lieutenant straight -away. I am in haste to embrace him!" - -"What! then you still care for him?" - -"Care for him! Who can ever have doubted my attachment, my devotion to -his person?" - -"Then you didn't abandon him in England on purpose?" - -"Abandon him! when it was in his service--for his welfare----" - -"Oh! dear old Bertrand! I was perfectly sure he was a good fellow. Come, -my little Bertrand, let's go to Auguste. My! but he'll be glad when he -knows that you are still worthy of his affection!" - -Virginie and Bertrand walked toward Rue de Berry. On the way, Virginie -told the old servant of all the disasters that had befallen Auguste, and -of the serious illness that he had had. As he listened to these details, -Bertrand wiped his eyes now and then and exclaimed: - -"Sacrebleu! why didn't I find him sooner? But I only returned to Paris -the day before yesterday; and I intended to go to Montfermeil to-morrow -to look for him, hoping to be luckier there than in this city, where -Schtrack and I have been scouring every quarter for two days, without -success." - -At last they reached the house in which Virginie lived; as they went -upstairs Bertrand was as excited as if he were going to see a long lost -son; and Virginie said to him: - -"You mustn't show yourself to Auguste right away; he is still very weak, -and the sight of you might cause him too much emotion. You understand, -don't you, Bertrand?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle." - -"I'll go in first, and prepare Auguste gently; then I'll motion to you." - -"Yes, mademoiselle, I'll wait in another room." - -"No; as I have but one, you must wait on the landing. I'll leave the -door ajar." - -"All right; but don't wait long before you give me the signal, for I am -crazy to have my arms around him." - -They arrived at Virginie's door; she opened it, then partly closed it, -and Bertrand stood as close as possible, hardly daring to breathe. - -Auguste had risen and was sitting at a window, impatiently awaiting -Virginie, whose long absence made him anxious. - -"Here I am, my friend," she said, as she entered the room; and she hung -about Auguste with as much embarrassment as she had shown in front of -the cookshop. "Here I am; I've been rather long, but--but--it was -because I met someone who is much better than a chicken." - -"You met someone?" - -"Yes--someone who--someone----" - -Before Virginie could think of what she wanted to say, Bertrand, unable -to contain himself any longer, opened the door, rushed to Auguste, and -threw his arms about him, crying: - -"It was me, sacrebleu! it was me! But I can't stay hidden any longer; I -must embrace him!" - -Bertrand could not make up his mind for some minutes to release his hold -of Auguste, and Virginie exclaimed reproachfully: - -"There! you see! he couldn't wait till I motioned to him; he'll make -Auguste worse!" - -"No," said the convalescent, "no, happiness never does that! My poor -fellow! so you have come back!" - -"And you could believe that I abandoned you!" said Bertrand, taking -Auguste's hand. "You doubted the love of your old comrade, your faithful -servant!--I admit that my hurried departure must have surprised you; but -when you know!" - -"You are here, Bertrand, and everything is forgotten!" - -"Oh! listen to me first, and then tell me if I behaved so very -badly.--You remember that I left you in the common room of a village -tavern where we had just breakfasted. I had just paid our bill when, as -I crossed the courtyard, I saw a man whose face attracted my attention, -and whom I recognized instantly as our rascal of a Destival." - -"Destival!" cried Auguste. - -"The man who robbed you!" said Virginie. - -"He was just getting into a post-chaise when I caught sight of him. He -couldn't have seen me, but the carriage had started before I recovered -from my surprise. So then, without taking the time to warn you, because -I didn't want to lose a minute for fear our man would escape me, I ran -to the stable, saddled my horse, and galloped off in pursuit of our -rascal. I soon overtook the post-chaise; but I knew that, in a foreign -country, it would be a hard matter to make the villain disgorge, and -that I could not rely on anyone but myself to do justice. So I followed -the carriage, awaiting a favorable opportunity to see my man in private. -For two days the infernal chaise stopped only to change horses; at last, -at the end of the second day, they stopped at the posting inn, and my -rascal, who evidently needed rest, entered the inn. I lost no time in -following him, and asked to speak to the traveller who had just come -in. They showed me his room. I went upstairs, entered the room, and -began by locking myself in with our man, who, when he saw me, nearly -fainted in an easy-chair. I went up to him, took his arm, and said to -him: 'You are a thief, you ruined my master, but you won't ruin anybody -else; I taught you once to handle weapons, and we'll see if you remember -my lessons. Here are two pistols--take one. We shall be very comfortable -in this room--four paces is distance enough when one doesn't want to -miss. Let's make haste.' - -"Instead of taking the pistol I handed him, the miserable wretch threw -himself at my feet and begged for mercy. I demanded your money back. He -took a wallet out of his pocket, showed me a hundred and sixty thousand -francs in notes of the Bank of France, and swore that that was all that -was left of what he took away from Paris. I concluded that that was -better than nothing, and that I ought to get your money back for you -rather than kill the villain. So I took the wallet, and, leaving the -scoundrel more dead than alive, I went out of his room and locked him -in. I remounted my horse and rode back as fast as I could to the place -where I had left you; when I got there, my horse was foundered and I -didn't find you. I rode about in all directions, but no one could tell -me anything about you. I started for Scotland, where we had intended to -go. I passed three weeks visiting every corner there, even the smallest -villages, but I wasn't any more fortunate. At last I decided to return -to France, and I got to Paris the day before yesterday. My first thought -was to go and question Schtrack; he hadn't seen you and he didn't know -mademoiselle's address; we began to walk the streets trying to find you. -But here you are! I have found you. I can give you what I have rescued -of your property.--That is a report of my conduct, lieutenant; now, are -you angry with me?" - -For all reply, Auguste opened his arms to Bertrand, who handed him the -wallet; while Virginie capered about the room, dancing with the chairs, -and tossing her cap in the air, crying: - -"Vive Bertrand! Auguste isn't poor any more! we'll have a high old time -now!" - -When the first outburst of joyous excitement had subsided, Auguste told -Bertrand what he had done since he left him. He did not conceal from him -the miserable plight to which he was reduced when Virginie came to his -garret. He told him all that she had done for him--how she had worked -and sat up all night, and all the sacrifices that she had undergone -every day in order to provide him with whatever he required. - -During this story, Virginie tried to make Auguste keep quiet by saying: - -"That isn't true; he makes too much of it; don't believe him, Bertrand. -Anyhow, if I did do all that, it must have been because I enjoyed it." - -But Bertrand, who could not listen unmoved to Auguste's narrative, ran -to Virginie, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying: - -"That was fine! that was mighty fine!" - -"Yes, but you are squeezing me too tight, Bertrand." - -Melancholy thoughts gave place to thoughts of happiness. Auguste no -longer sighed when he thought of Denise. He was already longing to be -with her, he burned to see her again, to requite her love; for after all -that Virginie had told him he could no longer doubt the village maiden's -heart. But he was unable to go to Montfermeil at once; however, as -happiness is a great restorer of health, after two days passed in -forming delightful plans for the future, Auguste was in condition to go -out. - -Before going to the village, where he expected to stay for some time, -Auguste put his affairs in order. He went to his old notary and -instructed him to invest his funds, keeping back only so much as was -necessary for the execution of his plans. He intended to assure -Virginie's future; since she was no longer as young as she had once -been, she was anxious to carry on a little business. Auguste hired a -pretty shop for her and stocked it with embroideries and novelties, and -Virginie became a dealer in small wares. She proudly took her seat -behind her counter, after having a sign put over her door: _A la -Pucelle_; and she swore to Auguste that she proposed thenceforth to -devote herself exclusively to her business. - -Auguste received Virginie's thanks and her kindest regards for Denise, -whom she did not propose to visit until her new line of conduct had -covered her former aberrations with oblivion. He was on the point of -starting for Montfermeil with Bertrand, when Virginie exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! I forgot the little shopkeeper and the chicken! I meant to -recommend her to you, so that you might at least buy your gloves of -her." - -"What shopkeeper? what chicken?" inquired Auguste. - -Virginie told of her adventure on the day she met Bertrand. Auguste, -after expressing anew to Virginie his gratitude for all that she had -done for him during his sickness, determined to call upon the young -woman who had displayed so much delicacy in conferring a favor, and to -thank her. He took Virginie in his cabriolet and they drove to the young -linen-draper's shop. - -The cabriolet stopped at her door and the three occupants alighted. The -young woman was amazed; she was not accustomed to having customers come -in a carriage to buy needles and thread. But she blushed when she -recognized Virginie, who entered first, saying to Auguste: - -"It was madame here, who was so kind to me when you were convalescent." - -Auguste stepped forward to salute the young tradeswoman, who was sorely -embarrassed by the thanks he expressed. But before she could speak, an -old man, who was in the back shop, and whom they had not noticed, came -toward them, crying: - -"Daughter! Anna! it is our place to thank this generous man! He is our -benefactor! It is he to whom I owe my life and the happiness of seeing -you happy!" - -Auguste looked at the old man and recognized poor Dorfeuil; and before -he had recovered from his surprise, father and daughter were at his -feet, covering his hand with tears of gratitude. - -Thereupon it was the turn of Bertrand and Virginie to demand -explanations. Auguste tried to slink away, but old Dorfeuil held him -fast while he told of all that he owed him, and finished his story by -saying to Auguste: - -"As you see, your benefaction brought us good luck. I have paid my debt; -and in the last three years, my Anna, having succeeded in all her -undertakings, has been able to set up in business here, where I am -passing my declining years with her, in peace." - -Bertrand embraced Auguste again, Virginie embraced everybody, and they -parted, promising to meet again. Virginie returned to her shop, from -which she could not be absent longer, and Auguste drove off at last -toward Denise's village. - -As they drew near Montfermeil his heart beat fast. He looked at Bertrand -and said: - -"We are going to see her! Oh! if you knew how they welcomed me, how they -fted me when I was unfortunate!" - -"And yet you left them!" - -"My dear fellow, I had nothing to offer Denise." - -"And now that you are much richer than she is, what if she should take -her turn at refusing you? Then there'd be no end to it. Lovers have no -common sense." - -Instead of taking the road to the village, Auguste could not resist the -desire to go by the little wood path where he had kissed the little -milkmaid long ago. When he was near the place where Jean le Blanc ran -away, he saw a small boy on a donkey in the woods; and a little farther -on was a young girl, sitting at the foot of a tree. - -"There they are!" cried Auguste. - -In a twinkling he had jumped out of the cabriolet; he ran into the woods -to where the girl sat, threw himself at her feet, covered her hand with -kisses, and said: - -"It's I, Denise; I have come back to you, never to leave you again." - -The girl was in doubt as to whether she was awake; she gazed at Auguste, -who was fashionably dressed as in the old days, while Coco ran up to -them, saying: - -"Here's my kind friend! he's dressed like he was the day I broke the -bowl." - -"Is it really you?" said Denise. "Oh! if you knew how your letter -grieved me! Wicked! to leave me because you were poor! to dare to say -that I didn't love you! that you wouldn't come to see me again till you -had ceased to love me! Is that what your coming now means? Oh! tell me -quickly, don't let me hope for happiness--it is too hard to be cheated -out of what one longs for!" - -Auguste made no other reply than to press her to his heart, while his -eyes told the sweet girl that it was something more than friendship that -had brought him back to her. - -Bertrand, having left the cabriolet, came forward to pay his respects to -Denise. - -"Bertrand too!" she exclaimed; "he has come back!" - -"Yes, and it is to him, whom I accused of deserting me, that I owe my -good fortune to-day." - -A few words put Denise in possession of the whole story, and she held -out her hand to Bertrand, saying: - -"Oh! my heart never doubted his! As if one could cease to love a person -because he is unfortunate!" Then suddenly remembering that Auguste had -recovered a large part of his property, she exclaimed: "Oh! mon Dieu! -then I cannot be your wife!" - -"Yes, Denise, you will be my wife," said Auguste, taking her hand, "for -you are the only woman who could make me happy, and I cannot doubt the -sincerity of your love." - -"But I am only a village girl----" - -"Whom I prefer to all the fine ladies of the city." - -"I shall be awkward in society." - -"I have learned the worth of society, and I care very little for its -judgments; besides, when it knows you, my Denise, it will be compelled -to do you justice." - -"Oh! I don't want to know it, for my part, my dear; let us agree that, -if you marry me, I shall stay here. When you want to go to Paris, you -shall go alone; and then, when you are tired of the city, you can come -back to your little milkmaid." - -Auguste kissed her and they started for the cottage. When one is happy, -everything seems delightful; in the eyes of the lovers the cottage had -become a palace; but Bertrand, who was not in love and who always -thought of the future, said to Auguste: - -"This house isn't big enough for you, lieutenant; besides, it belongs to -Coco--it's his property. You must buy a pretty house, not too expensive, -which you can see from here, where you will have suitable accommodations -and where you can entertain a few friends; because, you know, you -mustn't isolate yourself from society altogether; the sure way to have -your love last only a short time is to shut yourself up with your wife -for six months. Now that you know the world, you won't be taken in -again. You will take men at their true value; you can associate with the -people whose company is agreeable, and you mustn't play for such high -stakes as you used to; for now, or never, is the time to be prudent." - -Auguste approved Bertrand's suggestion. The house was hired, and a week -later, Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her -charms and her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the -altar by the man she loved. - -All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married. The peasants said to one another: - -"Now's the time she's going to play the fine lady! She's marrying a -swell! How high she'll hold her head!" - -But they were mistaken: Denise, after she became Madame Dalville, was as -sweet and kindhearted as when she was a simple peasant girl herself. - -As he escorted his young wife to their new home, Auguste cast a glance -now and then at the comely women whom they happened to pass; but it was -a matter of habit simply--Denise alone had his heart. - -True to her promise, Denise did not desire to leave the village; and for -a long while Auguste did not go away from his wife. Later, however, he -went occasionally to Paris. On one of his visits to the capital he -learned that the vivacious Athalie had separated from her husband, -because Mre Thomas made a second trip to Paris; and that Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, having made some unfortunate speculations and allowed -himself to be ruined by Monsieur de Cligneval, had been compelled to -turn over all his property to his creditors, and had become a -cab-driver--a trade in which he seemed much more in his proper place -than when he was in a salon. - -The Marquis de Cligneval, having ventured to indulge in divers sharper's -tricks at cart, which were not to the liking of his adversary, was -forced to fight a duel with him, and was killed. As for Destival, when -he tried to do business in England on the same plan as in Paris, one of -his clients, whose money he had appropriated, struck him a blow from -which he did not recover. - -It was Monsieur Monin who supplied Auguste with all this news, after -asking him how his health was; having applied to his snuff-box, he -rejoined Bichette, whom he had left with Monsieur Bisbis in a clump of -shrubbery at the Caf Turc. - -Auguste also saw Dorfeuil and his daughter; but he went very rarely to -the young linen-draper's, because she was very pretty. By way of -compensation he often saw Virginie, who was no longer pretty, but who -had reformed entirely, and whose warm heart caused her former follies to -be forgotten. - -When he had passed a short time at Paris, Auguste returned to -Montfermeil, and it was with ever-renewed delight that he found himself -once more in the company of his little milkmaid, of Bertrand, and of -Coco, who, as he grew to manhood, often congratulated himself on having -broken his bowl. - - * * * * * - -Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: - -what will be do=> what will he do {pg 284} - -old hut with gradma=> old hut with grandma {pg 316} - -He overcome at last=> He overcame at last {pg 428} - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of -Paul de Kock Volume XX), by Charles Paul de Kock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - -***** This file should be named 41645-8.txt or 41645-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/4/41645/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -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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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/41645-8.zip b/41645-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index adecaf4..0000000 --- a/41645-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/41645-h.zip b/41645-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 11c92f7..0000000 --- a/41645-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/41645-8.txt b/old/41645-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 136c481..0000000 --- a/old/41645-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17678 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of Paul -de Kock Volume XX), by Charles Paul de Kock - -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/license - - -Title: The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XX) - -Author: Charles Paul de Kock - -Release Date: December 17, 2012 [EBook #41645] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration: Frontispiece] - - -_THE MILKMAID'S WEDDING_ - - -_Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her charms and -her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the altar by -the man she loved._ - -_All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married._ - - - - -NOVELS - -BY - -Paul de Kock - -VOLUME XX - -THE MILKMAID - -OF - -MONTFERMEIL - -PRINTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH - -GEORGE BARRIE'S SONS - -THE JEFFERSON PRESS -BOSTON NEW YORK - -_Copyrighted, 1903-1904, by G. B. & Sons._ - - - - -THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL - - - - -I - -A CONVERSATION IN A CABRIOLET - - -"For you can't go on like this forever, lieutenant--you must agree to -that. The great Turenne didn't fight ten battles at once and didn't -carry on six intrigues on the same day." - -"No, my dear Bertrand, but Csar dictated four letters at once in four -different languages, and Pico de la Mirandola boasted that he was -familiar with and could talk _de omni re scibili_----" - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, I don't know Latin." - -"That means that he claimed to know all languages, to have gone to the -bottom of all the sciences, to be able to refute all creeds and -reconcile theologians of all breeds." - -"As I don't think that you're so conceited as that, lieutenant, I won't -compare you with this Monsieur de la Mirandola, who claimed to know -everything. As for Csar, I've heard him spoken of as a very great man, -but I'm sure he didn't have as many mistresses as you." - -"You're mistaken, Bertrand; the great men of antiquity had a great many -female slaves, concubines, and often cast off their wives and took new -ones. Love and Pleasure had temples in Greece; and those high and -mighty Romans, who are represented to us as so strait-laced, weren't -ashamed to indulge in the wildest debauchery, to crown themselves with -myrtle and roses, and sometimes to appear at their banquets in the -costumes of our first parents." - -"For God's sake, lieutenant, let's drop the Romans, with whom I never -exchanged a shot, and go back to what we were talking about." - -"I propose to prove to you, my dear Bertrand, that we are very far from -surpassing preceding generations in folly, and are in fact much more -virtuous." - -"Is that why you have four mistresses?" - -"I love women, I admit; I will say more--I am proud of it; it is a -natural inclination. I cannot see an attractive face, a fine pair of -eyes, without feeling a pleasant thrill, an agitation, an I don't know -what, in short, that proves my extreme susceptibility. Is it a crime, -pray, to be susceptible in an age when selfishness is carried to such -lengths; when self-interest is the mainspring of almost all human -actions; when we see authors prefer cash to renown, and men in office -forgetful of everything except retaining their offices, instead of -meditating on the good they might do; when we see artists begging for -the patronage of people they despise, and asking alms from stupidity -when it is in power; when we see men of letters carefully block a -confrre's path when they detect in him a talent that might outshine -theirs; when, in short, every door is closed to obscure merit, and -thrown wide open to impudence and conceit when accompanied by wealth? If -selfishness had not wormed its way into all classes of society, if love -of money had not replaced love of one's neighbor, would it be thus? And -you berate me for my susceptibility! You reproach me for being unable to -listen unmoved to the story of a noble deed, or of pathetic misfortune; -for giving money to people who deceive me; for allowing myself to be -gulled like an ass by the palaver of a child who tells me that he is -begging for his mother, or of a poor laboring man who swears that he has -no work and nothing to eat! Well, my dear Bertrand, I prefer my -susceptibility to their icy selfishness, and I find in my heart sources -of enjoyment which their indifferent hearts will never know." - -This conversation took place in a stylish cabriolet, drawn by a prancing -horse, which was bowling along the lovely road from Raincy to -Montfermeil. A small groom of some twelve or fourteen years was perched -behind the carriage, in which Bertrand was seated beside a young man, -dressed in the latest fashion, who, as he conversed, touched -occasionally with his whip the spirited steed he was driving. - -Bertrand had partly turned his face away toward the end of his master's -speech; and to cloak the emotion which was beginning to be too much for -him, he blew his nose and took a huge pinch of snuff. Somewhat composed -thereby, he said in a voice slightly tremulous with emotion: - -"God forbid, lieutenant, that I should blame you for being -tender-hearted! I know your kind heart; I know how willing and ready to -help you are! And I could mention a thousand things you've done that -many men would have bragged about; whereas you are very careful to -conceal them." - -"People who boast of the good they do are like the ones who offer you a -thing in such a way that you can't accept it: both give regretfully." - -"We needn't look very far, lieutenant; haven't you heaped presents on -me? didn't you take me in, and give me board and lodging?" - -"You're an idiot, Bertrand; don't you act as my steward, factotum, -confidential man of business,--yes, and as my friend, which is better -than all the rest, and for which one cannot pay?" - -At that, Bertrand turned his head altogether, and blew his nose again, -because a great tear had dropped from his eyes. He took two pinches of -snuff, and having warmly grasped the hand that his master offered him, -he said in a quavering voice: - -"Yes, monsieur, you are the best of men; you have a thousand good -qualities! and no one had better say anything different in my hearing! -Morbleu! my sword isn't rusty yet." - -"Oho! so now you're going to flatter me, are you? Remember, Bertrand, -that you began this conversation for the purpose of scolding me." - -"Scolding you! no, indeed, lieutenant, but simply to point out to you -that it would be more reasonable to love one woman at once; with full -liberty to change as soon as you see another one that you like better." - -"Look you, Bertrand, I'll draw a comparison for you, that you'll see the -justice of at once." - -"You won't put any Greeks or Romans in it, will you, lieutenant?" - -"Not one.--You like wine, don't you, Bertrand?" - -"That's so, lieutenant; I admit that an old bottle--of a good -brand--there's nothing like that to liven you up!" - -"Do you like beaune?" - -"Very much, lieutenant." - -"And bordeaux?" - -"Ah, yes! it smells of violets; it has a delicious bouquet!" - -"And volnay?" - -"I've never been able to resist it." - -"And chambertin?" - -"I would go down on my knees to it, lieutenant." - -"If you had a bottle of each of those wines in front of you, would you -give up three of them and drink just a single one?" - -"I promise you, lieutenant, that I'd take care of all four of them, and -I wouldn't be any worse off for it either." - -"Why then do you expect me, when I am surrounded by four pretty -creatures, each of whom has some peculiar charm, to give up three of -them and make love to only one?" - -"Parbleu! that's true enough, lieutenant; you can't do it; you must -drink them--I mean you must love them all four; and I see now that I was -wrong." - -The discussions between Bertrand and Auguste Dalville almost always -ended so. Auguste was twenty-seven and had twenty thousand francs a -year; his father died while he was in the cradle, and his mother was -taken away from him six years before our story opens. That was the date -of the beginning of Auguste's life of dissipation; he had sought -distraction from his perfectly natural grief, and had finally become -unable to resist a sex in whose company he had at first sought diversion -only. - -Meanwhile, the ambition to wear a handsome uniform, and perhaps to earn -a pair of epaulets, had led Auguste to enter the army. The country was -at peace; but a young man with a good education does not remain a -private. Auguste, promoted to sub-lieutenant, delighted to listen to -Bertrand, who had served as corporal of _voltigeurs_, and had been at -Austerlitz, Eylau, and Friedland. Bertrand was only forty-four: he put -into the description of his battles the same fire and zeal that he had -displayed in the battles themselves, and Auguste never tired of -listening. The corporal's stories excited his ardor; he regretted that -he was not born a few years earlier, thinking that he might, like -Bertrand, have taken part in those triumphant campaigns which will -always be the glory of France. - -About this time, Auguste was sent with his regiment to Pampeluna, to -which the French were laying siege. Bertrand found himself under the -command of the young officer, who had been made a lieutenant. But, the -war at an end, Auguste quitted the military profession, and returned to -Paris, to abandon himself afresh to his taste for pleasure. He proposed -to Bertrand to go with him; he readily obtained his discharge and -accompanied Dalville, to whom he was sincerely attached, and whom he -continued to call lieutenant, partly from habit and partly from choice. - -Bertrand had a mother in Paris, very old and infirm. Auguste's first -care was to settle on the poor woman a pension which placed her beyond -fear of want, and enabled her to enjoy in her old age a multitude of -comforts which she had never known during her life of toil and -misfortune. - -Thereafter Auguste was not simply a master in Bertrand's eyes; he -regarded him as his benefactor, and his affection and devotion knew no -bounds. After his mother's death, which occurred three years later, -Bertrand attached himself to Auguste's service altogether, and vowed -that he would devote his life to proving his gratitude. Bertrand had had -no education; he often made blunders in delivering the messages which -his master entrusted to him; but Auguste always forgave him, because he -was well aware of the ex-corporal's attachment and his good heart. -Bertrand, as we have seen, sometimes ventured to remonstrate with his -superior officer, because, being as yet unfamiliar with the manner of -life in high society, Auguste's follies terrified him, and he was in -constant dread that his intrigues would lead to serious complications; -but Auguste always succeeded in allaying Bertrand's fright, so that the -latter invariably ended the conversation by saying: "I was in the -wrong." - -There are many more things that I might tell you concerning the two men -who have been talking together. Perhaps I ought to draw their portraits -for you, and to tell you to just what type of face Auguste Dalville's -belonged. But what would be the use? Doubtless some one of his numerous -conquests will have something to say about him; so that I should run the -risk of unnecessary repetition by sketching him at first. We can simply -presume that he was comely, as he was fortunate enough to please the -ladies. "That is no reason," you will say; "when a man has twenty -thousand francs a year, that takes the place of physical charms, and -conceals ugliness."--Oh! what an idea, my dear readers! Surely no reader -of the gentler sex would make such a reply; for I have too good an -opinion of the ladies not to feel sure that it would take something more -than twenty thousand francs to captivate them. - -But the cabriolet is speeding along; we will resume our reflections at -some other time. - -"Bbelle goes very well. You are warm, lieutenant; don't you want me to -take the reins?" - -"No, I like to drive." - -"We shall be at Monsieur Destival's by eleven o'clock." - -"That is quite early enough; and from that time until five o'clock, when -we dine--But I promised a long while ago. At all events, Madame Destival -is an excellent musician, and we will try to amuse ourselves while we -are waiting for dinner." - -"Why did you bring me, lieutenant? I can't play or sing, and as I don't -belong in the salon, where am I to do sentry-duty?" - -"Never fear; Monsieur Destival expressly requested me to bring you. He -has become infatuated with hunting, and he wants you to teach him to -handle a gun." - -"Very well, lieutenant, I'll teach him all I know; that won't take -long." - -"Poor Virginie! What a rage she will be in to-night! I promised to take -her to Feydeau----" - -"She has often promised you things, and then broken her word." - -"How do you know that, Bertrand?" - -"Because I've heard, lieutenant, that Mademoiselle Virginie's a terrible -liar." - -"That is true; yes, I have had proofs of it more than once." - -"That's very bad, after all that you've done for her! But you're so -kindhearted, you always allow yourself to be imposed on! Ten thousand -carbines! if the hussy had killed herself every time she threatened _to -perish_ because she didn't have enough to pay her rent----" - -"Come, come, Monsieur Bertrand, be quiet! You have a wicked tongue.--Go -on, Bbelle; I believe you're asleep." - -"And one evening, when you went out, and she told me her troubles! She -said that if she had had a weakness for you, it was because she was too -loving, but that she was determined to change her ways, not to see you -any more, and to make up with her aunt. For my part, I believed every -word of it; in fact, she had such a sincere way of saying it, that I -felt all ready to cry. But no sooner did she learn that you were at the -masked ball than she shouted: 'I'm going too, Bertrand! lend me some -clothes, I'm going to dress as a man!'--'What, mademoiselle,' says I, -'when you're talking about being good and not seeing Monsieur Auguste -any more!'--At that she began to laugh like a madwoman and called me an -old turkey-cock! Faith, lieutenant, I don't understand a woman like -that." - -"I can well believe it, my poor Bertrand; even I myself don't understand -her, and I know her better than you do." - -"I like that little light-haired woman better; you know, lieutenant, the -one you got acquainted with by carrying back the little poodle she'd -lost, that I found lying at our door at night." - -"You mean Lonie?" - -"No, I mean Madame de Saint-Edmond." - -"Lonie and Saint-Edmond are the same person." - -"I didn't know, lieutenant." - -"But look you, Bertrand, it was your fault that I made her -acquaintance." - -"The poodle's rather, lieutenant." - -"Lonie lived in the same house with me, and I didn't know her." - -"Parbleu, lieutenant, as if a body knew all his neighbors in Paris! -except concierges and cooks, whose business it is." - -"At all events, you found the dog, and I bade you ask the concierge if -anyone in the house had lost it." - -"And he told me that there was a young lady on the third floor, who had -lain awake all night for grief at losing her dog, and that her maid, -after searching from garret to cellar, had gone out to have placards -printed offering thirty francs reward to whoever brought the little -beast back. I confess that I didn't have any idea that the little -poodle, which did nothing but bite and growl, was worth more than four -months' pay for a private soldier; but I went up to the third floor in a -hurry, to have the order for the placards countermanded by giving the -little beast back to its mistress. To celebrate his return, he began by -scratching a handsome blue satin armchair and putting his paws in -madame's cup of chocolate; but that didn't prevent her calling him her -little jewel, and expressing the greatest gratitude to me. Still, -lieutenant, I don't see anything in all that to force you to fall in -love with Madame Lonie Saint-Edmond." - -"You haven't told everything, Bertrand: you forget that, when you came -down from the third floor, you drew a very alluring picture of that -lady; you told me that she had a pair of eyes--and a voice--and a -certain shape!" - -"Bless me, lieutenant, I should say that all women have eyes and a shape -and a voice!" - -"Yes, to be sure; but still I was curious to know this young neighbor of -ours, who showed such keen sensibility." - -"And it would seem, lieutenant, that you dislodged the poodle, for since -then Madame Saint-Edmond is forever at your heels; and as for me, madame -questions me and tries to make me talk; she sends for me to come up when -she's at breakfast, and as she offers me a little glass of malaga and a -biscuit, she asks me where you passed the evening before." - -"And Monsieur Bertrand, melted by the malaga, recounts my actions to my -neighbor, I presume?" - -"Oh! for shame, lieutenant! What do you take me for? The idea of my -betraying my master's secrets! If there had been half a dozen bottles -of malaga in front of me, I wouldn't have said a word! To be sure, I -don't like malaga." - -"Bless my soul, my dear Bertrand, I am not scolding you! You know well -enough that I make no secret of my follies, even to those who might have -ground for complaint. It's a mere matter of an amourette or two, a -little fooling." - -"All the same, lieutenant, I am seriously embarrassed, on my word, being -forever questioned by this one and that one. One calls me her little -Bertrand, another her true friend--and these ladies are all very -attractive----" - -"Ah! monsieur le caporal has noticed that!" - -"Parbleu, lieutenant, I have eyes just like other men, and if my heart -don't take fire as easily as yours, that don't mean that it's -invulnerable. And when I see one of those ladies put her handkerchief to -her eyes, when I hear your neighbor throw herself into an armchair and -say that she's going to faint; and when Mademoiselle Virginie cries that -she _will perish_,--why, I don't know where I am. I run from one to the -other, offer them salts and eau-de-vie, tear my hair, and sometimes I -even cry with them. Let me tell you that I'd rather assault a fortress -six times than be present at one of those scenes, on my honor!" - -"Ha! ha! ha! Poor Bertrand!" - -"Of course, you laugh; it don't make any difference to you how much you -are called traitor, perfidious villain, savage, monster, cruel wretch!" - -"Those are terms of endearment; in a young woman's mouth those words -mean: 'You are charming, I love you, I adore you!'" - -"Oho! so 'monster!' means 'you are charming,' does it? That makes a -difference, lieutenant; I couldn't be expected to guess that; now I -understand. But these tears that you are responsible for--do they also -mean that you are considered charming?" - -"Oh! do you suppose, my old friend, that in love-affairs tears are -always sincere?" - -"In a great flood, lieutenant, there may happen to be one honest one; -and it seems to me that a man ought to be sorry for the suffering he -causes a pretty girl." - -"I promise to reform, Bertrand, to be more virtuous in the future! Is it -possible that you think that I, who adore that charming sex, I, whose -whole happiness depends on making myself attractive to the ladies--that -I set about causing them pain?" - -"No, lieutenant; on the contrary, I am well aware that you would like to -give pleasure to all the young beauties you meet; but it is that very -pleasure that leads to regret and cares; and you yourself--for, as I was -saying just now, the great Turenne----" - -Auguste had ceased to listen to Bertrand; he had put his head out of the -window and was watching a young peasant who had just come out of the -forest and was walking along the same road that our travellers were -following, driving before her an ass laden with baskets, in which were a -number of the tin cans in which milk is carried to the people of Paris -by the village women. - -As the ass did not move as fast as Bbelle, Auguste drew in his horse -and made him walk, in order to see the girl as long as possible. - -"Shall I touch Bbelle up?" asked Bertrand, surprised to find that they -continued to go at a walk. - -"No, no--she's going well enough." - -"Yes, lieutenant, you will be very wise to turn virtuous--virtuous for -you, I mean; if you don't, your income won't be enough to pay all your -expenses. You have appointed me your steward, so I can venture to talk -figures with you; and, although I'm not a great mathematician, I can see -plainly enough that when you're forever dipping into a cash-box, it is -soon empty. This year you don't seem to be lucky at that infernal game -you play so often--you know, lieutenant, the game in which you turn the -kings----" - -"Fresh complexion--a pretty figure--lovely eyes--it's extraordinary, I -swear!" - -"And then the cashmere shawls you send to one, and the milliner's bill -that you pay for another----" - -"And all these charms in a milkmaid!" - -"What's that? a milkmaid? Do you mean to say that you pay their bills -too, lieutenant?" - -"Who in the devil said anything about bills? Just look at that sweet -child on the road yonder." - -"Well! she's a milkmaid--that's the whole story!" - -"You don't see how pretty she is. And that sly smile, every time her -eyes turn in our direction." - -"Perhaps she wants to sell us some cream cheese?" - -"Blockhead! to see nothing but cheese! I tell you that sackcloth waist, -that double linen neckerchief, so high in the neck, conceal a multitude -of treasures." - -"Treasures! treasures! Parbleu! one can guess very nearly what they -conceal, although appearances are often deceitful. But such treasures -aren't scarce; is it on account of the little milkmaid that we're going -now like a load of flour?" - -"No, no, it's because I am beginning to get tired of the cabriolet. The -weather is so fine; I feel that it will do me good to walk. We're only a -little way from Monsieur Destival's now. Here, Bertrand, take the reins; -I'll do the rest of the distance on foot." - -"What, lieutenant, you mean to----" - -Auguste had already stopped his horse; he jumped lightly to the ground -despite Bertrand's grumbling, and said: - -"Go on with Tony." - -"But what shall I tell Monsieur Destival?" - -"That I am coming; I shall be there as soon as you." - -"But----" - -"Bertrand, I insist." - -Bertrand said no more; but he cast an angry glance at the little -milkmaid, and lashed Bbelle, who soon left Auguste far behind. - - - - -II - -THE FALL - - -The damsel went her way, with a branch of walnut in her hand, driving -her ass before her, apparently oblivious of the fact that the young man -had alighted from his cabriolet. She did not look back, but contented -herself with calling out from time to time: "Go on there, White Jean;" -and White Jean went none the faster. - -Auguste soon overtook the milkmaid. He walked behind her a few moments, -to examine her; she was well-built, so far as one could judge of her -shape beneath the thick wrapper in which she was muffled; her foot was -certainly small, although encased in heavy shoes, and her woolen -stockings covered a shapely leg, which he could examine at his leisure, -for a milkmaid wears very short skirts. - -Auguste stepped forward; the girl looked up and seemed surprised to see -the young man of the cabriolet walking by her side. But she turned her -head away, with another "go on!" to her ass, in which there was no touch -of romance. - -Our young exquisite gazed closely at the girl, who wore a cap perched on -top of her head, which concealed none of her features. - -"She is very pretty," he said to himself; "fine eyes, a pretty mouth, a -complexion like the rose; but nothing extraordinary, after all. Her -freshness is the freshness of a village girl; she's a mere country -beauty, and I should have done as well to stay in the carriage. However, -as I have alighted, I may as well try to gain something by it." - -And the young man continued to stare at the milkmaid, with a smile on -his face; but she, apparently annoyed by the fine gentleman's scrutiny, -said to him sharply: - -"Shall you soon be through looking at me?" - -"Isn't it within the law to admire you?" - -"No, I don't like to have anyone eye me like that." - -"If you weren't so pretty, people would look at you less." - -"If this is the way you talk to your ladies in Paris, you must have lots -of faces in your head! When you look at a body so close, you'll know her -again; but here among us, we don't call it decent; and you'd better not -come here to play monkey tricks like this!" - -"I made a mistake in leaving the cabriolet," thought Auguste. However, -he continued to walk beside the girl, and said to her after a moment: - -"Are you a milkmaid?" - -"Pardi! anyone can see that. Have you just guessed it?" - -"Will you sell me some milk?" - -"I haven't got any." - -"Do you carry it to Paris?" - -"I don't go so far as that." - -"Where do you come from?" - -"You're very inquisitive." - -The girl's tone was not encouraging, and Auguste looked along the road -to see whether he could still see his cabriolet; but it had disappeared, -for White Jean stopped very often to eat leaves or grass, despite the -blows with the switch which his mistress bestowed on him. - -"Do you know," said Auguste, "you are not very agreeable, my lovely -child? You are so pretty that I thought you would be gentler, less -savage." - -"That's just it! monsieur thought he was going to turn my head with his -flattery! But I'm used to meeting young men from Paris; it's always the -same old song; they think they can make themselves welcome just by -telling me I'm pretty! Oh! you're a parcel of flatterers! but I don't -listen to you, you see!" - -"I should like to hear anyone deny again that virtue has its home in the -village!" said Auguste to himself. "It is clear enough to my mind that -the country is the place where we find the pure morals of the ancient -patriarch, the models of virtue celebrated by the poets, the--That devil -of a Bertrand needn't have driven Bbelle so fast; he must have done it -from pure mischief! And when I said that we were almost there I was -lying. It's at least three-quarters of a league farther!" - -To complete the young man's discomfiture, the milkmaid turned aside from -the high road into a path that led through the woods. Auguste stood for -a moment hesitating at the entrance to the path. Should he follow his -cabriolet? or should he follow the girl? The first course was the more -sensible, and that was his reason no doubt for deciding in favor of the -second. - -The time that Auguste had passed in indecision had allowed the milkmaid -to get some distance ahead of him; she walked along the path, and, -thinking that the young man had followed the highroad, she sang as she -drove White Jean in front of her: - - "You love me, you say, - Then prove it, I pray; - But dandies like you, - Would hoax us, I know." - -"Very pretty! although the rhyme isn't first-class," said Auguste, -quickening his pace to overtake the girl. She turned, and seemed -surprised to see the young man in the path behind her. - -"What! you coming this way?" said the milkmaid, in a somewhat uncertain -voice. - -"To be sure; this path is lovely." - -"Ain't you going to overtake your carriage?" - -"I couldn't make up my mind to leave you." - -"Oh! you're wasting your time, monsieur, and I promise you you'd do -better to go after your carriage." - -"But I much prefer to walk by your side, although you treat me so -harshly; however, I have an idea that you're not so unkind as you choose -to appear." - -"Well, you're mistaken; I ain't kind at all; ask all the young fellows -in Montfermeil how I treat them when they try to fool. Oh! Denise Fourcy -is well known hereabout, I tell you." - -"Denise Fourcy? Good, now I know your name." - -"Well, what then? How does that put you ahead any?" - -"It will help me to find out about you easily, and to find you again -when I choose." - -"Pardi! I ain't lost, and anyone can easily find me." - -"Do you mean to say, Denise, that at your age, pretty as you are, you -haven't a lover?" - -"Is that any of your business?" - -"Oh! very much!" - -"Here in the country we ain't in such a hurry as your city ladies." - -"Haven't women hearts in the country as well as elsewhere?" - -"Yes; but they don't take fire the way yours does; it seems to me to be -a little heart of tinder." - -"Upon my word, she is really amusing!" said Auguste, laughingly. - -"_She!_" repeated the milkmaid in an irritated tone; "how polite these -fine gentlemen are! _She!_ Anyone would think we had known each other a -long while." - -"It depends entirely on you whether or not we shall be the best friends -in the world in a moment. And to begin with, I must give you a kiss." - -"No--no, monsieur--none of that sort of thing, if you please.--Oh! look -out, or I'll scratch you." - -Auguste, accustomed to defy such prohibitions, seized the little -milkmaid by the waist, and tried to put his lips to her fresh, ruddy -cheek; but she defended herself more vigorously than the city ladies do; -to be sure, a peasant is less embarrassed by her clothes, she isn't -afraid of rumpling them, and her corsets are not so tight that she -cannot move her arms; that is the reason no doubt that a kiss is much -harder to obtain from a peasant. - -The kiss was taken at last; but it cost Auguste dear, for he bore below -his left eye the marks of two nails which had drawn blood from the -Parisian dandy's face. Thus each of the combatants was beaten, for each -bore a token of defeat. But the war seemed not to be at an end. Denise, -twice as red as she was before the battle, arranged her neckerchief, -glaring angrily at the young man; while he put his hand to his face, -and, finding blood there, wiped it with his handkerchief, looking at the -girl with a less sentimental expression; for those two digs with her -nails had cooled his ardor to an extraordinary degree. - -"I'm glad of it," said the girl at last; "that will teach you to try to -kiss a girl against her will, monsieur." - -"I certainly didn't expect to be treated so. The idea of disfiguring -me--just for a kiss!" - -"If all women did the same, you wouldn't be so forward." - -"Thank God, they don't all have the same ideas that you have. You hurt -me terribly!" - -"Oh! what troubles you the most is that it will show; you're afraid you -won't be so pretty to look at." - -"No, I assure you that that isn't what I am thinking about. I am sorry -that I really made you angry. I realize that I was wrong. Come, Denise, -let us make peace." - -"No, monsieur, no, I don't listen to you any more." - -And the milkmaid, thinking that the young man intended to try to kiss -her again, ran to her donkey, and, in order to fly more rapidly, leaped -on White Jean's back, and beat him with redoubled force. But it was the -animal's custom to return placidly to the village, browsing on whatever -he found by the roadside, and not to bear his young mistress on his -back. Disturbed in his daily routine by this unexpected burden, White -Jean broke into a fast trot, and entered the woods despite his -mistress's efforts to make him follow the beaten path. Auguste heard -the girl's cries as she tried in vain to hold her steed, dodging with -much difficulty the branches which brushed against her face every -instant. Forgetting the marks that Denise had left on his cheek, -Dalville followed the milkmaid's track, in order to lead the ass back -into the path; but when he heard running behind him, the infernal beast -went faster than ever and rushed heedlessly into the densest part of the -wood. Soon a stout branch barred the milkmaid's path. While her mount -ran beneath it, she was swept to the ground; and as she fell another -branch caught her skirt; so that poor Denise fell to the ground, face -downward, with her skirt over her head and consequently not where it -usually was. - -Auguste came up at that moment. You can imagine the sight that met his -eyes; and what the skirt no longer covered was white and plump and -fresh. But we must do the young man justice; instead of amusing himself -by contemplating so many attractive things, he ran to Denise. She -shrieked and wept and gnashed her teeth. He succeeded in rescuing her -head from her petticoats, and quickly covered--what you know. - -Denise rose; but she was covered with confusion, she dared not look up -at the young man, who, far from taking advantage of her embarrassment, -inquired solicitously whether she was hurt. - -"Oh, no! it ain't anything," said Denise, still blushing. "I should have -forgotten all about it before this if that cursed branch--Pardi! I must -be mighty unlucky." - -"Why so? because you fell? Why, my dear child, that might happen to -anybody." - -"Yes, but it's possible to fall without showing--without--Never mind, -you're the first one that ever saw it, all the same." - -"Ah! I would like to be the last one, too.--Come, why this offended -expression? I promise you that I didn't see anything; I thought of -nothing but helping you. I was so afraid that you had hurt yourself! It -would have been my fault; for, if it hadn't been for my nonsense, you -would have gone your way in peace, and this wouldn't have happened." - -As Denise listened to Auguste, her anger passed away, and she even -smiled as she said: - -"I ain't cross with you any more. You're more decent than I thought; if -I'd fallen like that before the village fellows, they'd have laughed to -begin with, and then they'd have made a lot of silly talk, and there -wouldn't have been any end to it. Instead of that, you picked me right -up, and you looked so scared!--I'm sorry now that I scratched you. Come, -kiss me, to prove that you forgive me." - -Auguste made the most of this permission. Denise was so pretty when she -smiled! and a woman who defends herself so sturdily makes the favors -that she grants seem the more precious. - -So peace was made between the milkmaid and the young man. But White Jean -was no longer there; overjoyed to be rid of his burden, he had kept on -through the woods. - -"Oh! I ain't worried," said Denise; "I'm sure he's gone home. Let's take -this path and we shall soon be in the village." - -They walked on; the milkmaid beside Auguste, who once more considered -her a charming creature, since she had smiled upon him and had allowed -him to kiss her. In truth, Denise's face was no longer the same; an -angry expression is not becoming to a pretty face, and features that are -made to inspire love should never express wrath. But they soon emerged -from the woods and descended a hill, at the foot of which lay -Montfermeil. - -"There's my village," said Denise; "and look, do you see my ass trotting -along down there? Oh! I knew he'd go right home.--Have you got business -in the neighborhood?" - -"No, not exactly. I am going to Monsieur Destival's country place. Do -you know it?" - -"To be sure; I carry milk to them, when Madame Destival stays there in -summer. She always tells me to be careful about her little cheeses. You -see, I make nice ones. I carried them a bigger one this morning, because -Mamzelle Julie, madame's maid, told me they expected company from -Paris." - -"That being so, I probably shall have the pleasure of tasting your -cheeses." - -"But if you're going to Monsieur Destival's, you mustn't go to the -village. I'll show you what road you must take." - -"It will be much kinder of you to go with me and show me the way; as you -are not anxious about your ass, there is nothing to hurry you." - -"Oh, no! monsieur! I see that you're all right, but you're too fond of -kissing the girls. Besides, my aunt is waiting for me. It's after noon, -and our dinner-time.--Look, monsieur, take that road that goes up the -hill yonder, then the first turn to the left, then the grass-grown road, -and you'll find yourself at the place where you're going." - -"I shall never remember all that. You will be responsible for my losing -my way." - -"You shouldn't have left your carriage." - -"It was your lovely eyes that turned my head." - -"Ah! you're going to begin again. Go along, quick, or they'll eat the -cream cheese without you." - -"I should be very sorry for that, as it was you who made it." - -"The road up the hill--then turn to the left--then the grass-grown road. -Adieu, monsieur." - -"One more kiss, Denise." - -"No, no; that sort of thing shouldn't be repeated too often; you'd soon -get tired of it." - -And Denise hurried down the hill toward the village. Auguste followed -her with his eyes for a long while, saying to himself: - -"She's very pretty, and she's bright too! What a pity that she doesn't -live in Paris!--What am I saying? If she were in Paris, she'd look like -all the rest; it's because she's a milkmaid that her face and her wit -have impressed me.--Well, I will follow the directions she gave me, and -arrive as soon as possible. I am sure that they are impatient for me to -come; poor Bertrand won't know what to say, and Madame Destival will -pout at me--how she will pout!--And great heaven! these scratches! how -in the devil am I to explain them? Faith, I scratched myself picking -nuts. It's a pity that nuts don't have thorns. But no matter, they may -think what they choose." - -So Auguste decided to resume his journey; but he cast another glance at -Denise's village, and murmured as he walked away: - -"I shall come again and make Montfermeil's acquaintance." - - - - -III - -THE CHILD AND THE BOWL - - -Auguste followed the road that Denise had pointed out to him, his -thoughts still fixed on the little milkmaid. The most fickle of men -remembers the last woman who has succeeded in attracting him, until some -new and pleasing object, causing him to feel other desires, effaces from -his mind the charms of which he has lately dreamed. - -Suddenly the sound of tears and lamentations roused the young man from -his reverie. He looked about and spied, some ten yards away, by a large -tree, a little boy of six years at most, dressed like a peasant's child, -in a little jacket, trousers torn in several places, no stockings, and -heavy wooden shoes; his head was bare, protected only by a forest of -fair hair. - -Auguste walked toward the little fellow, who wept lustily, and gazed -with an air of stupefaction at the fragments of an earthen vessel at his -feet, the former contents of which were spilled on the road. The child -did not turn to look at the person who spoke to him, all his thoughts -being concentrated on the broken vessel; he could do nothing but weep, -raising to his head and eyes from time to time a pair of very grimy -little hands, which, being wet by his tears, smeared his chubby face -with mud. - -"Why, what makes you cry so, my boy?" asked Auguste, stooping in order -to be nearer the child. - -The little fellow raised for an instant a pair of light-blue eyes, about -which his little hands had drawn circles of black; then turned them -again upon the pieces of broken crockery, muttering: - -"I've broke the bowl--hi! hi! and papa's soup was in it--hi! hi! I'll -get a licking, like I did before--hi! hi!" - -"The deuce! that would be a misfortune, and no mistake! But stop crying, -my boy, perhaps we can fix it all right. You say that you were carrying -soup to your father?" - -"Yes, and I broke the bowl." - -"So I see. But why do they make you carry such a big bowl? You're too -small as yet. How old are you, my boy?" - -"Six and a half--and I broke the bowl, and papa's soup----" - -"Yes, yes, it's on the ground; you mustn't think any more about it." - -"It was cabbage soup--hi! hi!" - -"Oh! I can smell it. But don't cry any more. I promise you that you -shan't be whipped." - -"Yes, I shall; I broke the bowl, and grandma told me to be very -careful." - -"Come, listen to me: what's your name?" - -"Coco--and I've broke the bowl." - -"Well, my little Coco, I'll give you money to buy another bowl, and to -have three times as much cabbage soup made. I hope you won't cry any -more now." - -As he spoke, Auguste took a five-franc piece from his pocket and put it -in the child's hand; but Coco stared at the coin with his big blue eyes -open wider than ever, and continued none the less to sob bitterly, -saying: - -"Papa'll lick me, and so will grandma too." - -"What! when you give them that money?" - -"Papa's waiting for the soup for his dinner; and when he sees me without -the bowl--" - -"Well," thought Auguste, "I see that I must take it on myself to arrange -this matter. It will make me still later; but this little fellow is so -pretty! and they are quite capable of beating him, despite the -five-franc piece. I wasted one hour making love to a milkmaid, I can -afford to sacrifice a second to save this child a thrashing.--Come, -Coco; off we go, my boy! Take me to your father; I'll tell him that it -was I who knocked the bowl out of your hands as I passed, and I'll -promise that you won't be beaten." - -Coco looked at Auguste, then turned his eyes on the remains of the -vessel, from which he was very reluctant to part. But Dalville took his -hand, and the child concluded at last to start. On the way Auguste tried -to make him talk, to divert him from his terror. - -"What does your father do, my boy?" - -"He works in the fields." - -"And his name?" - -"Papa Calleux." - -"Papa Calleux evidently is not very pleasant, as you're so afraid of -him. And your mother?" - -"She's dead." - -"Then it's your grandmother who makes the cabbage soup?" - -"Yes, and she told me to be very careful and not break the bowl, like I -did the other time." - -"Aha! so you've broken one before, have you?" - -"Yes, and there wasn't anything in it; but they licked me." - -"You don't seem to be lucky with bowls. But the idea of whipping such a -little fellow! These peasants must be very hardhearted. Poor boy! he is -still sobbing; and he isn't seven years old! So there's no age at which -we haven't our troubles." - -The boy led Auguste across several fields, through the middle of which -ran narrow paths. It took Auguste still farther from Monsieur -Destival's; but he did not choose to leave the child until he saw that -he was happy. At last they reached a field of potatoes, and Coco stopped -and grasped his companion's arm with a trembling hand. - -"There's papa," he said. - -Some forty yards away Auguste saw a peasant plying the spade. He dropped -the child's hand and walked toward the peasant, who kept at his work, -bent double over the ground. - -"Pre Calleux, I have come to make amends for a slight accident," said -Auguste, raising his voice. - -The peasant raised his head and displayed a face covered with blotches, -a huge nose, great eyes level with the face, a half-open mouth, and -teeth that recalled those of Little Red Riding Hood's enemy. That -extraordinary countenance expressed profound amazement at hearing a -fashionably-dressed gentleman call him by name. - -"I imagine that Pre Calleux is as fond of wine as of cabbage soup," -said Auguste to himself as he scrutinized the peasant. - -"What can I do for you, monsieur?" asked the latter. - -"I met your son Coco on the road----" - -"Ah! where is he, I'd like to know? He was going to bring me my -dinner.--Coco! what are you doing there?" - -"Wait until I tell you the whole story; as I was looking at a fine view, -I ran into the child, and I knocked the bowl he was carrying out of his -hands; it broke, and----" - -"You'll pay for it, that's all; for you're to blame for my having no -dinner." - -"Oh! that's but fair; that's why I came to speak to you. How much do I -owe you? Name the price." - -"Well, monsieur, it was a good soup-bowl; it was worth all of thirty -sous; and there was twelve sous' worth of soup in it; for pork's dear -round here----" - -"See, here's five francs; are you satisfied?" - -"Oh, yes! monsieur; that's fair enough; I haven't got anything to say." - -"Then I hope that you won't scold your son; and, if you take my advice -you won't make a child of that age carry such heavy loads any more." - -"Oh! monsieur, it gets them used to being strong. We poor folks can't -bring children up on lollipops.--Well, Coco, come here." - -The child approached timidly, and, when he reached his father's side, -began to whimper again, saying: - -"I broke the bowl." - -"Yes, yes, I know what happened; monsieur told me all about it. Go back -to the house now, and tell Mre Madeleine to get me some dinner, and to -be sure to have some wine. But no, I'd rather go to dinner at Claude's -cabaret. Go home, Coco, and don't wait supper for me; I've got business -in the town." - -Auguste guessed that Pre Calleux's business consisted in drinking up -the five-franc piece to the last sou; but, satisfied to see that his -young protg was in high spirits, he bade the peasant adieu, and -followed the child, who retraced the steps they had just taken; but this -time he leaped and gambolled about his companion. His great grief was -forgotten already! And they say that we are great children: it is true -as concerns our foibles, but not as concerns happiness. - -Auguste, happy in the little fellow's joy, took pleasure in watching -him. Laughter sits so well upon a little face of six years! A person -who is fond of children cannot conceive how anyone can look with -indifference on their tears. And yet there are people for whom a dog's -yelping has more charm than the laughter of a child! It speaks well for -their depth of feeling! - -As they went along, Coco sang and ran and played about Auguste, playing -little tricks on him, for they were great friends already; at six years -and a half one gives one's friendship as quickly as at twenty one gives -one's heart. Auguste ran and played with the child; he chased him, -caught him, and rolled with him on the grass, heedless of the fact that -it stained his clothes, because the boy's laughter was so frank and true -that it was often shared by his elegant companion. - -What! you will say, a dandy, a lady-killer, a butterfly of fashion, -amuse himself playing in the fields with a little peasant boy? Why not, -pray? Happy the man who, as he grows old, retains his taste for the -simple pleasures of his youth! Henri IV walked about his room on all -fours, carrying his children on his back. When surprised in that -position by the ambassador of a foreign power, he asked him, without -rising, if he were a father, and, upon his answer in the affirmative, -rejoined: "In that case, I'll just trot round the room." - -When they reached the place where he had first met the child, Auguste -would have bade him adieu and have gone his way; but Coco held his hand -and refused to release it. - -"Come home with me," he said, "please come; Mamma Madeleine will give -you some nice butter. Come and you can see Jacqueleine; she's awful -pretty, I tell you." - -"Who is Jacqueleine, my boy?" - -"She's our goat; she sleeps by me." - -"And is your home far away?" - -"No, it's right over there." - -Auguste submitted to be led away. Coco repeating: "It's right over -there," gave his companion another half-hour's walk. At last they came -in sight of a wretched hovel, the thatched roof of which had fallen in -in several places, standing on a crossroad, and Coco shouted: "Here we -are; do you see our house?" Then he pulled his companion's sleeve, to -make him run with him. - -An old woman sat in front of the hovel; she was thin and bent, and her -complexion reminded one of an Egyptian mummy. But a strong, shrill voice -emerged from her fragile body. - -"So here you are at last, lazybones!" she said to the child; "what have -you been doing so long? Where's the bowl?" - -Coco looked at Auguste, whom he was already accustomed to look upon as -his protector; Auguste told Mre Madeleine the same fable that he had -told Pre Calleux, reinforced once more by the five-franc piece, which -was the irresistible argument. At that the old woman tried to soften her -voice, and urged Auguste to come in for a drink of goat's milk and some -fresh butter, which were all that she could offer him. The young dandy -entered the cabin. His heart sickened at the sight of that wretched -habitation. The home of the Calleux family consisted of a single room. -It was a large room, but the daylight lighted only a small part of it. -The bare earth formed the floor; the walls, half whitewashed, had -nothing upon them to conceal their nakedness; the thatched roof -threatened disaster. Two cot beds, in the darkest corner, had no -curtains to shelter them from the wind which entered on all sides. An -old buffet, a chest, a table and a few chairs were the only other -furniture. - -"Where on earth do you sleep?" Auguste asked the child. He led him to a -corner of the room, where it was almost impossible to see anything, and -pointed out a small straw bed on the floor, with a dilapidated woolen -coverlet thrown over it. Close beside it was a goat, lying in some straw -that was spread on the ground. - -"There's my bed," said Coco. "Oh! I'm all right, you see; Jacqueleine -keeps me warm in winter. Jacqueleine loves me, she does!" - -And the child threw his arms round the goat's neck, and patted her, -rolling over and over on the straw with her. But he was obliged to leave -his faithful companion, for his grandmother called him. - -"Come, come, good-for-nothing! You can play by-and-by. Come and put the -bread on the table and give me a cup. The little scamp ain't good for -nothing." - -"You treat your grandson very harshly," said Auguste, taking his place -at the table and tasting the rye bread and the milk. - -"If I'd let him have his way, monsieur, he'd play all day long." - -"But you must love the child dearly, as he's the only one your daughter -left you." - -"Oh! yes, I love him enough! But when a body's poor, it's just as well -not to have none at all." - -Auguste looked once more at the old peasant woman, and her extreme -ugliness no longer surprised him so much. He took Coco on his knee, gave -him milk to drink, and bread and butter to eat, and enjoyed looking at -his pretty face and lovely fair hair. The old woman seemed astounded by -the endearments which the fine gentleman lavished on the child, and -muttered between her teeth: - -"Oh! you'll spoil him! 'taint no use in doing that!" - -"Is he learning to read and write?" - -"Oh, of course! where's the money coming from, I'd like to know? -Besides, we don't want to make a scholar of him. Is that wanted for -driving the plough?" - -"But you might at least give him a better place to sleep than he has." - -"There ain't no sheets but for one bed, and it's no more'n fair for me -to have 'em, old as I am. His father sleeps on a sack of straw same as -he does. He don't sleep no worse for it either, I tell you." - -"Here, Mre Madeleine, take this, and buy a bed for the child, and don't -be so harsh with him." - -As he spoke, Auguste rose, and put six more five-franc pieces in the old -woman's hand. She, having never before seen so much money at one time, -made curtsy after curtsy, overwhelming the stranger with thanks, and -saying to the child: - -"Come, Coco, thank monsieur for giving me all this money for you. Thank -him, I say, quick!" - -The child looked up at his grandmother in evident embarrassment. - -"Let him alone," said Auguste, as he kissed him; "he doesn't know the -value of money yet. The kiss he gives me is all the more sincere on that -account. Adieu, my little Coco.--By the way, which is the road to Livry, -please?" - -"Follow this path, monsieur, and it'll take you to the main road. You'll -be there in half an hour. Do you want Coco to show you the way?" - -"It isn't necessary." - -Auguste left the hovel; the child bade him good-bye and called after -him: - -"Come and play with me again, won't you?" - -"Yes," said Auguste, "I promise." - - - - -IV - -SOME PORTRAITS AFTER NATURE - - -Since eleven o'clock Dalville had been expected at Monsieur Destival's. -Madame, a brunette of thirty, with a bright eye and a most expressive -glance, who was an adept in the art of making the most of a shapely -figure and seductive contours by an effective costume,--madame had -finished her toilet. In the country it was, of course, very simple; but -there are some nglig costumes which require much preparation. However, -as madame was pretty and still young, she had spent only a half hour in -donning a filmy white dress, confined at the waist by an orange sash; in -arranging her curls becomingly and adorning them with a bow of the same -color as her sash. Nor had she asked Julie more than six times if the -yellow was becoming to her. - -Julie replied that madame was fascinating, that yellow was always -becoming to brunettes, and, in fact, that madame need not be afraid to -wear any color. Madame smiled slightly at Julie, who was only -twenty-four, but was extremely ugly, which is almost always considered a -valuable quality in a lady's maid. - -Monsieur Destival was ten years older than his wife; he was tall and -thin; his face was not handsome, but it had character; unfortunately its -expression was not of the sort that denotes an amiable person, whose wit -causes one to forget his ugliness; it denoted self-sufficiency, conceit, -and a constant tendency to be cunning. His rustic cap, set well forward -on his head, seemed to put a seal upon all the rest. - -Monsieur Destival was formerly a government employ; with his wife's -dowry he had bought the office of official auctioneer, which he had -afterward sold at a profit. Although he never talked of politics for -fear of compromising himself, and did not himself know to what party he -belonged, he had had the shrewdness to set up an office as a business -agent, had obtained a numerous clientage and had succeeded in tripling -his capital. To be sure, he gave receptions, balls and small punches, -and madame, whose eyes were full of fire and whose manners were -charming, did the honors of her salon with infinite grace. - -The country house, where they passed much of the time in summer, was -large enough to enable them to entertain extensively, and to provide -rooms for seven or eight friends. As monsieur never allowed more than -one day to pass without going to Paris to look after his business, and -as he sometimes passed the night there, madame--who was very timid, -although she had the look of a strong-minded woman--liked to keep one of -monsieur's male friends in the house. - -A young man with twenty thousand francs a year could not fail to be -hospitably received at Monsieur Destival's; and so, although it was only -three months since Auguste had made his acquaintance, he was already on -the footing of an intimate friend. Monsieur constantly urged him to -call, whether at Paris or in the country, and madame was very fond of -singing and playing with him. - -But the clock struck twelve, and Monsieur Dalville did not appear. -Madame was annoyed. Julie was posted on the lookout at a window on the -second floor, and monsieur wandered from one room to another, -exclaiming: - -"The devil! my friend Dalville is very late, and he promised to come -early, to be here for breakfast." - -"Does Monsieur Auguste ever remember his promises?" asked madame -snappishly. - -"Oh! there you go again, always finding fault with him, attacking him, -making fun of him." - -"I, monsieur? What concern of mine are Monsieur Dalville's tastes or his -failings? When did you ever see me attack him?" - -"I know that it's all in joke; but you are a little bit caustic, my dear -Emilie, you like to hurl epigrams. It is true, I admit, that I myself -should be very biting, if I didn't hold myself back; in fact, I often am -unconsciously. But after all, Dalville's a charming -fellow--well-born--rich--talented." - -"Talented? Oh! very slightly." - -"I thought that he was strong on the violin?" - -"No, monsieur, he often plays false--Well, Julie, do you see anyone -coming?" - -"Mon Dieu! no, madame, it's no use to look. And all those cheeses that I -bought of Denise! How annoying!" - -"For heaven's sake, mademoiselle, don't bother us with your cheeses. Go -up to the cupola--you can see farther." - -"Very well, madame." - -Julie went upstairs and monsieur resumed the conversation. - -"You won't deny, I trust, that Dalville has a pleasant voice." - -"Pleasant! bah! a voice like everybody's else." - -"Why, I should say that you and he sing duets together perfectly, -especially the one from Feydeau's _Muletier_; you know, the one with -'What joy! what joy!' and that ends with 'coucou! coucou!'" - -"Oh! you tire me, monsieur, with your 'coucous!'" - -"He plays quadrilles on the piano." - -"Who doesn't play now?" - -"Faith, I don't; to be sure, I have always had so much business on hand -that I have had to neglect my taste for music. At all events, Dalville -is bright, pleasant, always in good spirits." - -"There are days when he can't say three words in succession!" - -"Let me tell you that I myself, when I'm very much occupied with some -important matter, am not as agreeable as usual--that happens to -everybody. To return to Dalville--he is rich--and young.--By George! I -have an idea! such a delicious idea!" - -"What is it then, monsieur?" - -"I must find a wife for him." - -"A wife for Monsieur Auguste? Why on earth should you interfere? Is it -any of your business?" - -"Isn't it my business to look after other people's business? This may -turn out a profitable affair." - -"Oh! don't go to making matches, monsieur, I beg! As if you knew -anything about such things!" - -"I flatter myself that I do, madame." - -"A business agent make marriages--nonsense! that would be absurd!--Have -you thought about your gun, monsieur?" - -"Yes, madame, I told Baptiste to clean it; and Dalville promised to -bring that old soldier of his, Bertrand; he will teach me how to use it; -for a wolf has been seen in the neighborhood, you know, madame; and that -is very unpleasant because it keeps one uneasy all the time." - -"I don't suppose that that makes it impossible for you to beat up the -wood?" - -"Oh, no! on the contrary, madame, it was I who suggested that measure of -safety. I propose to see the wolf, madame." - -"You will do well, monsieur." - -The conversation was interrupted by a noise in the next room. - -"Ah! here's our dear Dalville at last, no doubt," said Monsieur -Destival. - -Madame said nothing, but she prepared a little pouting expression which -would surely imply what she thought. Meanwhile the person whom they had -heard did not enter the room, but continued to rub his feet on the -doormat. Monsieur Destival threw the door of the salon open, and found, -instead of Auguste, a little man of some fifty-five years, with a light -wig, broad-brimmed straw hat, coat cut almost square, short breeches, -and fancy stockings, who was rubbing and rerubbing his feet on the mat -in the reception room. - -"Ah! it's our neighbor, Monsieur Monin!" said Monsieur Destival, at -sight of the little man. - -At the name of Monin, Madame Destival made an impatient gesture, -muttering: - -"What a bore! why need he have come!" - -"Hush! be still, madame! He still has a drug store to sell, and he wants -to buy a house. I propose that he shall dine with us." - -With that, Monsieur Destival turned back toward the door, where Monsieur -Monin was still rubbing his feet on the mat. - -"Well, aren't you coming in, my dear Monsieur Monin? What in the deuce -are you doing there all this time? It's a fine day; you don't need to -wipe your feet." - -"Oh! but I'll tell you: as I came across the courtyard I looked up at -the sky to see if we were going to have a shower, and I stepped into a -dung-heap that I didn't see." - -"That's Baptiste's fault; it should have been taken away." - -"There, that will do." - -Monsieur Monin left the mat at last, and looking up at Monsieur Destival -with a pair of big eyes level with his face, wherein one would have -looked in vain for an idea, smiled a smile which cut his face in halves, -although it was still dominated by a nose of enormous dimensions, always -stuffed with snuff, like an unlighted pipe. - -"How's your health, neighbor?" - -"Very good, my dear sir. Pray come in; my wife is here and will be -delighted to see you." - -Monsieur Monin entered the salon and removed his hat, making a low bow -to Madame Destival, who acknowledged the salute by a smile which might -have passed for a grimace; but Monsieur Monin took it most favorably for -himself, and began his inevitable question: - -"How's your health, madame?" - -"Passable, monsieur; not very good at this moment; my nerves are -unstrung, I have palpitations." - -"It's the weather, madame; the heat is intense to-day: twenty-six -degrees and three-tenths." - -"Twenty-seven, neighbor," said Monsieur Destival, glancing at his -thermometer. - -"That's surprising! it isn't so high at my house, and yet mine's in the -same position. My wife says that I've made it too low lately." - -"Why did not Madame Monin come with you, neighbor?" - -"She's making pickles, and it will take her all day. My! but she takes a -lot of pains with 'em! She won't go out to-day." - -"I am deeply indebted to the pickles," whispered Madame Destival, while -Monsieur Monin continued, doing his utmost to force another pinch into -his nose: - -"My wife said to me: 'I don't need you, Monin, take a walk.' So I came -to see you." - -"That was very agreeable of you, neighbor. Will you pass the whole day -with us?" - -"Why, yes, if it don't put you out, I should like to, because I'll tell -you--when my wife's making pickles, she don't like to bother with -cooking." - -"Very good, then you will stay. You will meet Monsieur Dalville, a -delightful young man, full of fun. His servant, who is an old soldier, -is to give me a lesson in drilling, for I am appointed general----" - -"What?" - -"Why, yes, in the _battue_ we're going to have." - -"Oh, yes! I was saying----" - -"Won't you take part in it, Monsieur Monin?" - -"Why, I'll tell you: when I had my rifle, it was all right--" - -"Madame, madame, a lovely calche is just driving into the courtyard," -said Julie, rushing into the salon. - -"A calche?" - -"With Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire." - -"What! have they come? How kind of them!" cried Monsieur Destival, -running to the window. Madame Destival did not share her husband's -delight; however, she rose to satisfy herself concerning the arrival of -her new guests, and went out to receive them; for persons who have a -calche and a livery deserve the very greatest consideration. Thus, -Monsieur Destival flew at his wife's heels, leaving Monsieur Monin, who -was just about to tell him how many times he had hunted, and who, -finding himself abandoned in the salon, turned to his ordinary -resource, and succeeded, by dint of perseverance, in forcing two dainty -pinches of snuff into his nostrils. - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, for whom they ran downstairs so eagerly, -was a man of about forty years of age. When he arrived in Paris, at -eighteen, his name was Thomas simply, and he did not blush then for his -mother, who kept a little wine-shop in her village. But residence in the -capital had wrought an entire change in Monsieur Thomas. First a shop -clerk, then a government clerk, then a money-lender, then a man of large -affairs, Monsieur Thomas had seen Fortune smile constantly upon him. He -speculated with his consols and was lucky; after that he forgot his -village and adopted the tone and manners of a man in the first society. -That a person should start from very low and rise very high--there is no -objection to that; on the contrary, the man who wins success by his -work, who makes his own fortune, leads us to believe that his merit is -greater than his who attains the highest honor without exertion of his -own. But the thing for which a parvenu is never forgiven is an -affectation of pride and insolence, and the belief that by assuming the -airs of a grand seigneur, he can lead people to forget the name and the -clothes that he used to wear. Monsieur Thomas was such a one. He began -by changing his too vulgar name for that of La Thomassinire. Then, -instead of urging his mother to leave her village and enjoy his fortune, -he contented himself with sending her a sum of money which would enable -her to take down the sign of the _Learned Ass_, and to stop selling -wine. But he forbade her to come to Paris, where, he said, the air was -very unhealthy for elderly women. Then Monsieur de la Thomassinire set -up an establishment,--carriage, servants, livery--bought a magnificent -country estate and a very pretty wife of eighteen, who was turned over -to him with a dowry of one hundred thousand francs, and who did not so -much as ask whether her husband was handsome or ugly, because, having -been perfectly educated, she knew that a husband who owns a carriage is -always comely enough, and, besides that, a woman is supposed to look at -nobody but her husband. - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, dressed like a dandy and aping the manners -of good society, but always affording a glimpse of the days of the -_Learned Ass_, was forever talking about "my estate, my property, my -servants, my horses." His wife was his only possession as to whom he did -not use the possessive pronoun. As for madame, a lively, volatile, giddy -creature, with no thought for anything save dress and amusements, she -never spoke to monsieur except to ask him for money, or to talk about -some festivity that she proposed to give. - -"Ah! here are our dear friends!" said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward to offer his hand to Madame de la Thomassinire to help her -alight, while monsieur gazed admiringly at his horses and gorgeous -livery. - -"Good-morning, Destival.--Lapierre, be careful of the horses.--Madame, -allow me to offer my respects.--Cover my calche, you fellows, it may -rain in.--We have come without ceremony. It doesn't put you out to have -me bring a few of my people, does it?" - -"Of course not! I have enough to board and lodge them," replied Monsieur -Destival, biting his lips, because his modest cabriolet was completely -eclipsed by the superb calche, and Baptiste and Julie, who composed his -whole staff of domestics, would be hidden by a single one of the tall -rascals whom Monsieur de la Thomassinire carried in his train. But -these reflections did not prevent the exchange of the usual courtesies, -they simply made him ambitious to enlarge his household; and so, as he -led the young woman into the house, our business agent said to himself: - -"I must find a wife for Dalville, sell Monin's drug shop, and buy a -house for him; then I will have a little groom--a negro--and dress him -in red, so that he can be seen a long way off." - -The two ladies embraced. - -"Good-morning, my dear girl." - -"Good-morning, dear." - -"How sweet of you to come to see us!" - -"We are going to stay until to-morrow." - -"How lovely your hats always are!" - -"Do you think so?" - -"Fascinating. I like that style of dress ever so much." - -"It's the latest--not quite low enough in the neck." - -"Why, yes. I must have some of that material; it's very stylish." - -"Oh! it's very simple; the dress cost only two hundred francs. But for -the country, and for calls on one's friends--I'll give you my -dressmaker's address." - -Madame Destival allowed Madame de la Thomassinire to go upstairs first, -continuing to lavish compliments upon her, and counterfeiting the most -extravagant delight in order to conceal her secret annoyance; for the -new arrival was genuinely pretty, her manners were charmingly vivacious, -and Monsieur Dalville, whom Madame Destival was still expecting to see, -had never met her. Monsieur Dalville, who was so quick to take fire, was -very likely to make love to Madame de la Thomassinire, who was no less -likely to listen to him. All this caused Madame Destival much secret -anger; but she affected the greater amiability on that account; for in -society one must know how to make believe, to speak otherwise than one -thinks; that is the great secret of social success. - -Madame de la Thomassinire entered the salon, where Monsieur Monin had -remained; he was on the point of attempting the introduction of another -pinch of snuff, but checked himself at sight of the young woman, stepped -back, removed his hat, and although he had never seen her before, began -his inevitable question: - -"How's your health?" - -But the petite-matresse did not give the ex-druggist an opportunity to -speak; she stifled with her handkerchief the outburst of laughter -inspired by Monsieur Monin's unique countenance, and turned to Madame -Destival, saying: - -"Who is this?" - -"A neighbor of ours, very rich, but as stupid as he is ridiculous." - -"Ah! so much the better; we will have some sport with him. We may as -well laugh a bit. Do you expect anybody else?" - -"Why, yes, we expect a young man, a great friend of Monsieur -Destival--Monsieur Auguste Dalville. Do you know him?" - -"No, but I've heard a great deal about him; he is noted in society for -his _bonnes fortunes_ and his conquests. I shall be very glad to make -his acquaintance. As a general rule, these naughty fellows are very -agreeable--don't you think so, my dear?" - -"Why, sometimes--not always. However, you shall judge for yourself." - -"They say he's very good-looking?" - -"Oh! so-so; a passable face, that's all; rather fine eyes, but his mouth -is a little too large and his lips are very thick. I don't like that -type of face at all." - -"For my part, I don't like thin lips. Is he light or dark?" - -"I can hardly remember; he is dark, I think." - -"I had an idea that I had heard that Monsieur Dalville came to your -house very often?" - -"Oh, no! he goes to my husband's office, on business." - -"Is he musical?" - -"A little." - -"I have brought a nocturne that I am crazy over; he must sing it with -me." - -"Monsieur Dalville will certainly be delighted to sing with you.--Excuse -me, my dear, but I have some orders to give. In the country we don't -stand on ceremony." - -"I should hope not! I will go out and see your garden." - -"Do; I am going to order luncheon, and I will come and call you." - -The petite-matresse tripped lightly down the stairs leading to the -garden, and Madame Destival went to her bedroom, where she threw herself -on a lounge, saying to Julie as she came in: - -"Oh! Julie! I am so annoyed! I cannot stand any more, I am choking!" - -"I should think as much, madame; I don't see how you can help it! To -wait in vain for those whom you expect, and have to receive a lot of -people that you don't expect!" - -"Monsieur Destival is perfectly brutal, with his mania for inviting -everybody he sees. If he had a chteau, he would not do any more!" - -"That old Monin, who can't do anything but eat and drink!" - -"And yet, if he were the only one, I shouldn't mind him, I promise -you." - -"Is his wife coming?" - -"No, thank God! she is making pickles." - -"That's very lucky! Madame Monin has a wicked tongue in her head; and -inquisitive--why, she always comes into the kitchen to see what's going -on." - -"In spite of that, I should have preferred her to those Thomassinires, -who put on so much style and assume the most unendurable airs and -pretensions!" - -"And then, who ever heard of bringing three servants to be fed! Those -big rascals will eat everything in the house." - -"What time is it, Julie?" - -"After twelve, madame." - -"He won't come. I am very glad of it now. Order luncheon. We will not -dine until half past six." - -"That's right; in that way they won't get any supper, at all events." - -Julie went downstairs. Madame stood in front of her mirror, looked at -herself a few moments, arranged a few locks of hair, then left the room, -saying to herself: - -"I look well enough for these people." - -She went to the garden and joined Madame de la Thomassinire, whose -husband, immediately on arriving, had asked Monsieur Destival for a pen -and some ink, so that he might at once write an urgent letter on a -matter of great importance. Monsieur Destival ensconced the speculator -in his study. - -"Make yourself perfectly at home," he said; "I will leave you." - -And Monsieur de la Thomassinire, left to himself at the desk, scratched -his head, looked at the pens, and wrote nothing at all, for the reason -that he had nothing to write and no letter to send. But a man involved -in great speculations should always seem preoccupied, and pretend that -he needs a writing desk; that impresses fools and credulous folk, and -sometimes people of good sense even; the professional schemers are the -only ones who do not allow themselves to be gulled by such petty wiles, -because they often use them themselves. - -On leaving La Thomassinire, Monsieur Destival returned to Monsieur -Monin, who did not take offence because no attention was paid to him, -his wife having accustomed him to that. - -"Well, neighbor, have you sold that drug shop?" queried the business -agent, slapping Monsieur Monin on the shoulder. - -"Not yet, neighbor. It vexes me, because, I'll tell you, those who have -taken my place temporarily aren't used to it as I am, and----" - -"I'll sell it for you. I hope to see you in Paris next winter, Monsieur -Monin, and to know you better." - -"Certainly, monsieur." - -"You must come to our house to play cards." - -"Do you play loo?" - -"No, but cart, and boston. I have a very pretty house to sell you." - -"Do you mean it?" - -"Yes, it's a great opportunity; the price is nothing at all." - -"Is it insured?" - -"I don't know; we will talk about all those things later; go out and -take a turn in the garden. I am going to find out if they have any idea -of giving us some luncheon." - -Monin left the room; as Monsieur Destival turned to do likewise he -confronted his wife, who exclaimed: - -"What, monsieur! you have asked Monsieur Monin to call on us in Paris?" - -"To be sure, madame." - -"It's well enough in the country, because he's a neighbor. But in town! -A man who can't say anything or do anything, and who knows no game but -loo!" - -"He is rich, madame." - -"What if he is? that doesn't prevent his being as stupid as an owl." - -"He won't be the first stupid person who has been to my house, madame. -When one receives a great deal of company, it can't be otherwise. And -besides, with your men of intellect, your authors and your poets, -there's not a sou to be made." - -"If you're so fond of money, monsieur, why do you invite so many people -to your country house? It is ruinously extravagant, monsieur." - -"Never fear, madame; I invite none but those who may be useful to me. -Oh! I am very shrewd, I look a long way ahead. La Thomassinire is a -valuable acquaintance, and I am very desirous to become intimate with -him. I know that he often makes himself very ridiculous, that he tries -to play the great man, and that the rle isn't suited to him; that he -occasionally makes blunders in speaking that smell horribly of his -origin; that he is tiresome beyond words with his carriage, his estates, -his property and his servants, whom he is forever throwing in one's -face; but for all that, he's a man for whom I have a peculiar esteem and -regard, because, as I told you just now, madame, I look a long way -ahead.--But how about luncheon?" - -"Speak to Baptiste, monsieur; I have given my orders to Julie." - -Madame Destival went into the garden, where the petite-matresse was -strolling about, gathering a bouquet. - -"I am picking your flowers, you see," she said. - -"You are doing just right, my dear love; pray take all that you please." - -"Your garden is lovely." - -"Oh! it isn't very extensive; but there is plenty of shade, and that's -what I like." - -"So do I. I have had a forest planted on our estate at Fleury. It will -be delicious, I assure you." - -"But before it grows----" - -"Oh! we have set out nothing but large trees. I will send you an -invitation for next month. I am waiting for the painting and decorating -I am having done to be finished, before going there for a month. But I -shall take plenty of guests; for I don't like the country except with a -lot of people about." - -"For my part, I am rather fond of solitude." - -"Mon Dieu! I should die if I were alone a single day!" - -"So you don't like reading?" - -"Yes, I do, for a moment or two, in bed; but not long at a time; it -tires me." - -"And music?" - -"I play and sing only when someone is listening to me." - -"Drawing?" - -"Oh! that was all right at boarding-school! I mean to have a little -theatre on my estate, and we will have theatricals there; that's great -fun. I used to act often at boarding-school. I was particularly fond of -the parts in which I changed dresses." - -"What a child you are!" - -"What would you have? one must pass the time somehow. If I had nothing -but my husband to amuse me, great heaven! where should we be? A man who -thinks of nothing but figures and exchange and heaven knows what. These -business men are very disagreeable." - -The ladies, having turned into another path, found themselves in the -neighborhood of Monsieur Monin, who had stopped and seemed to be in a -sort of trance before a plum tree laden with very large fruit. At sight -of the ladies he took off his hat and muttered: "How's your--" But he -did not finish the sentence, because he remembered that he had already -paid his respects to them in the salon; so he turned and pointed to the -tree, saying: "That tree bears very fine fruit." - -"Why, my dear, you don't mean that you have fruit trees in your garden?" -cried the petite-matresse; "why, that's the worst possible form; you -must take them all away and set out in their place ebony-trees, acacias, -and sycamores." - -"Oh! our garden makes no pretensions," rejoined Madame Destival, biting -her lips with anger; "it isn't a park such as you have on your place, -and Monsieur Destival is very fond of fruit." - -"He is quite right," said Monin, who had walked nearer to the plum tree -when Madame de la Thomassinire spoke of taking it up. "Fruit is the -body's friend when it's good and ripe. But I was just going to say----" - -"And monsieur's plums!" continued the younger woman. "Dear, dear! they -are very vulgar; they should be left for the servants." - -"Oh! when Monsieur Destival has made a fortune, then we will have a -separate orchard; but meanwhile we are simple enough to be content with -a small country place. What would you have? We were not born in a -palace--in the lap of grandeur." - -Madame Destival uttered these last words with malicious emphasis; but -Madame de la Thomassinire seemed to pay no heed to them; as -hare-brained as she was inconsequent, she said offensive things -unintentionally; and if she talked constantly of her dresses, her -diamonds and her estate, it was less from vanity than as a matter of -habit, whereas the wish to make a show of his wealth was the motive -behind every act of her husband. - -"Luncheon is waiting, mesdames," said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward gallantly to offer his arm to the petite-matresse; "come; it is -late, and you must be hungry. Faith, if Dalville comes, he will have to -eat alone, that's all there is about it." - -The master of the house walked away with the young woman. Monsieur Monin -had taken off his hat and was about to offer Madame Destival his arm; -but she, divining his purpose, vanished by another path, and the little -man, having lost sight of her, decided to betake himself alone to the -dining-room; but first he cast a last tender glance at the plum tree. - -They were seated at the table, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire was -still in the study. - -"Tell him that we are going to have luncheon," said Monsieur Destival, -"and that we're only waiting for him." - -Baptiste went up to the study and called through the door: - -"Luncheon is served, monsieur." - -"Very well, very well, I will come down," replied La Thomassinire, -continuing to roll little balls of paper; "I have only one more note to -write." - -The valet withdrew and reported the answer that was made to him. - -"What a terrible man he is with his notes!" said Madame Destival; -"doesn't he have a moment to himself, even in the country?" - -"My husband?" replied the petite-matresse; "why, my dear love, he's a -most insufferable creature with his endless writing! He is never ready -at meal-time; and even when we have twenty persons to dinner, which -happens quite often, I have to send for him three or four times." - -After making balls of paper for another five minutes, Monsieur de la -Thomassinire concluded at last to go down to the dining-room. - -"I beg pardon, here I am! It wasn't my fault," he said as he took his -seat; "you shouldn't have waited for me. You see, I happened to think -about a certain speculation I am interested in.--Give me the wing of a -chicken and a glass of claret; that is all I take in the morning.--Well, -Athalie, have you devastated madame's flower garden?" - -Athalie, who ate quite heartily for a petite-matresse, answered with a -laugh: - -"I have been doing what I chose, monsieur; you know perfectly well that -it doesn't concern you." - -"That is true, madame, that is perfectly true. I supply the money, I pay -the bills. Twelve hundred francs to a milliner seems a trifle expensive. -But madame must have the best there is." - -"If you lose your temper, monsieur, the next bill will be twice as -large." - -"You know well enough, madame, that when it's a question of giving you -money, I never have to be asked twice. When one is rich, that's -perfectly natural; we must help the tradesmen to make money; isn't that -so, Destival?" - -"To be sure," replied his host, "I have the same feeling.--Well, what do -you think of my claret? You don't say anything about it." - -"It is very fair; but I have some better than this, oh! much better! I -will give you some when you come to my house, and you'll see." - -"And this cream--do you like it, madame?" - -"Very much," replied the petite-matresse. But Monsieur de la -Thomassinire helped himself to three spoonfuls, saying: - -"Let's taste the cream." Then he made a slight grimace and added: "Oh! -my estate is the place for fine dairy products! This can't be compared -with it; it's an entirely different thing! And our fowls! ah! they are -delicious. To be sure, they are fed with such care! Now you people think -that you are eating something good when you eat a chicken like this. -Well, let me tell you that if you should see my poultry yard at Fleury, -you would look on this as rubbish." - -"It is very fortunate then that we know nothing about it," retorted -Madame Destival, with a meaning glance at her husband. He, to change the -subject of that pleasant conversation, turned to Monin, who had not said -a word since he had been at the table, being engrossed by the second -joint of a chicken, which he seasoned now and then with snuff, glancing -occasionally with the eye of a connoisseur at a magnificent pie that -stood in front of him, to which he seemed to be saying: "How's your -health?" - -"Your appetite seems to be in good condition, neighbor?" said Destival. - -"Yes, yes, it's the weather that does it. Do you take snuff?" - -And Monin offered his box to Destival, then to La Thomassinire, who, -after taking a tiny pinch, took from his pocket a gold snuff-box at -which he gazed for some time with a complacent expression. - -"This is Virginia," he said, "the very best snuff there is; it's very -expensive, but I don't care for any other kind. Try it, monsieur." - -Monin, who never declined a pinch of snuff, was about to partake of the -Virginia, when they heard the wheels of a carriage entering the -courtyard, and Julie hurried into the dining-room, saying: - -"Here's Monsieur Dalville; his cabriolet has just come in." - -Madame Destival smiled with satisfaction, and the petite-matresse -hastily ordered her plate to be changed, so that the dbris of her -repast might not be seen in front of her. Monsieur Destival ran out to -receive his dear friend, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire thought: "This -Dalville must be a millionaire, to have his arrival make such a -sensation." - -As for Monin, with his pinch of Virginia in one hand and his fork in the -other, confused by the bustle caused by Dalville's arrival, he put a -dainty piece of ham to his nose and the superfine snuff in his mouth. He -discovered his mistake, however, and put each article in its proper -place. - - - - -V - -THE DRILL, THE SWING, THE STORM, AND THE MUSIC - - -Destival, having gone out to greet Dalville, looked about for him in -vain; he saw nobody near the cabriolet save little Tony and Bertrand, -the latter of whom gave him a military salute. - -"Well! where is he? which way did he go in?" inquired Destival. Bertrand -passed his tongue over his lips and scratched his ear, seeking a -suitable reply; at last he said in a firm voice: - -"Monsieur Dalville will be here as soon as I am." - -"But you seem to have got here before him; did he leave you on the way?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Does he know anyone in the neighborhood?" - -"It would seem so, monsieur." - -"At all events, he is really coming; that's the main point." - -Destival ran back to inform the ladies that his friend Dalville would -soon be there; that he had stopped to see a friend, but that he could -not be long. - -"Why, I didn't know that he knew anyone in this vicinity," said Madame -Destival in surprise. - -"Mon Dieu! this gentleman keeps us on the anxious seat a long while," -said the vivacious Athalie, leaving the table; while La Thomassinire, -annoyed that a thought should be given to anybody but himself, paced the -floor a few moments, then stamped violently, and put his hand to his -forehead. - -"Bless my soul!" he cried, "I had almost forgotten. What time is it? Not -one yet? Is there a post office[A] anywhere near?" - -[A] French _poste_; when used alone the meaning is ambiguous and depends -on the context. Hence the misunderstanding. - -"Do you mean a donkey post?" asked Monin. - -"No, for letters, of course!" - -"Oh, yes! on the second street. By the way, I believe--I won't say for -sure, but I'll tell you----" - -"I'll go there at once; I shall be in time." - -And Monsieur de la Thomassinire rushed from the room as if he would -overturn everybody, paying no heed to Destival, who shouted after him: - -"Stay here; I'll send it for you. Besides, your own servants are here." - -The speculator darted out across the fields, and having reached a dense -thicket, lay down on the grass and went to sleep, saying to himself: - -"A man like me must never have a moment to himself." - -The ladies returned to the salon. Monsieur Destival went down to -Bertrand, and Monin, seeing that everybody had left the table, concluded -to do likewise and followed his host. - -As soon as Bertrand had taken some refreshment, Monsieur Destival went -to him and begged him to give him a lesson in drilling and giving -orders. The ex-corporal was very willing to do anything that recalled -glorious memories. He repaired with Monsieur Destival to the terrace in -the garden, where the latter had his rifle brought to him, and a foil -which he used as a sword, and stood as straight as a ramrod as he -carried out Bertrand's orders. Monin, who had followed them, thought -that it was courteous to do as his host did; he took a spade in lieu of -a musket, and, standing behind his neighbor, followed him through "right -shoulder," "left shoulder," "present arms," etc., pausing only to use -his snuff-box. - -For more than an hour the gentlemen had been on the terrace with -Bertrand, who would gladly have passed the day in such a pleasant -occupation. Monsieur Destival, ambitious to outshine the rural -constables, began to carry himself like a Prussian grenadier; and Monin, -perspiring profusely in his efforts to do as well as his host, did not -notice that, while taking aim, presenting arms and grounding arms with -his sword, he had pushed back his cap and wig, thereby giving himself a -most swaggering appearance. - -The drill was interrupted by roars of laughter from the effervescent -Athalie, who appeared on the scene with Madame Destival. - -Monsieur Monin paused in the act of presenting arms. It was high time; a -moment more and the wig would have fallen back and have exhibited the -ex-druggist as the Child-Jesus. As for Monsieur Destival, he turned -toward the ladies, with a martial air, weapon in hand, and said: - -"Well, what do you think of my set-up?" - -"Superb! But I prefer monsieur here with his spade; he is more amusing." - -"What, neighbor, are you taking a lesson in the manual?" - -"Yes," replied Monin, wiping his brow and pulling his wig forward; "I -followed you at a distance, and I'll tell you----" - -"But what can have become of Monsieur Dalville?" said Madame Destival, -paying no attention to Monin; "he left you on the road, he said that he -would be here as soon as you, and you have been here two hours. At whose -house did you leave him, Bertrand?" - -"At whose house, madame? I didn't say that I left him at anyone's -house." - -"But you must have seen him go into a house, didn't you? Of course you -didn't leave him on the highroad?" - -"Excuse me, madame, but that's just what I did: I left my lieutenant in -the middle of the road, about half a league from here." - -"You do not tell the whole story, Bertrand: Monsieur Auguste wasn't -alone on the road, I fancy." - -"I didn't see whether anybody was coming, madame." - -"Oh! there must have been some peasant girl there, some rustic beauty, -who captivated Monsieur Dalville!" - -"What do you mean, my dear? Does he consort with that kind?" inquired -the petite-matresse disdainfully. - -"He consorts with all kinds, my dear. Bless my soul, a scullery maid, if -she has a little turned-up nose, a----" - -"Oh dear! oh dear! this goes far to destroy the good opinion I had -formed of this gentleman." - -"I tell you," said Madame Destival in a lower tone, drawing nearer to -her friend, "he's a perfect libertine! If it weren't for my husband, I -should never receive him. He's a man whose acquaintance is likely to -endanger a woman's reputation. But Monsieur Destival is daft over him. -He absolutely insists on entertaining him, and is forever inviting him -here. I don't like quarrels, and I let my husband do what he chooses." - -"Well, I am not so obliging; I do only what I like, and I receive only -those people who suit me. Ah! if Monsieur de la Thomassinire should try -to thwart me, I should instantly become subject to hysterics." - -The ladies were about to return to the garden and Bertrand to continue -his lesson in drilling, when they heard loud laughter in the courtyard, -and in a moment Dalville made his appearance. - -"Ah! good-day, my dear friend," said Monsieur Destival, going to meet -Auguste, rifle in hand; "we had about given you up. Shoulder arms, eh? -Isn't this about right?" - -"I see that Bertrand will make something of you." - -"Here is my wife, who has been in a temper because you didn't come." - -"Mon Dieu! how my husband does irritate me!" said Madame Destival to her -neighbor, assuming a frigid air to welcome Auguste, who said to her: - -"What, madame! have you been so kind as to be uneasy because of my -non-appearance?" - -"I have not said a word of that sort, monsieur. I cannot conceive why -Monsieur Destival delights in crediting me with statements the thought -of which I do not even entertain. I simply considered that when a person -promised to arrive in time for luncheon, it was ridiculous to put in an -appearance at the end of the day. However, I am not at all surprised, -and--But, bless my soul! what on earth has happened to you, monsieur? -What a plight you are in! A wound in the face--clothes all -disarranged--It would seem that you have had some thrilling adventure." - -"In truth, madame," said Auguste, bowing to Athalie, who returned his -salutation with a simpering air, "I did have an encounter----" - -"Perhaps he met the wolf," suggested Monin, walking up to Destival; "it -seems that there is one in the woods. The peasant woman who sold my wife -her cucumbers told her that the other day----" - -"Can it be that you have been fighting with a wolf, my gallant -Dalville?" cried Destival, presenting his bayonet to the company as if -he proposed to charge a hollow square. - -"Oh, no!" said madame, with a sly smile, "it was no wolf that made that -mark on monsieur's face; it looks like something entirely different; -don't you think so, my dear love?" - -"That looks to me exactly like the scratch of a finger-nail," said -Athalie the vivacious, looking very closely at Auguste; "isn't it that, -monsieur?" - -"You are not mistaken, madame." - -"So you have been fighting, have you, monsieur?" said Madame Destival. - -"No, madame, I simply met a very pretty little boy, who had broken the -bowl in which he was carrying soup to his father. I gave him a piece of -money to console him; at that, in his joy he embraced me; he patted my -cheeks with his little hands, and he--he accidentally scratched me a -little. That is a faithful account of my adventure, mesdames." - -Madame Destival bit her lip and glanced at her companion, who smiled. It -was evident that they both doubted the truth of Dalville's story; but he -cared very little what they might think. Taking advantage of this brief -pause in the conversation, Monin went to Auguste, whom he had met twice -at his neighbor's and said to him in the most amiable manner: - -"How's your health?" - -"Very good, Monsieur Monin, except for this scratch, which is not -dangerous." - -"You are joking, monsieur! I tell you finger-nail scratches are not to -be trifled with.--Do you use snuff?" - -"Thanks." - -"I know all about it, and I'll tell you why: my wife has a----" - -Having no curiosity to hear Monin's story, Dalville followed the ladies, -who had returned to the garden. Athalie's presence aroused in the young -man a desire to be agreeable. He had not expected to find any other lady -than the mistress of the house, who was well enough, but with whom he no -longer took pains to be agreeable. Why? Was it because he was no longer -in love with her, or because he was sure of pleasing her, or--On my -word, you ask me too much. - -Madame de la Thomassinire's vivacity and unconventionality harmonized -perfectly with Auguste's lively humor and free-and-easy manners; and as -greater liberty is authorized in the country, after a very short time -he and the petite-matresse were laughing and joking together as if they -had known each other for years. - -Madame Destival did not share their gayety; she was sulky, said little, -and contented herself with darting eloquent glances at the young man -from time to time; the more intimate her two companions became, the more -her ill-humor seemed to increase. Meanwhile they were strolling about -the garden; they sat down; then Madame de la Thomassinire went to look -at a pretty view, or pluck a flower, or chase a butterfly, and as she -sauntered back showed Auguste a double row of lovely teeth, and seemed -to say: - -"Why don't you come with me?" - -But Madame Destival did not leave her, and although visibly annoyed, she -too ran after the butterflies. - -"What on earth is the matter with you, my dear love?" said Athalie, -good-humoredly; "you don't seem very hilarious." - -"I beg pardon, I am satisfied; but a severe headache has just come on." - -"Go in the house and lie down for a moment." - -"No, my child, oh, no! I prefer to stay with you." - -"You shouldn't stand on ceremony in the country. Besides, monsieur will -bear me company. We will catch butterflies together." - -"I will catch whatever you please, madame," said Auguste, with a smile -which was instantly succeeded by a wry face, because Madame Destival -pinched his arm as she replied: - -"No, the air will do me good. But I thought that you intended to have -some music?" - -"Oh! we shall have time enough this evening, as I am to pass the night -here. Is monsieur to remain?" - -"If madame will kindly allow me to do so?" said Auguste, glancing at his -hostess, who replied angrily: - -"As you please, monsieur." - -After walking for some time longer, they stopped beside a swing, and the -sprightly Athalie sprang to a seat on the narrow plank, held in place by -two cords only, saying to Auguste: - -"Oh! do give me a push, please. I am wild over swinging; I have nearly -killed myself a dozen times, but it makes no difference, I always come -back to it. Not too high, monsieur, do you understand?" - -"As high or as low as you choose, madame." - -Auguste stood near the swing and pushed gently, while Madame Destival -seated herself at a little distance, with her handkerchief at her eyes. -The young man was distraught; he looked at Athalie and Madame Destival -in turn; the former's petulant ways attracted him, the other's grief -seemed to cause him pain. - -"Oh! what fun! how lovely it is!" cried the petite-matresse. "Keep on, -monsieur, harder! Look out, you are jerking me.--Ah! my dear, you can't -imagine how I like this!" - -Madame de la Thomassinire gave no sign of being tired of swinging; but -Madame Destival, who was not at all amused, resorted to the device of -fainting, and fell back in her chair with a hollow groan. Thereupon -Auguste left the swing and ran to Emilie, exclaiming: - -"What is the matter, madame?" - -"Leave me; you are a monster!" replied Madame Destival, her eyes still -closed. - -"What have I done, pray?" - -"Do you think that I have not noticed your conduct?" - -"My conduct has been perfectly natural, I should say----" - -"Not content with coming here from--from I don't know where, monsieur -presumes, in my presence, to make love to that flirt, who behaves in the -most indecent way! I should have hoped that you would at least respect -my house, monsieur!" - -"Really, madame, I cannot in the least understand your anger. I am -courteous, polite--nothing more." - -"Do you think that I have no eyes? It is far too evident. The least that -you can do is to show some little self-restraint!" - -"But----" - -"Hush!" - -"Well!" said Athalie, noticing that the swing moved more slowly, "what -are you doing, monsieur? You are not pushing, you are letting me stop; -and I don't want that. Are you tired already? Fie! a young man too!" - -At that moment appeared Monsieur Monin, who, seeing that his host was -determined to practise the manual until dinner, and feeling that he had -not the strength to continue, had dropped his spade and bent his steps -toward the garden, where, as he wiped his forehead, he sought to freshen -up his ideas by resorting to his snuff-box. - -"You have come in the nick of time, Monsieur Monin," said Madame -Destival; "madame is sorely in need of somebody to swing her. Do her -that service, she will be overjoyed." - -As she said this, Emilie rose, took Auguste's arm and led him to another -part of the garden, leaving Monin agape with amazement at the task -assigned him, and Athalie still in the swing. Having her back to the -others, she had not noticed their departure and was still ignorant of -the fact that she had changed swingers. - -"Well! push me, monsieur!" she said, wriggling about in the swing to -make herself go. - -Monin fortified himself with a pinch of snuff and walked toward the -swing; but, having miscalculated the space that it covered in swinging -back, the seat came down upon him as he was turning up his sleeves in -order to push harder, and the young woman's plump figure struck him in -the face. - -Dazed by the blow, Monin fell on the turf a step or two away; while -Madame de la Thomassinire gave a little shriek because his nose had -almost unseated her. - -"How awkward you are!" she cried; "if I hadn't held on tight, I should -have fallen. Come and stop me, and help me to get down.--Well, monsieur, -do you propose to leave me here?" - -Monin was not quick to rise, and he was looking for his cap, which the -swing had knocked off, muttering: - -"I am at your service in a minute, madame. You see, if I should go home -without my cap, my wife would make a row." - -Really vexed, Athalie turned her head and saw Monin trying to climb a -tree to reach his cap, which the swing had sent flying to a high branch. -The young woman laughed heartily, then jumped down from the swing and -walked away, seeking Auguste and Madame Destival in every thicket. - -After scouring the garden to no purpose, she returned to the place where -she had left Monin; he was still at the foot of the tree, which he had -tried vainly to climb, gazing despairingly at his cap, lodged on a -branch, which he could not reach, and seeking in his snuff-box some -inspiration as to the means of recovering it. - -"Which way did they go, monsieur?" asked Athalie, stopping beside him. -He looked stupidly about and said: - -"Who, madame?" - -"Monsieur Dalville and Madame Destival." - -"I can't tell you--unless they've gone to drill too." - -Athalie went toward the house. Destival was still with Bertrand on the -terrace. The young woman entered the salon; it was empty. - -"This is very polite," said Athalie; "a perfect gentleman that! It seems -that there is no standing on ceremony here. I would like right well to -know if Monsieur Dalville is with Madame Destival. She had a -sick-headache; I am curious to know how she gets rid of it." - -The young woman left the salon and passed through several rooms without -meeting anybody, for Julie and Baptiste were busy in the kitchen, and -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's three servants had gone to the village to -play goose. She went up to the first floor, where Madame Destival's -bedroom was; but the door was closed and locked. - -"She is in her room," thought the petite-matresse; and she knocked -gently. There was no reply; she knocked louder. At last Madame Destival -asked who was there. - -"I, my dear," Athalie replied. "I came up to have a chat with you." - -"Excuse me, I had dropped asleep; my headache is so much worse----" - -"I have one too, and I will lie down in your room a moment; it will do -me good." - -"Hasn't Julie shown you your room?" - -"No, my love; let me in, pray." - -Madame de la Thomassinire was determined not to go away, and after some -little time she was admitted. Madame Destival appeared with her clothes -no more disarranged than was natural in a person who had been lying -down. As she went in, Athalie glanced about the room, and her eyes -longed to pierce the walls of a small closet at the foot of the bed, -the mirrored door of which was tightly closed. - -"Oh dear! how my head jumps!" said Madame Destival, putting her hand to -her forehead. - -"Isn't it any better?" asked Athalie, seating herself on a couch. - -"No; quite the contrary." - -"Lie down again, my dear; I will stretch myself out on this couch; I -shall not be sorry for a little rest myself. This hot sun affects my -nerves." - -Madame Destival seemed disinclined to return to her bed; she walked -about the room impatiently, and said: - -"Oh, no! I don't want to go to sleep again, it's almost dinner-time." - -"How on earth did you ever succeed in sleeping here? Your husband makes -such a noise with his 'present arms,' and his 'ready, aim!'" - -"It didn't disturb me at all." - -"What did you do with Monsieur Dalville?" - -"What did I do with him? Why, nothing." - -"I thought he was with you." - -"With me?" - -"When you left me in the swing, didn't you take him away with you, and -leave in his place the charming Monsieur Monin, whose society is so -entertaining?" - -"Monsieur Auguste left me immediately; he must have gone for a walk to -the village." - -"Do you know, my dear, that I should not have recognized Monsieur -Dalville from the picture that you drew of him. In the first place, you -said that he wasn't good-looking, that he had a common look." - -"I did not say common, I swear." - -"That he hadn't good style, that he was a rake, a ne'er-do-well, a man -whose visits might compromise a woman." - -"Oh! you exaggerate, my dear!" - -"I beg your pardon, but you said all that, you drew a shocking portrait -of him! For my part, I think him very good-looking, and I like his -manners very much." - -"That is very fortunate for him, madame." - -"Well! what on earth are you doing? You are putting on your belt inside -out." - -"Why, so I am! I have fits of absent-mindedness." - -"Shall I fasten your dress for you, my dear?" - -"Thanks; I can dress myself." - -At that moment the sound of something being placed against the window -made Emilie jump. - -"What is that?" she said. - -"It was in that closet, I think; something fell." - -"No, madame, the noise didn't come from the closet; it was at the -window." - -The ladies went to the window and saw Monsieur Destival, who had just -placed a ladder against the outer sill. - -"What in the world are you doing, monsieur?" exclaimed Madame Destival -in alarm; "what is the meaning of this ladder and all this confusion?" - -"My dear love, I know now all the evolutions there are; the only thing -left for me to learn is to storm a fort; that's the bouquet, so Bertrand -says, and he's going to show me how. You, mesdames, are inside the -fortress, you represent the enemy; you must try to keep us out, but we -will enter the citadel in spite of you." - -"What is the meaning of this absurd nonsense, monsieur?" - -"It's the bouquet, madame, I tell you.--Come, Bertrand; one! two! At the -double-quick, isn't it?" - -"I am not willing that you should storm my room, monsieur.--Take away -that ladder, Bertrand, I beg you.--You are mad, monsieur! Do you have -to storm a fort to catch a wolf?" - -"Nobody knows what may happen, madame." - -"I know that you won't happen to reach my room, monsieur." - -As she said this, Madame Destival closed her window with a bang, and led -Madame de la Thomassinire from her room, saying: - -"Let's go down, my dear, let's go down, I beg you, for they'll turn -everything topsy-turvy with their drilling." - -They went out on the terrace, where Monsieur Destival still held his -ladder, which Bertrand tried in vain to take away from him. The business -agent was determined to raise it somewhere. - -"Mon Dieu! monsieur, if you absolutely must lay siege to something," -said Madame Destival, "let it be a tree in the garden, and not my -bedroom." - -Bertrand grasped at this idea, and Athalie suggested to them that they -should attack the tree in which Monsieur Monin's cap had lodged. They -went toward the swing and found the ex-druggist there, with his short, -fat arms around the tree, trying to climb it, but unable to raise -himself more than three inches from the ground. - -At sight of the ladder, Monin uttered a cry of delight, and outdid -himself in thanks when Monsieur Destival ascended it at the -double-quick, having no suspicion that the manoeuvre had any other -purpose than the recovery of his cap. But alas! Monsieur Destival -thought it best to capture the trophy with his bayonet, and the point of -his weapon pierced the top, which was of thin straw. Bertrand shouted -"Bravo!" Monin made a wry face, the ladies laughed, and Auguste arrived -in time to witness the tableau. - -Auguste bestowed a sweet smile on Madame de la Thomassinire and a -rather cold bow on Madame Destival. I do not know whether you can guess -the cause, but the ladies had no difficulty. - -"Are you just from the village, monsieur?" said the petite-matresse, -showing her pretty teeth. - -"Yes, madame, I have had a most instructive walk; I have acquired some -new knowledge, and I hope to make good use of it." - -"Dinner is on the table," said a thin, yellow little man, with a napkin -on his arm. It was Baptiste, the one male servant, who acted as -scrubber, cook, footman, errand-boy and butler all at once, pending the -time when Monsieur Destival should establish his household on a more -extensive scale. So that poor Baptiste was worked to death, and told -Julie every day that he did not propose to remain in a place where they -made him do the work of a horse. - -"Say that dinner is served, Baptiste. That fellow will never be -trained!--Come, mesdames, to the table! Ouf! I have well earned it. I -have drilled terribly hard to-day.--Here, Monin, here's your cap. Did -you see how I picked it up?" - -"You made a hole in it," said Monin, gazing at the crown with a piteous -expression. - -"Bah! in the heat of the action; charge, bayonets! one, two! eh, -Bertrand?--But the ladies have gone already. Let's go now and attack the -dinner; I expect to make a tremendous breach in it. Go to Julie, -Bertrand; she'll look after you." - -Bertrand betook himself to the servants' quarters, and Monin, after -trying to bring the straws nearer together and conceal the hole in his -cap, followed his host to the dining-room. - -They were all seated at the table, when Monsieur Destival cried: - -"Well! how about Monsieur de la Thomassinire? He's missing again." - -"That's so, I had forgotten all about my husband," said Athalie, smiling -at her right-hand neighbor; and that neighbor was Auguste, who was -seated between the two ladies. "Oh! you mustn't wait for him." - -"It's very annoying! Where can he have gone? Do you suppose he has lost -his way in the Forest of Bondy?" - -"It's a very dangerous place," said Monin, fastening his napkin to his -buttonhole; "they say there's a band of robbers there just now, who----" - -"Suppose I tell your three servants to beat up the neighborhood? What do -you think, madame?" - -"Oh! no, monsieur; don't worry about my husband, I beg. I assure you -that he will turn up. I am not in the least anxious." - -"So long as madame is not disturbed," said Madame Destival, pursing her -lips, "it seems to me that we should do wrong to be. After what she -says, we may venture to dine." - -"Very good, let us dine. One, two, at the soup, and by the left flank at -the beef." - -"For heaven's sake, monsieur, are we going to hear nothing now but 'one, -two'?" - -"Faith, madame, this day has given me a great liking for the military -profession. What a fine thing is a man who holds himself perfectly -straight, with his body thrown back!--Pass me the beans.--Your man -Bertrand is a terrible fellow; he knows his business root and branch. -Deuce take it! what a fellow he is! How he handles a musket! He told me -that he was satisfied with me. Three or four lessons more, and I -hope----" - -"I hoped that you knew quite enough, monsieur." - -"Madame, a man cannot know too much about managing weapons. I wish now -that we might be attacked by robbers!" - -"Would you set them to drilling, monsieur?" - -"No, madame, but I would make the most of my advantages; I can fire four -shots in five minutes now." - -"I didn't know that, monsieur." - -"Oh! there are still more surprising things. Just look at Monin; he did -nothing but listen to us a moment, but see how much better he carries -himself than he did this morning." - -"It is certain," said Monin, raising a turnip on his fork and putting it -in his mouth as if the latter were a gun barrel, "it is certain that -drilling is good for a man; and I'll tell you what----" - -Monin was interrupted by the arrival of La Thomassinire, quite out of -breath, for he had taken a long nap under his tree, and, on waking, had -reflected that they might dine without him. - -"Ah! here you are at last, you terrible man!" said Destival. - -"I beg pardon; I am late, I know, but I have written at least ten -letters since I left you." - -"Why didn't you write them here?" - -"Faith, I was in such a hurry that I went into the first place I saw." - -"Well, sit down beside Madame Destival." - -"I'll soon overtake you, for, you see, I don't eat beef; it's poor -stuff, is beef! it isn't worth eating." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire took his seat, gazing at Auguste with some -surprise, because he had given him only a slight nod, and continued to -eat without apparently paying any attention to the parvenu, which was a -sore trial to that gentleman, who always wanted to make a sensation. - -But Dalville had seen on the instant what manner of man Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was. Fools enjoy the advantage of being accurately judged -in a very short time, whereas it often requires a long time to form a -just appreciation of men of sense. - -The dinner was lively enough, thanks to Auguste and his neighbor on his -left, who talked all manner of nonsense and seemed very much inclined to -suit their actions to their words. The mistress of the house ate little, -and Monin ate a great deal. Monsieur Destival attacked each dish in -measured time, and stuck his fork into a radish as if it were a bayonet. -As for Monsieur de la Thomassinire, when he found that Dalville was -determined not to take any notice of him, he decided to make himself -prominent by holding forth concerning the various dishes. He declared -the chicken cooked too much, the peas too large, the salad too sour, and -the beaune too new. An exceedingly agreeable guest was Monsieur de la -Thomassinire; but a very rich man must never seem content with what is -put before him. The idea! that would make people think that he had never -eaten anything good. - -It was dark when they reached the dessert, because it was late when they -sat down. The sky was heavily overcast; the heat became more intense, -and the flashes that rent the clouds from time to time indicated an -impending storm. - -Monsieur Monin made haste to eat his cheese, because his wife was afraid -of the thunder, and his orders were to go home to her whenever a storm -was brewing. La Thomassinire asked if the house was provided with -lightning rods. Monsieur Destival ordered all the windows closed at the -first clap of thunder, and the sight of the lightning made him forget to -present arms with his glass. As for the petite-matresse, she declared -that she was terribly afraid of a thunder storm, and she hid her face -upon Auguste's shoulder at every flash. - -"The deuce! the deuce! the weather is very threatening!" said Monsieur -Destival. "Come, messieurs, a glass of champagne; that will scatter the -clouds and make us forget.--Baptiste, have you shut everything tight?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Be very careful that there's no draught." - -"But you are stifling us, monsieur." - -"Windows must be closed when it thunders, madame; that is only prudent." - -"Then why don't you have a lightning-rod?" said La Thomassinire; "I -have three on my country-house, two on the house I live in in Paris, and -one on my other fine house on Rue de Buffaut." - -"Yes, I shall have one put on at once.--Come, messieurs, your glasses, -there goes the cork." - -"Oh! mon Dieu!" cried Athalie, pressing against her neighbor; "how you -frightened me with your cork!" - -"The storm seems to frighten you terribly, my dear love," said Madame -Destival, with a sneer. - -"Oh, yes! terribly!" - -"My wife's nerves are extremely sensitive." - -"Look out, you're not pouring into the glass, Destival." - -"That confounded flash dazzled me. Will your charming wife have some?" - -"Yes, I'm very fond of champagne. Please make it foam a lot, monsieur." - -"Here you are, belle dame.--Come, Dalville, drink with madame." - -"That is just what monsieur is doing," said Madame Destival spitefully. - -"And you, Monin, pass your glass." - -"Oh! I was just going to say that I must go; my wife's afraid of -thunder." - -"Why, your wife's making pickles, you know; she's busy." - -"But when it thunders she drops everything and crawls under a woolen -quilt, and if I shouldn't go to see how she is--Oh! what a crash! it -came very soon after the lightning, so the storm can't be far away." - -"Suppose we have a little music?" said Monsieur Destival, helping -himself to a third glass of champagne, in order to recover his courage; -"it seems to me that that wouldn't be a bad idea. What do you say, -Dalville?" - -Auguste had stooped to pick up his knife, which he had dropped under the -table for the second time. - -"Monsieur is awkward to-day," said Madame Destival, rising from the -table with a gesture of impatience; "I believe that we shall do well to -go up to the salon." - -At that moment the clouds broke, the rain fell in torrents, and the -fields assumed a novel aspect. Everybody rose; the petite-matresse -leaned heavily on Auguste's arm, because the storm had taken away all -her strength. Monsieur de la Thomassinire, desirous to play the -scholar, because he thought that his companions were no more learned -than he, went to one of the windows and declared that the storm would -not be _consequential_ because the atmosphere was very beautiful at -sunset. - -Auguste could not restrain a slight laugh, which caused the trembling -Athalie to press his arm all the harder. Monsieur Destival, who had -recovered his spirits in some measure since the rain began, which made -the storm much less dangerous, executed a half wheel to the left of the -company, and charged up the stairs at the double-quick. Monin was left -alone in the dining-room, folding his napkin as a matter of habit, and -muttering as he listened to the rain: - -"It's coming down hard, and I haven't any umbrella, and they've made a -hole in the top of my cap! so what am I going to do?" - -Having taken snuff two or three times, our friend decided to address -Julie, who had just passed through the room. He followed her, calling -after her: - -"I beg pardon, mademoiselle, but couldn't you----" - -As Julie did not reply, Monin followed her to the kitchen, where -Bertrand was drinking with Baptiste and Monsieur de la Thomassinire's -three tall footmen, who did not agree with their master that the beaune -was too new. - -"Could you lend me an umbrella?" asked Monin. - -"We haven't any here," Julie replied curtly. - -"Nonsense! an umbrella!" said Bertrand, in whom the beaune had already -aroused a tendency to talk. "As if a man should use such a thing! Is -that what I taught you this morning--to handle an umbrella?" - -The guests began to laugh, and Julie elbowed Monin gradually toward the -door, saying: - -"I don't like to have so many people in my kitchen, monsieur; they get -in my way. Besides, you don't belong here." - -Julie closed the door; and Monin, finding himself expelled from the -kitchen, decided to go up to the salon and wait until the storm should -have subsided. Dalville and Athalie were at the piano, singing a -nocturne. Monsieur Destival was playing cart with Monsieur de la -Thomassinire; and Madame Destival, while pretending to watch the game, -lost nothing of what took place at the piano. - -"I have the honor to wish you good-evening," said Monin, noiselessly -entering the salon. - -"Why, haven't you gone, neighbor? I supposed that you were at home -before this." - -"No, I'll tell you--the rain----" - -"In that case, you must take a hand. Come, bet on me and you will win." - -"Can I bet now?" - -"Yes, it isn't too late." - -"All right; then I'll bet two sous." - -"What sort of bet is that--two sous!" exclaimed La Thomassinire -contemptuously; "do you suppose that I play for copper? It's vulgar -enough to play for a crown. Take that away, monsieur, it's covered with -verdigris." - -"It's my two sous, monsieur; I bet them." - -"No one wants them, monsieur." - -"What! have I won already?" - -"Here, I'll fix that," said Destival, taking a ten-sou piece from his -pocket; "I'll add eight sous to make up Monin's bet. So I stake three -francs forty, and you, my dear fellow, three francs ten. My neighbor is -prudent, you see, and yet he is very rich, in very comfortable -circumstances. His nest is well feathered, the rascal!" - -"Then how can he propose to bet two sous?" said La Thomassinire; "it's -beyond belief.--Ace, ace, and ace. You are robbed." - -"What! does he admit that he has robbed us?" Monin asked his neighbor in -an undertone. - -"That means that we have lost.--Well, now for our revenge.--Aren't you -betting, Madame Destival?" - -"No, monsieur, I prefer to listen to the singing." - -"Betting won't prevent you, madame; I don't lose a note while I am -playing." - -"Nor I," said La Thomassinire. "I am like Cato, I can easily do four -things at once!" - -"Haven't you any duets of Rossini's here, my dear?" inquired Athalie, -running her fingers over the keys. - -"Why, I don't know, but I think not." - -"I think, madame, that I have had the pleasure of singing some of them -with you here," said Dalville. - -"Ah! you remember, do you, monsieur?" - -"Here's a duet from _La Gazza_," said Athalie, after upsetting all the -music on the piano; "let's try it, monsieur." - -"Ace, and _passe carreau_!" cried Monsieur de la Thomassinire -triumphantly, taking up the money that was on the table. - -"What does _passe carreau_ mean?" Monin asked Destival in a whisper. - -"It means that we have lost, as you see." - -"I don't know the terms of the game. That makes four sous that I've lost -already." - -"Make your bet." - -"Allow me to see what the weather is, first. Oh! it's still raining very -hard. I am in the game." - -"Monsieur is lucky!" - -"And then, too, I am pretty good at this game!" said La Thomassinire, -leaning back in his chair. - -"I believe that I play it rather well too," rejoined Destival, biting -his lips angrily. - -"Be quiet, messieurs! we can't hear each other sing!" said the sprightly -Athalie, while Auguste sang: "_Il certo il mio periglio_." - -La Thomassinire beat time falsely with his foot, murmuring, to make -believe that he understood Italian: - -"Very pretty! exceedingly pretty! bravo! bravo! bravissimo!" - -Whereupon Monin stooped and whispered to Destival: - -"Does that mean that we have lost, too?" - -"No, no! don't you hear them singing Italian? It's a duet by La Pie."[B] - -[B] _Pie_ in French means magpie. - -"Oho! it's by La Pie!" Monin repeated, rolling his eyes about and taking -out his snuff-box. "How does it happen, neighbor, that a _pie_ writes a -duet?" - -"My dear Monin," said Destival testily, "please don't talk to me all the -time; you see, you make me lose." - -"What! I make you lose, although I am not playing?" - -"Yes, yes, it confuses me. Bet again. I certainly am not a poor player, -but when a person talks like that----" - -"You see we've got a _pie_ at home that talks finely, and I wanted to -know--That makes eight sous I've lost." - -"And I sixteen francs!" - -"Bah! what does that amount to, messieurs?" said La Thomassinire; "if -you played for handfuls of gold as I do, it would be all very well; -that's what you can call gambling! I am very sorry to waste my luck for -such small stakes.--Bravo! bravissimo! _Certo pio pio piu! Atoussimo!_" - -La Thomassinire insisted on mixing Italian into everything that he -said, and Destival forced himself to smile, as he felt in his pockets; -but his gayety was forced, and his smiles were grimaces. The two singers -exchanged melting glances as they executed together roulades and -flourishes, which they prolonged inordinately, and during which Madame -Destival coughed impatiently in the hope of disturbing the harmony that -was rapidly becoming established between them. - -Suddenly the door of the salon was thrown open; a stout woman of fifty -or thereabouts, wearing a straw hat whose brim barely overpassed her -forehead and upon which nodded a wreath of faded roses, entered the room -with the air of a person in a towering rage, holding an umbrella in one -hand, and in the other a reticule large enough to hold a ten pound loaf -of sugar. At sight of her Monin started back, lost his wits, upset his -snuff-box, and acted as if he proposed to hide himself under the table. - -"Ah! so you're here, are you, monsieur?" cried Madame Monin, for it was -that lady in person who had entered the salon. "I find you gambling. I -suspected as much. I wish you good-evening, neighbors. While it's -thundering and a frightful storm is raging, monsieur sits here gambling -instead of coming home to comfort me; and yet he knows how afraid I am -of thunder storms! Excuse me, neighbor, for venturing to scold him -before you, but you must agree that his conduct is unpardonable." - -During this sermon, poor Monin, who had no idea what he was doing, -staked a forty-sou piece instead of two sous, and stuffed his fingers -into his snuff-box, in which there was nothing at all, stammering the -while with a contrite air: - -"How's your health, Bichette?" - -"My health! a lot you worry about it, on my word! To leave me alone -during the storm! Catherine had to keep me company under the quilt." - -"It was the rain that----" - -"As if a man should be afraid of the rain! for shame! You make me -blush!" - -Madame Destival did not like Madame Monin; but, being overjoyed by her -arrival at that moment, she gave her a seat near the piano and -overwhelmed her with attentions, to which Madame Monin replied by -repeated curtsies, at the same time handing her husband the umbrella. He -stepped forward to take it, and, forgetting that he was interested in -the game, murmured so low that she could hardly hear him: - -"Whenever you're ready, Bichette." - -But Bichette, who was comfortably seated and was already beginning to -criticise Madame de la Thomassinire, replied sharply: - -"Now that I've come, do you think I propose to go right away again? That -would be polite, wouldn't it? that would be worthy of you! I shall have -the pleasure of chatting with my neighbor a minute, and listening to the -music. I'm very fond of music." - -"You sing, I believe--do you not, Madame Monin?" inquired Madame -Destival eagerly. - -"Oh! I used to sing; I had rather a good voice, too; but I've forgotten -almost everything now except the duet from _Armide_: '_Aimons-nous! -aimons-nous! tout nous y convie!_' That's so lovely! it will never grow -old." - -"I have the score of _Armide_; you must sing that for us with Monsieur -Dalville." - -"Oh! really, neighbor!" - -"Do you hear the present that's to be given you?" whispered Athalie to -Auguste. - -"I am much obliged," replied Dalville; "upon my word, I don't know what -I have done to Madame Destival to make her play such a trick on me." - -"Don't be alarmed; if she forces you to sing the duet, I'll be your -accompanist, and I promise you that three or four chords will be broken -before the tenth measure." - -"How good you are, and how deeply indebted I shall be to you!" - -Monin, seeing that his wife had softened somewhat, made bold to say to -her: - -"You sing very nicely too that song about sheep: '_Margot filait -tranquillement, ne pensant, ne rvant qu' son p'tit, p'tit, p'tit._'" - -"Hush, monsieur, and attend to your game, as you're so fond of gambling. -Is it piquet they're playing there?" - -"No, Bichette, cart." - -"What? cart? And how long have you known cart, monsieur?" - -"I don't know it, but I was just going to tell you, I'm betting on it." - -"Ah! you're betting, are you? Well, I trust that you are modest at -least, and don't play for big stakes?" - -"Oh, no! never fear, Bichette!" - -"You have lost your forty sous, Monsieur Monin!" exclaimed Destival at -that moment, heaving a deep sigh. - -"Forty sous!" shouted Madame Monin, jumping from her chair with a -violence that made all the furniture in the room tremble; "what's that? -Monsieur Monin betting forty sous! Why, that is horrible! For heaven's -sake, neighbor, what did you give him to drink at dinner?--What is the -meaning of such extravagance, Monsieur Monin? Have you gone crazy?" - -"No, Bichette, it's a mistake; I assure you that I didn't bet but two -sous." - -"You put forty sous on the table, monsieur," said La Thomassinire, "and -they're lost." - -"I had won a lot, you see," whispered Monin to his wife; "that was just -my winnings." - -"You must admit that I am playing in hard luck," said Destival; "that -makes seven times that I have been responsible for Monin's losing." - -"Seven times, monsieur! have you bet seven times in succession?" cried -Madame Monin, glaring at her husband with the expression of a cat about -to pounce upon a mouse. - -"Why, no, Bichette; you know perfectly well that I am incapable of such -a thing!" - -"Here's the duet from _Armide_," said Madame Destival; "come, Monsieur -Dalville, sing it with madame." - -"I don't know it," said Auguste. - -"Nonsense! you are enough of a musician to sing it at sight." - -"I'll prompt you in your passages, monsieur," said Madame Monin, -removing her hat lest it should interfere with her voice. - -Madame Monin began. Her voice was almost enough to set one's teeth on -edge. Monin applauded every measure. Suddenly a chord broke. The -vivacious Athalie ran her fingers over the keys and seemed excited by -the fire with which she was playing. Soon a second chord broke, then a -third, and it was impossible to go on. Athalie left her seat, saying: - -"What a pity! it was going so well!" - -"That's the disadvantage of your pianos," said Madame Monin testily, as -she put on her shepherdess's hat; "Monsieur Monin's little flute's the -thing; there's no danger of that ever breaking, at all events." - -"Do you want me to go and get it, Bichette?" - -"Upon my word, this is a pretty time of night to make such a suggestion! -We must go home to bed, monsieur; that will be much better than your -little flute." - -Destival left the card-table, red as a turkey-cock. - -"I can't stand it any longer!" he cried. "That makes twelve times that -he has passed! I've lost at least forty francs!" - -"Oh! how can anyone risk so much money?" said Madame Monin. "If you -should ever lose forty francs, Monsieur Monin, I'd have a separation at -once." - -"Here's a fine to-do over a trifle!" said La Thomassinire, rising from -his chair; "I'll stake it on a single hand to-morrow, at a notary's, -who's a friend of mine. That's where they play cart! The table is -covered with gold and bank-notes! Ah! there's some fun in that! But -otherwise cart's a very stupid game.--Well! are we going to bed?" - -"Go to bed, monsieur, who's preventing you?" said Athalie; "we don't -need you." - -"Faith, I am terribly sleepy." - -"Baptiste will show you to your room, which is over this." - -"And where is mine, my dear, if you please?" queried the -petite-matresse, as her husband went up to bed without bidding anyone -good-night, because it was bad form. - -"Yours, my dear?" rejoined Madame Destival; "why, with your husband; we -have only one room to offer you." - -"What! can it be by any chance that you are going to make me sleep with -him?" - -"Why, of course." - -"Oh! that is absurd! Such a thing never occurred to me. I never sleep -with Monsieur de la Thomassinire. I have my own suite, as you know." - -"For once, belle dame," said Destival, with a sly expression, "our dear -husband will not complain." - -"Mon Dieu! how amusing!" exclaimed Athalie, sulkily. Meanwhile, Madame -Monin, who had succeeded at last in tucking up her dress and putting on -her shawl, said to Madame Destival with a simper: - -"For my part, I sleep with my husband, and I should just like to hear -him mention a separate room! Ha! ha!" - -"You know perfectly well, Bichette, that I have no desire to----" - -"All right, Monsieur Monin, I know what I know.--Good-night, -neighbors.--Well, monsieur, why don't you put on your cap? What sort of -way is that to act?" - -Monin was afraid that his wife would discover the hole in his cap. He -finally decided to wear it over his left ear, so that the top would be -less visible to the eyes of his better half. And Madame Monin led her -spouse away, promising him that she would never again let him dine out -without her, because he was not careful of himself at the table, and -wine made him plunge into all sorts of extravagance. - -When his neighbors had gone, Monsieur Destival admitted that the -drilling had fatigued him terribly, and he speedily vanished. - -The music had cemented the intimacy between Dalville and the brilliant -Athalie. With those who are capable of enjoying the charms of harmony, -there is nothing that brings two hearts together so quickly as a sweet -or tender ditty, or a passage overladen with passion, which the -performers often address to each other. Music is a very potent auxiliary -in love; it stirs the emotions, it speaks to the soul. Thank heaven, -almost all our ladies know how to play the piano now. - -But Athalie rose, and Madame Destival escorted her to her apartment. -Before going in, the petite-matresse laughingly said to her friend: - -"My dear, I must tell you something in confidence: I believe I've made a -conquest of Monsieur Dalville." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am almost sure of it; he has been talking to me in that veiled -way,--you know what I mean; and then he squeezed my hand very -tenderly." - -"I congratulate you!" - -"Oh! you understand that I mean to have a little sport with him, that's -all." - -"But I must tell you frankly that the conquest is of little value, for -he is a man who falls in love with every woman he sees.--Adieu, my dear, -good-night." - -"Until to-morrow, my love! I shall get up early for a walk in the -fields." - -"I will go with you, my dear." - -The ladies parted. Madame Destival went down to the salon, but Dalville -was no longer there; he too had retired. So madame did the same and -summoned Julie to undress her. - - - - -VI - -THE COMPANY RETURNS TO PARIS - - -The night passed. Did its protecting darkness banish Madame Destival's -irritation and her husband's fatigue? Did Dalville determine to be -virtuous, and Bertrand to be sober? Did the sprightly Athalie become -reconciled to the necessity of sharing her husband's bed, and did -Monsieur de la Thomassinire sleep well beside his wife? These are -mysteries which I am unable to solve. - -All I know is that Madame Destival rose with her friend's pleasant -confidence of the night before still in her mind, and that she said to -herself as she dressed: - -"The flirt did everything that she could to assure the conquest of -Auguste. I saw all her simpering and smiles while they were singing. No -doubt she hopes to receive a declaration in due form this morning; but -I am sorry for you, madame, for I shall be on the spot, I shall not let -you out of my sight, I will not allow such intrigues to be carried on in -my house. Oh! women are such coquettes nowadays!--I think I will put -this rose in my hair; it's more becoming than a ribbon. Mon Dieu! how -badly my curl-papers work to-day!--And then they complain because men -think unfavorably of our sex. Why, don't they justify them in that -opinion by acting as they do? At the very first meeting, to let a man -see that one is attracted by him--shocking! And a woman of twenty, -married two years at most! Ah! Monsieur Auguste, you don't deserve any -friends." - -Monsieur Destival, on laying aside the silk handkerchief that covered -his head at night, took his stand in front of his mirror and presented -arms with a vessel which he had forgotten to replace in the night-table. -Forgetting that he was in his shirt, Destival, who had dreamed of -exterminating all the beasts in the district, made the circuit of his -chamber at the double-quick, and took aim at his bolster with the tongs. -But in that martial posture the remembrance of the forty francs he had -lost at cart the night before presented itself to his mind, and as one -cannot attend to business while practising the manual of arms, our -friend recurred to more peaceable ideas and proceeded to dress, thinking -of nothing but the best means to become as rich as La Thomassinire, so -that he might be able to lose a few crowns at play without losing his -temper. - -Dalville dreamed a little of the fair Athalie, a little of the young -milkmaid, a little of Madame Destival, also of some other persons; like -one who has no exclusive sentiment in his heart, but allows himself to -be led by all the sensations, all the illusions, all the whims of his -imagination. He rose without any well-defined plan of operations, -without a determination to be more virtuous or more enterprising, -without any intention of beginning a new intrigue. Chance should decide, -he would act as circumstances might suggest, he would obey the dictates -of his heart, or rather of pleasure. For a heedless fellow, that line of -conduct was not devoid of wisdom; if to abandon oneself to the course of -events, to lay no plans in advance, but to seize on the wing every -opportunity to be happy--if that is heedlessness, it bears a strong -resemblance to philosophy; in which there is nothing surprising, since -extremes meet. - -Bertrand had risen before dawn, always ready to carry out his master's -orders, even when he did not approve of his conduct. The ex-corporal was -well pleased with his repast of the preceding night, because the beaune -was not spared, and Baptiste and Tony and the tall lackeys, while -drinking with him, listened with respectful attention to his stories of -his campaigns. He was walking on the terrace, ready to give Monsieur -Destival a lesson in the manual, and perfectly reconciled to the life -that people lead in the country. - -The petite-matresse, whose head was as light as her heart, had risen -very early, before her husband was awake. She had slept badly; -innumerable thoughts crowded into her mind, but the principal one was as -always the desire to attract, to make a sensation; that was the fixed -point about which her other sentiments revolved by the force of -gravitation, without disturbing the course of the planet whose -satellites they were. - -As for Monsieur de la Thomassinire, he had slept without waking, and in -his dreams had imagined himself the _seigneur_ of a department, -decorated with three crosses, a broad ribbon and a star, and richer, -more conceited and more insolent than ever. Then he had found himself -abruptly transported to the wine-shop of the _Learned Ass_, serving wine -to peasants who treated him most cavalierly. That infernal sleep has no -respect for anything; it displaces the most powerful men, and effects -strange revolutions; it transforms a king into a shepherd, and sometimes -raises the plowman to a throne; it confounds the great lord with the -humblest plebeian; it makes of a minister of state a poor devil without -bread or work or resource, starving in a garret; it transforms the -banker into a petty clerk working fourteen hours a day to earn three -francs; the poet who sells his pen, into a juggler employed to perform -tricks before an audience which pays and despises him. To the kept woman -it shows the hospital, to the public harlot, La Salptrire, to the -young men who frequent roulette tables, the galleys or the nets of -Saint-Cloud. It reminds the parvenu of his birth, the public official of -the acts of injustice he has committed, the man without sense of honor -of the insults he has endured. And all these people do as Monsieur de la -Thomassinire did: they awake shrieking that they have a nightmare, and -they ascribe those horrid dreams to a bad digestion. They would be very -sorry to seek therein a memory of the past and a lesson for the future. - -There was no trace of the storm of the preceding evening. The sky was -clear, and the country seemed lovelier than ever; the trees glistened -with a brilliant green undimmed by dust, the flowers were fresher, the -brooks more noisy; everything invited one to enjoy the charms of nature; -and that doubtless was the reason that Auguste was already in the -garden, standing in the gateway leading into the courtyard, undecided -whether he should go for a walk in the fields or remain on the -premises. Meanwhile, Athalie had taken a seat under a clump of trees at -the end of the garden; she was occupied in arranging some flowers, but -her glance constantly wandered to right and left to see if someone was -coming to bear her company; while Madame Destival strolled along an -adjacent alley ready to join the persons whom she expected to meet in -the garden. - -Suddenly Auguste heard a voice that was not unknown to him crying: - -"Whoa, White Jean! whoa, I say! Have you forgotten that we stop here?" - -And at the same instant a milkmaid with her tin cans entered Monsieur -Destival's courtyard. Auguste uttered an exclamation of delight when he -recognized Denise, and hurried across the courtyard to meet the pretty -milkmaid. - -"It is really you, lovely Denise!" - -"Yes, monsieur, it's I. Didn't I tell you yesterday that I came here -every morning to bring milk? I'm very glad to see you again, monsieur." - -"Really, Denise, did you want to see me?" - -"Yes, monsieur, I wanted to ever so. Oh! that was such a nice thing you -did! it was so generous! and even if you do have a little too much -blarney with us girls, no matter--I let it go on account of that." - -"Bless my soul! what on earth have I done, Denise, to bring down all -these compliments on my head?" - -"What about Coco, and his soup-bowl, and his old grandmother--don't you -remember them?" - -"How do you know so much, Denise?" - -"Pardi! as if everything wasn't known in the country! The old grandma'am -came to the village to buy some things. Coco came with her, and he told -everybody that a fine gentleman had given him money to buy another -bowl. The grandmother described you, and I knew you right away. It's too -bad that Pre Calleux is such a drunkard; he passed the whole night in -the wine-shop drinking up the crown piece you gave him, and he'll soon -get away with the money you left for Coco too. But that ain't your -fault, and you were mighty kind to 'em." - -"I did nothing except what was perfectly natural, Denise, and I am well -rewarded at this moment." - -Denise had become more and more animated as she told Auguste what she -knew, and the young man's glances made her blush more than ever. She -lowered her eyes and smiled, and stood for some moments before the man -who was gazing at her, her arms hanging at her sides. Her awkwardness, -her embarrassment and her coarse woolen skirt made the charms of her -pretty face even more alluring. - -At last she took up her cans, which she had placed on the ground, and -said: - -"I must take this milk to Mamzelle Julie; she's generally up by this -time." - -"One moment, Denise, I beg you." - -"Have you got anything to say to me, monsieur?" - -"Oh, yes! In the first place, you look even prettier this morning than -you did yesterday." - -"Oh! if that's all it is, I may as well go." - -"One instant, Denise, please; I feel that the more I see you, the more I -love you!" - -"Well, then, you mustn't see me any more, monsieur." - -"Does it make you angry to have me love you?" - -"Oh no! for I'm pretty sure it ain't dangerous." - -"If you would listen to me----" - -"Adieu, monsieur." - -And Denise started to walk away. But Auguste took her hand and stopped -her, gazing tenderly at her,--too tenderly for a fickle youth who gazed -so at all pretty women. A seducer's eyes should express nothing but -inconstancy; unluckily, the eyes lend themselves to every sort of -scheme. But perhaps Dalville was moved at that moment by genuine -feeling, who knows? Who can read the human heart? - -At this juncture Bertrand entered the courtyard; he approached his -master, unseen by him, and said: - -"Did I hear monsieur call me?" - -"Why, no! I didn't call you," replied Auguste angrily, dropping Denise's -hand; "you always appear at the wrong time. Is it proper to interrupt -people when they are talking together?" - -"Pardon, lieutenant, I didn't hear you say anything; I didn't know -people talked without speaking." - -"Leave us, Bertrand." - -Bertrand made a half wheel to the left and went toward the garden; but -as he passed Denise, who, although she said that she was going, did not -go, and seemed very busy with her little cheeses, the corporal said to -her in an undertone: - -"Look out for yourself!" - -Auguste once more approached Denise, who had started in surprise at -Bertrand's words. - -"What's the matter?" he asked. - -"Nothing, monsieur, but I must go." - -"Will you do me a favor, Denise?" - -"Oh, yes! with pleasure, monsieur, if it's anything I can do." - -"I have taken a liking to that child I met on the road yesterday. His -pretty face, his little honest way, everything speaks in his favor." - -"You mean Coco Calleux?" - -"Yes." - -"I'm fond of him, too, but the poor little fellow's had a hard time -since he lost his mother. His grandmother's rough and cross, and his -father's a drunkard, and they want that child, only six years old, to go -to work so soon! Can you imagine such a thing? Why, he often has nothing -but bread to eat, and he's lucky when he doesn't have a beating for his -supper. So we in the village don't like that drunken pig of a Calleux, -and if the cottage wasn't some distance from the village, Coco would be -at our house more than he's at home, I tell you." - -"Well, Denise, be good enough to keep an eye on the child and buy him -whatever he needs--in short, take my place with him, will you?" - -"Oh! with pleasure, monsieur!" - -"Here, take this purse, and use the contents to the best advantage for -my little protg. When that is gone, I'll give you more. I shall always -approve whatever use you may make of it." - -"Ah! you've got a kind heart, monsieur! How glad I am! But such a lot of -money as this will last a long time." - -"You will do me this favor, won't you?" - -"Will I! Pardi! I should say so! Don't you think it's pleasant to be -employed to do good? Who could refuse such a commission?--I say, -monsieur, I must kiss you for this--do you want me to?" - -"Do I want you to, Denise!" - -Auguste already had his arms around the girl, and had deposited more -than one kiss on the plump cheeks which she offered him with pleasure, -when an exclamation and a burst of laughter reached their ears -simultaneously. Dalville turned: Madame Destival and Madame de la -Thomassinire stood behind him. - -"Oh! this is too much!" cried Madame Destival, walking forward with a -wrathful glance at Denise, while Athalie continued to laugh, albeit her -laughter seemed slightly forced. - -"Delicious!" she said. "What! even with milkmaids? I shall remember -this! the picture was truly rural." - -Denise was not disturbed, for she had no thought that she could be -blamed; so she looked at the two ladies in amazement, trying to divine -the cause of the merriment of the one and the anger that gleamed in the -eyes of the other, and still holding in her hand the purse that the -young man had given her. - -"What are you doing here?" demanded Madame Destival, with a contemptuous -glance at the young milkmaid. - -"As you see, madame, I have brought cheese and milk as usual." - -"I didn't order any cheeses of you; in fact, yours are bitter, and I -don't want any more of them. As for your milk, you put water in it, and -I propose to take mine of somebody else." - -"Water in my milk!" cried Denise, whose eyes filled with tears when she -heard her merchandise thus vilified. "You're the first person that ever -said that, madame, I tell you! And I swear----" - -"All right, mademoiselle, that's enough; I don't want you ever to set -foot inside my doors again. I thought that you were a decent, virtuous -girl; I don't like little hussies." - -"Hussies! Mon Dieu! what have I done to madame?" - -"We saw it all, mademoiselle. And that purse in your hand is proof -enough." - -"That purse, madame," said Auguste, walking to Denise's side, "is -destined for a charitable purpose, to relieve an unfortunate person. But -I see that an evil interpretation is always put upon everything.--Poor -Denise! I am responsible for your being made wretched! And when, by -chance, I attempt to do a good deed, they think that I am trying to -seduce you.--Do you suppose, mesdames, that one wins the love of a -milkmaid with money? Remember, please, that this is not Paris." - -While Auguste was speaking, Denise became calm; she wiped her eyes with -the corner of her apron, and recovered sufficient assurance to say to -Madame Destival: - -"I ought not to cry at what you said to me, madame, for I haven't done -anything to be ashamed of.--Adieu, monsieur; I'll take your money and -try to carry out your kind intentions." - -With that, Denise curtsied to the company, and, still choking back her -sobs, returned to White Jean and left the business agent's house. - -Madame Destival, conscious of some embarrassment, returned to the -garden. Athalie walked up to Auguste and said, with a laugh: - -"You must admit, monsieur, that you kissed her at least six times in -succession." - -"I didn't count, madame." - -"You seemed to like it." - -"Very much, madame." - -"Monsieur is frank, at all events." - -"That is, perhaps, my one good quality." - -"But why did you kiss her?" - -"Is she not very pretty, madame?" - -"Pretty! perhaps; as coarse, rustic beauties go." - -"No, no! on the contrary, her features are extremely delicate." - -"But she's a milkmaid!" - -"What difference do you see between a pretty country girl and a pretty -city girl?" - -"Why, an enormous difference, monsieur. What about education, good -manners, and refinement--do you count all those as nothing? Would you go -out in Paris, or even in the country, with a milkmaid on your arm?" - -"No, madame, I admit that I should not be enough of a philosopher for -that. But just put on Denise----" - -"Who is Denise, pray?" - -"This little milkmaid, madame." - -"Oho! so monsieur knows her name?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"Well, monsieur, what do you propose to put on Mademoiselle Denise?" - -"A pretty hat, a stylish dress, a handsome shawl----" - -"Ah! she would cut a strange figure in all those things!" - -"Mon Dieu, madame, habit is everything. You yourself, despite all your -charms, might be awkward in a milkmaid's cap. Those things that can be -acquired, madame, are of little worth; but the things that are innate -are beauty, grace, intellect, a sweet voice and glance and smile--in a -word, the charm which takes us captive and which you possess in such -abundant measure, madame." - -"Ah! you did well to end in that way; if you had not I should have been -angry. Madame Destival is right; you are a ne'er-do-well, a dangerous -man. By the way, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in Paris, -monsieur; I often give balls, and I have a reception every Thursday in -winter." - -"Madame is too kind; but your husband has said nothing to me." - -"Mon Dieu! has he any time to think to invite people? He is so -distraught, so engrossed by his speculations, that I alone attend to the -invitations. Will you come?" - -"Is it not absolutely necessary for me to see you again? If I should -yield to my inclinations, I would never leave you." - -"Bless my soul! I believe that we are dropping into sentiment. Are you -going to make me a declaration?" - -"Is it possible to see you without loving you?" - -"Look out! you are becoming serious, and I like none but merry people. -That melancholy air doesn't suit you." - -"Have you no pity, then, for the pain you cause?" - -"Oh! not the least! Sighs do not move me an inch; to please me, it is -necessary to keep me laughing constantly." - -While they talked, Auguste and his companion had strayed into the shaded -portion of the garden. He had taken the young woman's arm and was -pressing it tenderly. Athalie was still laughing, but was making no -effort to avoid Dalville's gentle caresses, when Bertrand appeared -before them at a bend in the path. - -"They are waiting for you and madame at breakfast, lieutenant," said the -corporal, putting the back of his hand to his forehead. - -Auguste stamped on the ground impatiently; but the vivacious Athalie had -already dropped his arm and was frisking away. - -"Parbleu! you are exceedingly awkward, Bertrand!" said Auguste, glaring -at the corporal, who still stood before him. - -"What have I done, lieutenant?" - -"You seem to have made it your business to disturb me when I am engaged -in an interesting conversation with a pretty woman." - -"Excuse me, lieutenant, but I can't tell what you're saying." - -"A shrewd man can guess it at a glance. Once for all, when I am alone -with a woman, I forbid you to interrupt me." - -"That settles it, lieutenant; if the house should burn down, I wouldn't -disturb you." - -The whole party had assembled in the dining-room; even La Thomassinire, -having waked with a tremendous appetite, had not devised any previous -business which would have vexed his stomach, and he bestowed a most -affable nod upon Dalville, which meant that his wife had informed him -that she proposed to receive the young man at their house. Madame -Destival too seemed desirous to be reconciled to Auguste, who had -treated her coldly since the scene in the courtyard. - -"I must be in Paris before noon," said La Thomassinire, shuffling a -mass of papers that he took from his wallet; "I have ten appointments -for to-day. I am sure that at least twenty people have called at my -house before this. A little more coffee, if you please. It isn't -Mocha----" - -"I beg your pardon," said Destival, as he poured out some for him. - -"Oh, no! I assure you that isn't; I know what I am talking about. I laid -in lately a _consequential_ supply; it's very different from this." - -"I must be in Paris this morning," said Destival, puffing himself out; -"I have numerous matters on the carpet, some of great importance! Monin -wants to buy a house, and I have just what he wants." - -"Who's he? that little man who bet two sous at cart?" - -"The very same." - -"What! that fellow buy houses! I shouldn't have suspected it; his coat -was very threadbare--and patched on the elbows." - -"Oh! that means nothing in the country." - -"Never mind! you must admit that a man in a threadbare coat doesn't -promise great things--it doesn't give you a very exalted idea of his -wit. Oh! I have a keen glance, I have; and then, being used to seeing -only rich and well-dressed people,--I say, footman, just tell my people -to harness up, to put my horses to my calche." - -"I expect my milliner this morning," said Athalie; "she is to bring me -the sweetest bonnet. We must go at full speed, monsieur, for I am very -anxious to try on that bonnet." - -"You are aware, madame, that my steeds do not travel like cab-horses. I -feed them rather well, and they cost me so much that I can afford to -make them gallop." - -"Baptiste," Monsieur Destival called to his servant, who was leaving the -room, "you will hitch up too, do you understand?" - -"That's the way," muttered Baptiste, "no sooner out of the kitchen than -I must go to the stable!" - -"I say, Baptiste, while you're about it, tell my little Tony to put the -horse to my cabriolet," said Dalville, smiling at the pompous air of La -Thomassinire, who said, rubbing his hands: - -"On my word, it's very pleasant for each to have his own carriage; it's -very genteel; one is certain at all events that one is with _comme il -faut_ people. To be sure, you have only cabriolets, but everybody can't -have a calche, a coup and a landau, like me." - -"What, are you going too, Monsieur Dalville?" asked Madame Destival, -with a most expressive glance at the young man; "this is polite, -everybody abandons me!" - -"It is a fact, my dear fellow," said Destival, "that my wife relied on -you to keep her company, and----" - -"I never said that I relied on monsieur; most assuredly I should not -have dreamed of saying such a thing!" said Emilie, interrupting her -husband; "but as everybody else is going to Paris, I don't see why I -should stay here. Besides, you are to give a dinner this week, aren't -you, monsieur?" - -"Yes, madame, a large dinner. I shall have some influential -people,--government officials and distinguished artists. I count upon -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire, and upon friend Dalville too." - -Dalville bowed simply, but La Thomassinire replied: - -"We will see. I can't promise beforehand, because I may be invited to -other dinners by people high up on the ladder, and you must see----" - -"So we are all going to Paris," said Madame Destival. "My husband will -take Baptiste and Julie with him. Will Monsieur Dalville be kind enough -to give me a seat in his cabriolet?" - -"Why can't you come in our calche?" hastily inquired the -petite-matresse. - -"Oh! I am afraid that I should keep you waiting. I have several matters -to attend to, and you are in a hurry to see your milliner. Monsieur -Dalville will not object, I trust, to give me another half hour." - -Auguste realized that it would be discourteous to refuse; moreover, -although that arrangement upset his plans, although the fascinating -Athalie made an enticing little pout at him, and although Madame -Destival had said many unkind things about him, still, Emilie was a -good-looking woman none the less, and one forgives a good-looking woman -many things, even when one is no longer in love with her. - -They left the table. The carriages were ready. Madame de la -Thomassinire entered her calche, with a malevolent glance at Auguste -and Madame Destival. The speculator called his two servants, who -assisted him to climb in; then he threw himself back on the seat, -crying: - -"To my house in the Chausse-d'Antin, and go at full speed; drive -_furiously_, do you hear, Lafleur? But look out and not run into -anything." - -The calche flew away like an arrow. Madame Destival had hurried her -domestics to such purpose that Julie and Baptiste were soon ready to -start with their master. But madame still had divers matters to attend -to, for which she did not need Julie. Monsieur Destival shook hands -cordially with his friend and urged him not to drive his wife too fast, -because it was bad for the nerves; then he took his seat in the -cabriolet beside Julie, ordering Baptiste to mount behind, which he did, -muttering because they made him do all sorts of things. - -Bertrand and Tony stood by Dalville's cabriolet, awaiting the latter and -Madame Destival. But the little matters which the mistress of the house -had to arrange took nearly two hours. Bertrand fretted and fumed at -having to stand beside the cabriolet; but his master had ordered him to -await him there, and he did not leave his post. - -"Perhaps monsieur thinks we've gone," suggested little Tony. - -"No, no, he knows we're here." - -"But perhaps he don't mean to go back to Paris to-day." - -"Then he'll come and tell us so." - -"And suppose he don't think of it?" - -"We will stay here until somebody comes to relieve us from duty. I've -got my orders, that's enough for me." - -At last, about noon, Auguste appeared with Madame Destival on his arm. -She leaned tenderly upon him and her face expressed nothing save -satisfaction and the most amiable unconstraint. - -"It's strange!" thought Bertrand, "here's a lady that changes her face -three or four times a day. However, I ought to be used to it. I've seen -so many women like that. Everyone that comes to see monsieur as angry as -you please, rolling her eyes, and talking loud, is as mild and gentle as -a lamb when she leaves him; she hasn't the same face, nor the same eyes, -nor the same voice." - -"Come, Bertrand, get in," said Auguste, who was already in the cabriolet -with Madame Destival.--"You will be a little crowded, madame; but my -faithful Bertrand isn't built to ride behind." - -"Oh! I shall be very comfortable," said Emilie, bestowing a soft glance -on Auguste, and on Bertrand an affable smile; for nobody can be so -amiable as our fair friends when things are going to suit them! But when -you thwart them---- - -They drove away. When they passed the little path leading to -Montfermeil, Auguste put out his head and looked, saying to himself: - -"I shall not always have a lady to drive to Paris." - - - - -VII - -THE VILLAGE - - -Denise started to return to her village; but she did not sing as her -custom was, as she walked behind White Jean. Her heart was still heavy -because of what had taken place at Madame Destival's; and although she -had tried not to seem distressed, she did not forget the -word--_hussy_--that had been applied to her. To be called by such a name -as that, when she was virtuous, when she had nothing for which to -reproach herself, seemed very hard to the little milkmaid. It is said -that unmerited insults do not wound; but how can an honest and sincere -heart fail to feel outraged on receiving epithets usually reserved for -vice? It might much better be said that it is the vicious person who -does not blush and who laughs at anything that may be said to her, -because she retains no sense of shame. In my opinion the proverb "Only -the truth gives offence" is essentially false. - -"How unkind those city people are!" thought the girl; "the idea of -calling me a hussy! That sounds well from them! What did I do to deserve -it? I kissed that gentleman because he's got a kind heart, and because -he's going to look out for Coco; it seems to me that was no more than -natural, and I ain't ashamed of it. That Madame Destival, who came -rushing at me with such a scowl! I thought she was going to hit me.--The -idea of telling me that my cheeses are bitter, and that I put water in -my milk! Ah! I felt just like crying, but I did well to keep the tears -back, she'd have been too pleased to see them. And that other one, who -did nothing but laugh and make all sorts of faces and monkey tricks at -that young man! Mon Dieu! as if I had done anything to make such a fuss -about! Should I have refused that money when it was to help that poor -boy? No, indeed! and it would have made the gentleman angry, and I'd -much rather make the lady angry. He isn't wicked, he's only a flatterer. -Well! that ain't a crime--all one has to do is not to listen, that's -all. And he's very nice and polite. I clawed his face and he didn't get -mad. By the way, he didn't tell me his name. Why should he? I don't need -to know it. Perhaps he told Coco--I must ask him.--Go on, White -Jean!--Shall I show my aunt this purse? Yes, I'll tell her the whole -thing. But I didn't tell her yesterday about my fall, and what that -gentleman saw. When I think of that, it troubles me, and I want to cry -again. And that other gentleman, who calls him lieutenant, and who -whispered 'Look out for yourself!' when he passed me. His name's -Bertrand, I remember that. He looks like a good fellow, that Bertrand; -but what in the deuce did he mean with his 'Look out for yourself'?" - -Meditating thus, Denise arrived at Montfermeil, a pretty little village -where the people are not badly off; where there are several comfortable -bourgeois houses, and nothing to indicate want, because the occupant of -the humblest cottage works instead of begging. - -Denise's cottage was at the end of the village, on the bank of a little -stream that followed a winding course between rows of willows. It was of -two stories; the walls were sound, and the roof was covered with tiles, -which gave the cottage a certain air of elegance. There was a yard in -front, separated from the street by a low wooden fence; the stable was -at the right, and hens, chickens and ducks wandered about the yard, -which they seemed to look upon as their property, giving vent to all -sorts of cries when any other person than Denise or her aunt ventured to -enter. The garden was behind the house; it was about two acres in -extent, but there was no semblance of order; fruit and vegetables grew -in confusion, according to the custom of the peasant, who thinks first -of the useful. There were not many flowers, but as Denise was fond of -them, there were a few rose-bushes among the potatoes, and now and then -a syringa, its branches enlacing the trunk of a plum or an almond tree. - -It will be evident from these details that the cottage did not belong to -poor people. Everything about it indicated the possession of a -competence; and in fact Mre Fourcy, Denise's aunt, was one of the -richest peasants in the neighborhood; she owned two pieces of land, one -of which was on the other side of the stream that flowed by her house; -and Denise, who was her sole heir, was able by her activity and her -little trade in milk and cheese, to add to the income of her aunt, who, -although she was a worthy woman, was a little inclined to be miserly. -That is said to be a failing of the rich; indeed, how can you expect -those who have nothing to exhibit such a failing? - -White Jean entered the yard without guidance, and headed for his stable. -Denise was a little distance behind, having been stopped by some of her -neighbors, who, as the custom is in villages, talked with every -passer-by, because everybody knew everybody else. But the little -milkmaid, who was in no mood for talking, hastened after White Jean, and -relieved him of the baskets containing the milk and cheese that she -brought back. - -"What will my aunt say when she sees that I've brought these things -back?" Denise asked herself; and she could not restrain a sigh. But -Denise did not fear her aunt, for Mre Fourcy, knowing her niece's -virtue, and considering that she knew more than all the other people in -the village, always approved what she said and did, except when it was a -matter of lending money. That is why Denise, despite her fondness for -Coco, had been able to do very little for him. - -"His father's a drunkard," Mre Fourcy would say; "to give the child -money is just giving that good-for-nothing Calleux the means of -drinking." - -Mre Fourcy was a stout woman of fifty-five, who, despite her -corpulence, was active and alert; she heard her niece come in, and came -downstairs to help her unload her ass. - -"What have you got there, my child?" she asked. - -"The cheeses I made for Madame Destival." - -"Why didn't she take 'em?" - -"Because--because she didn't want 'em." - -"Oh! that's different.--What! all this milk too?" - -"Oh, dear! yes, aunt." - -"And I wouldn't let Monsieur Brichard have any this morning!" - -"Oh! we'll use it up, aunt." - -"Has Madame Destival taken her trade away from you?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"That's what makes you look so cut up then. Where does she expect to get -better milk?" - -"Oh! it ain't on account of the milk, aunt." - -"On account of something else, is it?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"That makes a difference. Tell me about this other thing, my child." - -Denise thought a moment, then replied: - -"You know, aunt, I told you yesterday that I met a fine gentleman who -asked me the way to Monsieur Destival's?" - -"Yes, my dear." - -"And that it was the same man who gave a lot of money to Coco's -grandmother, because Coco broke the soup-bowl?" - -"Yes, yes, I know. That sot of a Calleux will drink it all up." - -"Well, aunt, I saw that young man again this morning, at Monsieur -Destival's." - -"So he's a young man, is he? You said a gentleman yesterday." - -"Bless me! so he is, a gentleman who is young." - -"Oh! that makes a difference." - -"He was very pleasant and friendly with me, and when he learned from me -that Pre Calleux spent all the money, he gave me this purse and told me -to see that poor Coco has everything he needs. I took it, aunt; did I do -wrong?" - -"Of course not, my dear; as if you didn't always do right, dear Denise. -Well! you're a good girl too, and you don't let the men talk nonsense to -you." - -"No, indeed, aunt; but I let that gentleman kiss me." - -"Oh! that makes a difference. What did he want to kiss you for?" - -"To thank me for agreeing to look after Coco, for he's very fond of -him." - -"Well, I don't see any harm in all that, my child." - -"But Madame Destival did, for she came up to me in a rage and called -me----" - -"She called you----?" - -"Oh! I don't want to repeat the horrid word.--Well! she called me -a--a--hussy." - -"God in heaven! my niece, my Denise, a hussy! the virtuousest girl -within ten leagues! And you didn't jump at her face?" - -"No, aunt; I just said that it was horrible to believe--to think--then I -came home with my milk and my cheese." - -"You did right, my child, you did right; those folks don't deserve to -eat such good things." - -Denise did not tell her aunt what Madame Destival had said about her -milk and cheese, because Mre Fourcy would be just the woman to go to -the business agent and demand satisfaction for such an insult. The girl -did not like quarrelling and she wished never to hear Madame Destival's -name again. Mre Fourcy went to the village to try to find customers for -the milk and cheese. When she was alone, Denise took out the purse and -counted its contents in her apron. There were twelve twenty-franc -pieces, and six of five francs. - -"Two hundred and seventy francs!" exclaimed Denise, throwing up her -hands in amazement; "why, that's quite a lot of money. That gentleman -must be very rich to give away so much all at once. Perhaps I ought not -to have taken it all. But still, as it's for Coco--there's enough to -send him to school, to have him learn to read. Yes, but his father don't -want him to learn to read. That's a pity, I should like so much to make -Coco a gentlemanly, well-taught boy; it would please that gentleman when -he comes back--for he'll come to see his little boy; at least, he said -he would. Never mind, I'll be very careful of the money; and while I -have the time, I think I'll go to the cottage and see if they've done -what that gentleman intended they should." - -By taking crossroads, one could go in a quarter of an hour from -Montfermeil to the home of the Calleux family. Denise walked rapidly -along the paths, which were well known to her. She entered the wretched -hovel. Coco was seated at a table with old Madeleine. They were dining -without Pre Calleux, who, finding himself in funds, preferred the -wine-shop to his house. - -At sight of Denise, the child gave a joyful cry and ran to her. Denise -was so good to him! she always brought him something nice; she often -prevented his being beaten; in short, she showed great affection for -him; and children love those who love them; it is not always so with -men. - -"Good-day, little Denise!" said Coco, opening his arms to the girl. - -"Take care, good-for-nothing!" said old Madeleine; "you almost upset the -table and spilt my soup! I'd have given you a good licking, if you had!" - -Denise glanced about the hovel, and saw that the only change that -Dalville's money had wrought was the presence of a large new bowl, which -was in front of the fire. The child's bed was no softer than before. - -"See how fine I am, Denise!" cried the child, exhibiting the trousers -and the little brown jacket which replaced the ragged garments that -covered him on the preceding day. - -"Yes, I see," said Denise, scrutinizing the garments, "but none of these -things are new." - -"Pardi!" cried old Madeleine, "do you s'pose we was going to have 'em -made to order for him? The things are good enough for a brat as plays -all the time like him. You'll see in a day or two! they'll soon be full -of holes! Ah! he'd wear out clothes made of iron." - -"But why didn't you buy him a mattress, Mre Madeleine? I thought that -gentleman told you to when he gave you the money." - -"Because his father wouldn't have it; he says a boy hadn't ought to be -coddled so, because it keeps 'em from getting strong." - -"Still, when the money was given for Coco----" - -"For Coco? yes, and for us too, my girl; hadn't the parents ought to -come before the children?" - -"Is Pre Calleux in the field?" - -"In the fields! oh, yes! in the fields indeed! He's at Claude's -wine-shop. He took all there was left of the money that gentleman give -me, and told me he was going to put it into some great undertakin'. Oh, -yes! I know all about that; he'll undertake to drink it all up in a day, -if it's possible." - -"Would you like to have me take Coco away with me till night, Mre -Madeleine?" - -"No, my girl, no; I'm an old woman, and I don't want to be left alone. -Coco's got to stay with me." - -Denise kissed the child, who ran off to play and roll on the ground with -his goat; then she returned to the village, asking herself: - -"How shall I go to work to do what that gentleman wants done?" - -The next day was Sunday. No work in the village. The women paid more -attention to their toilet, they donned their prettiest gowns, and in the -evening the whole population assembled on a beautiful greensward shaded -by oaks and walnuts. There a wretched violin and a huge tambourine -played for the young men and women to dance; they considered the -orchestra divine, because it gave the signal for their enjoyment. Denise -was the favorite among the young men, and aroused some jealous pangs in -the hearts of her companions. The passions insinuate themselves -everywhere; there are envious and evil-speaking folk in the village as -well as in the city; but they are less skilled in disguising their -sentiments. - -Denise was the prettiest girl in the village and in the country -roundabout; that was what all the men said; but all the women did not -agree. Denise was no coquette, but she was a woman; and what woman is -there who is not conscious of a secret pleasure in the certainty that -she is attractive, that she can prevail over her companions? But Denise -did not play the coquette with the young men; she did not bestow a smile -upon this one, a glance upon that one, a word of hope upon the other; -but she laughed and joked and was pleasant to one and all alike; for she -was very fond of dancing, and she liked to have everyone invite her to -dance. - -On the Sunday in question, however, Denise, who had gone to the green -with her aunt, as usual, did not seem to enjoy herself so much as she -ordinarily did; she laughed less with the young men and seemed not to -take any pleasure in dancing. And finally, a thing that had never been -seen before, Denise, after four contradances, declared that she was -tired and would like to rest a while. - -"Is it because you're sick, my child?" Mre Fourcy asked her niece, when -she came and seated herself by her side. - -"No, aunt, I ain't sick, but I'm tired." - -"Tired! you! the greatest dancer in the whole country!" - -"Well! I guess one gets tired of everything, aunt. I don't feel in the -mood to-day." - -"That makes a difference." - -"Come on, Mamzelle Denise, come and have a dance," several young men -said to the little milkmaid. And one of them pulled her arm until he -almost dislocated it, another struck his palm against hers with all his -might, and a third, while saluting her, trod on her feet. With such -delicate attentions it is customary to pay court to a village belle, who -sometimes retorts by a ringing slap on the gallant's face, thereby -indicating that he is in her good graces. - -But Denise distributed no slaps among the youths who surrounded her; she -simply sent them away, saying: - -"Let me alone, when I tell you that I don't want to dance." - -"Oh, yes, you do! oh, yes! She'll dance--you'll dance--she's joking when -she says that." - -But Denise held her ground, and when the dancers had taken their leave, -she said to her aunt: - -"Bless my soul! how stupid they all are!" - -"Who, my girl?" - -"Why Gros-Jean and Lucas and Bastien." - -"They're the sharpest fellows in the village! What are you thinking -about, to say that? Gros-Jean, who's so funny when he dances and always -mixes up the figures on purpose! Lucas, who's taken the prize at _goose_ -three years running! And Bastien, who's been to Paris twice and learned -to play at quarter-staff! And you call those boys stupid!" - -"Bless me! aunt, it seemed to me that they didn't say anything to me but -things that didn't amuse me." - -"But you used to laugh so loud with 'em! I tell you you're sick, my -child; when we go home, I'm going to make you eat a good dish of peas -and pork before you go to bed; that'll do you good." - -Denise did not feel sick; she did not herself know why she was not -enjoying herself. At last the hour for retiring arrived, and the girl -was secretly well pleased to return to the cottage and leave her -companions, who glanced sneeringly at her and said to one another: - -"Something's the matter with Denise, that's sure! At all events, if -she's always the way she is to-day, the fellows will soon give up liking -her and making love to her." - -In spite of, or perhaps because of, the dish of peas and pork, Denise -slept little. She thought, not precisely of the fine gentleman who had -flattered her and kissed her and picked her up after her fall, but of -the one who proposed to take care of poor Coco; of the money of which -she was the depositary, and of the means of making the child happier. - -At daybreak she left her bed. After completing her morning chores, she -made her escape and hurried to the Calleux cabin. She saw the child -playing in front of the door and was delighted to speak to him without -witnesses. - -"Where's Madeleine?" she asked. - -"She's asleep, my little Denise," the child replied, throwing his arms -about the girl's neck. - -"And your father?" - -"Papa Calleux, he didn't come home last night. Grandma says he slept at -the wine-shop." - -"Coco, do you love that gentleman who came here and left money for you, -and kept you from being beaten for breaking the bowl?" - -"Oh, yes! I do love him, just. He's got a pretty vest and a pretty -ribbon hanging on it. He's coming to play with me again, ain't he?" - -"Yes, he said he'd come again. Do you know his name?" - -"He's my dear friend." - -"But his name--did he tell you that?" - -"No, but he knows my name's Coco, and Papa Calleux----" - -"You must love that gentleman dearly, for he means to do ever so much -for you. Would you like to learn to read and write?" - -"Oh, yes! so's to read pretty stories in the books with pictures in 'em, -like you've got. But papa won't let me go to school." - -"I'll speak to him and try to make him consent----" - -At that moment old Madeleine's shrill voice was heard, calling the -child. He kissed Denise and went into the cabin, while the girl walked -rapidly back to the village. - -Pre Calleux, after passing three days at the wine-shop, resumed his -spade and watering-pot; but he would not consent to let Coco go to -school, although Denise told him that it would cost him nothing; and old -Madeleine would not allow the child to go any farther than the field -where his father worked. Denise went to the hovel every morning; she -always carried something secretly to the child, but she did not touch -Dalville's money. - -"He won't come back," said Denise to herself; "here's a week gone -already! Psha! he's forgotten all about--Coco; still another reason for -saving that money. Some day the little fellow will be very glad to have -it. And yet that gentleman seemed to want to come again. Of course he's -been to Madame Destival's, and he didn't go through our village! What -liars they are, those young men from Paris! Still that one has some good -qualities. But why did that Monsieur Bertrand tell me to look out for -myself?" - -The dancing days came around in due course, but Denise's good spirits -did not return, although she did her utmost to appear as of old, and -often danced when she felt no desire to do so, and tried to joke with -the young men. Her greatest pleasure now was to sit alone under a great -oak in her garden, or to go to the cabin and embrace Coco, to whom she -talked constantly of the handsome gentleman, who meant to do so much for -him. - -A month had passed since Auguste's meeting with Denise, when one -morning, as she was about to start for the cabin, a peasant informed her -that old Madeleine had died during the night. The little milkmaid ran to -the child at full speed. The old woman's remains had not been removed; -and as Calleux was poor and was not liked in the neighborhood, the child -was watching alone by the body, while his father made the necessary -arrangements for the burial. - -Denise halted in front of the solitary hovel, the aspect of which seemed -to her more wretched than ever, because Death casts a dark pall over -everything wherever he passes. The girl was surprised to find nobody -about; she drew nearer and bursts of laughter fell upon her ears. She -concluded that the person was mistaken who had told her of the -grandmother's death, and she put her head in at the door. She saw the -death bed, beside which a lamp cast a dim light; and close by she saw -the child playing with his goat on the straw, and greeting with shouts -of laughter Jacqueleine's antics and caresses. - -That picture caused Denise a peculiar sensation. She entered the cabin -and walked toward the child, saying: - -"What's this, my dear? playing beside your dead grandmother?" - -"Will that make her mad?" queried the child, with an artless glance at -Denise. - -"No, for she can't hear you; but you ought to be sorry for her death." - -"Someone told me she wouldn't whip me again." - -"Didn't you cry when she died?" - -"No, Denise." - -"Then you didn't love her?" - -"Oh! I was awful 'fraid of her!" - -"My dear, it isn't nice not to have any feeling." - -"Oh! if my goat died, Denise, I'd cry hard enough; Jacqueleine's so good -and she loves me so!" - -Denise could think of no answer to make to the child; she sent him -outside with his goat. On Pre Calleux's return, she obtained his -permission to take Coco with her for a few days, and Coco took with him -his darling goat, from which he refused to part. - -Denise was anxious to keep the child with her; Mre Fourcy was -kindhearted, and Denise showed her that as he grew up Coco would be of -use to them, and that the money left by the gentleman from Paris would -be more than sufficient to educate him. Pre Calleux, who realized that -his son could not make his soup, consented to leave him with Denise for -the present, and the girl was overjoyed. - -Behold, then, Coco a member of the little milkmaid's family, and leading -a pleasant life. Denise, who knew how to read,--not a rare -accomplishment in our villages nowadays,--determined to educate her -little protg, and did not fail to speak to him every day of the -handsome gentleman who had paid so generously for his bowl. - -But another month passed, and the gentleman from Paris did not come -again. Denise, who still loved to muse beneath the great oak, often said -to herself: - -"It was quite right to think that he didn't mean a word of all those -fine things he said to me. But, when he wasn't coming back, it wasn't -worth while for that Monsieur Bertrand to say: 'Look out for -yourself!'" - - - - -VIII - -A BACHELOR'S MORNING RECEPTION - - -"Is Auguste in, Monsieur Bertrand?" inquired a young woman of -twenty-four, slender and graceful, with fine brown eyes, very black -hair, pale complexion, white, even teeth, and a somewhat fatigued -expression; a face, be it said, which was enlivened and made most -attractive by a mischievous smile. This young woman was a certain -Virginie, of whom mention was made in the cabriolet on the way to -Monsieur Destival's; she had just rung the bell at the door of Auguste's -apartment, although it was only eight o'clock in the morning. - -"Monsieur Dalville has gone out," replied Bertrand, with a very slight -nod to Mademoiselle Virginie, which did not deter her from entering the -apartment. - -"That's impossible, Bertrand; you say that because there's somebody -here, I suppose, and those are your orders. We know all about that. But -I must see him; I have something very important to say to him. Really, -my little Bertrand, I'm not joking." - -"I give you my word, mademoiselle, that Monsieur Dalville has gone out; -or, rather, that he hasn't come in. He went to a grand ball last night, -and it seems to have lasted a long while." - -"Great heaven! what actions! Why, it's shocking. That young man is -destroying himself. Bertrand, you don't keep a sharp enough lookout over -him; it isn't right. You ought to preach at him." - -"In the first place, mademoiselle, Monsieur Dalville's the master; in -the second place, when I try to talk reason with him, he refuses to -listen to me, or sends me to the devil." - -"That's very wrong! Ah! if I were only his mother or sister, you'd see -how good I'd make him! I'm going to wait for him, Bertrand, for he must -come in soon. Still at a ball at eight in the morning! Oh! I don't take -any stock in that yarn." - -Mademoiselle Virginie, who was perfectly familiar with the apartment, -opened a door leading to a small salon in which she installed herself, -placing her hat on one chair, her shawl on another, and throwing herself -on a couch. Bertrand quietly followed her, and as if accustomed to such -performances from her, continued to eat the bread and cheese which he -had in his hand when she rang the bell. - -"I certainly do not care for Monsieur Auguste any more," said Virginie, -after a moment; "I must be a confounded fool to care for a man who has -thirty-six mistresses; hasn't he, Bertrand?" - -"Oh! mademoiselle, I can't say----" - -"Yes, yes, he has thirty-six! I don't say all at once; he would have to -be a northern Hercules. And yet--if it could be--It isn't worth while; -one man's no better than another. I know them so well! Don't you think -I'm right, Bertrand?" - -"Oh! as for that, there have been men who--the great Turenne, for -instance." - -"Bah! what an ass the man is with his great Turenne! Does he take me for -a sentry-box? I don't know ancient history, Bertrand; I don't care about -anything except my own time, and I tell you Auguste's a rake. In the -first place, he played me a shameful trick three weeks ago. Think of -it! he made an appointment with me, and we were to pass the day together -and go to Feydeau in the evening; and monsieur left me to cool my heels -and went off into the country, to his Monsieur Destival, business agent. -He's another fox, that fellow! He'd better attend to what goes on in his -own house, eh, Bertrand?" - -"In his own house, mademoiselle? Do you mean----" - -"Yes, you understand well enough! That is, unless he likes it. Bless my -soul! there are husbands whom that sort of thing just suits! Did you -spend the night at that place?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle." - -"Mon Dieu! how rural! Did you stay there several days? Come, Bertrand, -speak out--you have time enough to eat; you know that I haven't set foot -inside this door for an age, and Monsieur Auguste hasn't so much as had -the decency to come to inquire for my health. And yet I've been very -ill; I nearly died! I am ever so much changed, am I not, Bertrand?" - -"Why, no, mademoiselle, I don't see that----" - -"Oh, yes! the whites of my eyes are yellow yet. To be sure this dress -isn't becoming. It's too high, it cramps me.--Well, Bertrand, what did -you do in the country?" - -"I taught Monsieur Destival the manual, mademoiselle." - -"Oho! is he going to enlist in the voltigeurs? How about his wife--does -she do the manual too? She ought to learn to drum so that she can march -in front of her husband when he goes out to fire his gun." - -"I don't know what madame was doing, mademoiselle." - -"Of course not; it was your business to keep the husband busy, while -Monsieur Auguste dallied with madame in the thick shrubbery! I can see -that man firing at crows while his wife hunts strawberries! Ha! ha!" - -Mademoiselle Virginie laughed so heartily that it was several minutes -before she could speak again. Meanwhile Bertrand paced the salon floor, -continuing his breakfast. - -"Oh dear! it hurts to laugh like that.--Tell me, Bertrand, when did you -come back?" - -"The next day, mademoiselle." - -"And Auguste hasn't been there again since?" - -"No, mademoiselle; he's often wanted to go, but he hasn't had time." - -"Oh! of course not; he has so much to do! And he hasn't been to see me -once in the last fortnight! He leaves me sick, almost dying! And I am -not well yet. Oh, no! I am still suffering terribly.--What's that you're -eating, Bertrand?" - -"Just plain Roquefort cheese, mademoiselle." - -"It's queer to watch another person eat; it makes me want to eat too; -you see, I always have to do what I see others do. You may as well give -me some breakfast, my little Bertrand, because, you see, if I should -whine and cry till to-morrow, it's all nonsense, and my calf wouldn't be -any bigger for that; would it, Bertrand?" - -"Mademoiselle, if you----" - -"He's a good fellow, this Bertrand; I love him a lot, I do; yes, I'm -very fond of him, although he's a bit of a traitor, like his master." - -"Oh! as for that, mademoiselle, when you talk about being honest, I -flatter myself----" - -"All right, Bertrand; I only said that for fun. But I'm not going to -breakfast on honesty. What are you going to give me?" - -"If mademoiselle would like coffee, I'll go down and have some sent up." - -"Coffee! oh! that makes a hole in my stomach, it's no good. Haven't you -got anything to eat here?" - -"We have the remains of a pie, a bit of fowl, and some Lyon sausage." - -"Ah! I like those better than coffee; bring 'em all, my little Bertrand; -just to pass the time till Auguste comes back." - -Bertrand moved a small tea-table to the couch, and lost no time in -laying it for Mademoiselle Virginie's breakfast, who assisted him by -going to the sideboard herself for whatever she needed, saying: - -"I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Bertrand." - -"You are joking, mademoiselle." - -"Where's little Tony?" - -"He's with monsieur; he has to have somebody on account of the -cabriolet." - -"That boy's a sly little rascal; he'll never tell me anything, whereas -you, Bertrand, you do at least talk; to be sure, I know that you don't -tell me everything. After all, you're right; there are some things I -ought not to know, they'd make me too unhappy. Meanwhile, I'll have my -breakfast." - -Mademoiselle Virginie took her place before the breakfast, and, while -repeating from time to time that she was still sick, speedily caused the -cold fowl to disappear, and made a vigorous assault on the pie and the -sausage, washing them down with claret, in which she did not deem it -necessary to put water. - -But, while she was eating, Virginie glanced at a clock in front of her -and cried: - -"The rascal! Why doesn't he come home? You must admit, Bertrand, that -people don't stay at a ball till nine o'clock in the morning. I know -myself that bourgeois balls always end by five; my aunt used to give one -sometimes. Poor aunt! I shall have to make up with her now!--I say, this -pie isn't half bad.--You see, Bertrand, my aunt's a woman of your sort." - -"I understand--a tall woman, five feet six inches, like me, eh?" - -"No, no! what a donkey you are with your six inches! Still, it would be -rather nice[C] if my aunt had six of 'em. When I say of your sort, I -mean a fine woman, a respectable woman. Oh! she preaches to me, I tell -you, she does! She used to say such touching things to me that I wept -like a Magdalen while I was listening; but once outside--prrr!--I forgot -all about it.--A body could eat a two pound loaf with this devilish -sausage!--That wretched Auguste! Ah! he shall pay me for this. In the -first place, I don't propose to go till he comes back, if I have to stay -here till to-morrow. It don't make any difference to me, I'm my own -mistress." - -[C] The joke consists in the fact that the same word--_pouce_--means -"inch" and "thumb." - -At that moment the bell rang softly. - -"Ah! there he is!" cried Virginie; "don't tell him I'm here, Bertrand, -do you hear? I want to surprise him. Shut the door of the salon." - -"Very well, mademoiselle; but I have an idea that it isn't monsieur; I -didn't recognize his ring." - -Having closed the door of the salon, Bertrand opened the one leading to -the hall; whereupon, instead of Auguste, he saw the pretty neighbor of -the third floor to whom he had restored the poodle. - -The pretty neighbor was a blonde, with blue eyes and a pink complexion; -her voice was low and sweet, her manners and her bearing savored of -affectation; but she was pretty, and her natural charms won forgiveness -for those which she tried to impart to herself. - -"Isn't my little Lozor in your rooms, Monsieur Bertrand?" asked the -young blonde in an undertone, with a furtive glance about the apartment. - -"I have not had the honor to see him, madame," replied Bertrand, still -holding the door only partly open; which fact did not prevent the -neighbor from stepping farther into the room. - -"That is strange; he went out this morning; my maid is at market, and I -hoped to find him here." - -"If the deserter appears, madame, I shall have the pleasure of bringing -him back to you at once." - -"Poor Lozor! I am really anxious about him." - -And the neighbor, advancing step by step, found herself in the centre of -the reception room, while Bertrand still held the door ajar, hoping thus -to induce her to go away. - -"Monsieur Dalville went out last night in full dress, didn't he, -Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"I happened to be at my window and I saw him. I would have liked to say -a word to him, to ask him for a book that he promised to let me have -to-day. But he went away so fast! If it wasn't so early, I would ask him -to be kind enough to give it to me now. But that would disturb him -perhaps?" - -The neighbor seemed to await a reply, but Bertrand kept silent and -contented himself with swinging the door back and forth. - -"Is Monsieur Dalville still in bed?" inquired the pretty blonde at last, -bestowing upon the ex-corporal a glance as tender as her voice was -sweet. He was about to reply when the door of the small salon was -abruptly thrown open, and disclosed Virginie, who came forward with an -air of deliberation, saying: - -"Well! is it coming off to-day, Bertrand? Are we playing hide-and-seek?" - -When Virginie appeared, Bertrand closed the hall door and sat down, -muttering between his teeth: - -"Fight it out; it's none of my business." - -At sight of Mademoiselle Virginie, the neighbor turned a little pinker -than she was, and her eyes lost their usual soft expression. Virginie, -for her part, scrutinized the neighbor from top to toe, contracting her -dark eyebrows, and allowing a scornful smile to play about her lips. -Bertrand alone seemed unmoved; and while the two ladies eyed each other -from head to foot, he calmly swallowed a glass of wine, to wash down his -Roquefort. - -"You didn't tell me, Monsieur Bertrand, that Monsieur Dalville had -company," said the neighbor at last, in a voice which she strove to make -as soft as usual, but in which one could detect a note of something -resembling anger. "If I had known, I certainly would not have ventured -to disturb him." - -"Does madame want to see Auguste, Bertrand?" inquired Virginie -carelessly, smiling with a sly expression. - -The familiar manner in which the pretty brunette referred to her -neighbor seemed to confound Madame Saint-Edmond, who did what she could -to conceal her agitation, saying: - -"Yes, madame, I wish to see Monsieur Dalville." - -"If it is anything that someone else can say to Auguste, I will -undertake to do so, madame." - -"You are too kind, madame, but I wish to speak to Monsieur Dalville in -person." - -"Ah! I understand. Auguste is already acquainted with madame, I -presume?" - -"Yes, madame, I have the honor of Monsieur Dalville's acquaintance." - -"As Auguste tells me all his business, I might be able to answer madame, -if she cared to explain the purpose of her call." - -"Am I to understand that madame is now commissioned to receive the -persons who may call on Monsieur Dalville?" - -"That may be, madame." - -"Monsieur Bertrand, you ought to have told me--to have spared me--But I -absolutely insist on speaking to Monsieur Dalville. Let him know that I -have just a word to say to him. Then I will leave him at peace with -madame." - -"If I had had a chance to answer sooner, madame, I'd have told you -before this that my lieutenant hasn't come home from the ball yet; -that's why madame was waiting in the small salon." - -"Very well! I am going to wait for him too," said the neighbor, whose -voice was no longer of the most honeyed kind; and as she passed Bertrand -on her way to the salon, she whispered to him: - -"I don't know who this woman is, but she's very bad style!" - -Virginie stayed behind in the reception room a moment, to say to -Bertrand: - -"Who's that little jackdaw? Don't lie to me, my little Bertrand, or I'll -make a row." - -"She's a lady who lives in the house." - -"Aha! lives in the house, does she? That's very convenient! She looks -like a regular slut! Has Auguste known her long?" - -"Why, no; about six weeks." - -"Does he love her?" - -"How do you expect me to know that? Do you suppose I ask my lieutenant: -'Do you love So-and-So, or Such-a-One?'" - -"All right! you're a villain. I can only say that Auguste shows poor -taste! She's a homely creature, that woman; she has red rims about her -eyes, just like a rabbit's, and she has an ugly mouth, hasn't she, -Bertrand?" - -"Why, I don't think so." - -"As if you knew anything about it! I tell you that she's a horror, with -her princess's airs! Ah! if she expects to impose on me, she's very much -mistaken. The sinner, to insist on speaking to Auguste in private! Just -to tease her, I'm going to eat some more pie, even if I die of -indigestion." - -Virginie returned to the salon, resumed her seat on the couch and -attacked the breakfast once more. The neighbor seated herself on a chair -at the other end of the room, and while making a pretence of looking out -into the street, watched Virginie's every movement from the corner of -her eye. Bertrand meanwhile remained in the outer room, leaving the -ladies to adjust matters as they chose. As she ate, Virginie hummed -snatches of comic opera airs; Madame Saint-Edmond did not make a sound. -This situation lasted for some time. At last Virginie, beginning to lose -patience, called Bertrand and said to him: - -"Your pie isn't at all nice; the last time I breakfasted with Auguste, -we had a much better one." - -Bertrand simply removed the scanty remains of the pie, saying to -himself: - -"I'd have sworn that she found it good!" - -"Bertrand," said Virginie, after a moment, "will you give me a little -water and some sugar, please? It will do me a lot of good." - -"She must need it," said the neighbor to herself, with a sarcastic -smile. - -"By the way, my little Bertrand, you have some orange flower water, -haven't you? It will allay nervous excitement." - -Virginie laughed when she said this, and was evidently making fun of -Madame Saint-Edmond; but that lady seemed to pay no heed to what she -said. - -"Upon my word, I am very sorry that I disturbed you, Bertrand," resumed -Virginie, preparing some sweetened water for herself; "I might just as -well have gone to get it myself, for I know where everything is. I am -perfectly at home here. But you are so good-natured!" - -"I do my duty, mademoiselle," said Bertrand, with a military salute. - -"I know, Monsieur Bertrand, how attached you are to Auguste," said -Virginie, assuming a sentimental tone. "And so, whenever I mention you -to him, I am very glad to speak in terms of praise. That's no more than -justice, that's sure. Auguste, who has every confidence in me, will -follow my advice, I trust, and you'll find, Monsieur Bertrand, that I am -not capable--of--of never doing----" - -Virginie always became entangled when she tried to talk sense or to be -sentimental. Bertrand confounded himself in reverences, awaiting the end -of a speech which he did not comprehend; but luckily for Virginie, the -bell rang. - -"There's Auguste!" she cried, while Bertrand went to the door. - -Thereupon there was a great commotion in the salon. Virginie rose, all -ready to rush to the door, glaring at the blonde lady with an expression -of defiance. The latter, too, had risen; but she did not look at -Virginie, and did her utmost to maintain a calm and indifferent -attitude. - -But their hopes were blasted once more. It was not Dalville who had -rung, but Tony, his diminutive groom, who came to inform Bertrand that -after the ball, which was at Madame de la Thomassinire's, the -resplendent Athalie had carried away a part of the company to breakfast -at her country estate. Auguste was among the number; his hostess had -refused to allow him even a moment to return home and change his -clothes. But, as Auguste had emptied his purse at cards during the -evening, he sent his little jockey, with the cabriolet, to obtain some -money, which he was to deliver to his master at Madame de la -Thomassinire's estate. - -As Virginie had held the salon door ajar, both ladies heard what the -little groom said to Bertrand. - -"You see, mesdames, it is useless for you to wait any longer," said -Bertrand, returning to the salon; "monsieur's off to the country; he has -sent for something and that means that he isn't likely to return very -soon." - -"Yes, he has sent for money," said Virginie, with a sigh. "God! how the -man does throw it away! It's frightful! If he only gave me a quarter of -what he----" - -Virginie checked herself; she realized that she had made a mistake. -Madame Saint-Edmond cast a contemptuous glance at her and left the room, -saying to Bertrand: - -"All that I ask you, monsieur, is to be kind enough to let me know when -Monsieur Dalville returns." - -"I shall not fail, madame," replied the corporal, escorting the neighbor -to the door. In the reception room she said to him: - -"I don't know who this hussy is that I found installed in Monsieur -Dalville's apartment; but she acts like a fishwoman, and her manner is -so insolent that I wouldn't have her for my cook." - -When the neighbor had gone, Virginie concluded to resume her hat and -shawl. - -"Well," she muttered, "I may as well go, as that good-for-nothing isn't -coming home. It's a nuisance, though, for I really needed to see him. I -wanted to ask him--That idiot of a landlord is always in my rooms! Oh! -how he tires me! He's furious because he tried to make love to me and I -wouldn't listen to him. Think of it--a little seducer of fifty-five! -What do you suppose he did, Bertrand, in the hot weather? He came to see -me in the morning in his dressing gown; but one day, when the wind blew, -I saw that my gentleman was dressed underneath like--like a -Scotchman!--'Come, come,' said I to myself, 'this is too free and easy! -If he comes here that way for the purpose of seducing me, just a -minute!'--He wouldn't go away, so I called the concierge and had the -landlord put out of my room. Since then, he's as ugly as sin. Well, I'll -come back very soon.--Ah! I know where I'll go. Yes, that fat -Englishman, who was willing to set me up in business, on condition -that--Good! I'll go and tell him that I've found a linen-draper's shop. -After all, I am tired of living this way; I mean to have a shop. I -wouldn't look so bad behind a counter, would I, Bertrand?--I say, the -neighbor was pretty well stirred up, wasn't she? She went before I did; -in fact, she'd have had to carry me to make me go first, because when I -take a thing into my head, I don't--Adieu, my little Bertrand." - -Mademoiselle Virginie slipped through the door and downstairs, humming. - -"Gad!" said Bertrand to himself as he looked after her, "if my -lieutenant had come home, I don't quite know how things would have -turned out. This one's a regular demon, and the other, with her die-away -voice, was beginning to make eyes like pistol shots, too! Never mind, I -got out of it pretty well; at all events nobody fainted this time, and -that's what I am always afraid of. Thunder and guns! I'd rather have ten -raw recruits to lick into shape than one fainting woman to bring to. In -fact, there are some of 'em that are quite obstinate about it." - -"Whenever you're ready, Monsieur Bertrand," said little Tony, following -the ex-corporal into the salon. - -"Ah! to be sure, my boy; I forgot all about it. He must have money, -always money! Well, come with me, and we'll go to the strong-box. -Sacrebleu! it makes me feel bad to keep taking out and never putting -back. When I tell monsieur so, he says: 'Go to my notary.'--That's all -right; I know that the notary always gives me money; but by giving and -giving--However, the lieutenant's the master, and I must obey.--How much -does he want, Tony?" - -"Fifty louis, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"Fifty louis! he had that much in his purse yesterday when he started -for that ball! What in the devil do they do at these swell parties, to -get rid of so much money in one evening? It seems that he's no luckier -at these Thomassinets--Thomassinires'--than he is anywhere else!" - -"Oh! it was very fine, Monsieur Bertrand!" - -"Ah! so you saw it, did you?" - -"Yes, I went up to the servants' quarters. They gave me ices and punch -and cakes." - -"Oho! I can understand that you liked that! But do you know that with -the twelve hundred francs that monsieur lost at cards, we could have had -some famous cakes here?--Here, my boy, here's the yellow boys; look out -not to lose them." - -"Oh! don't be afraid, Monsieur Bertrand, the cabriolet's waiting for me -at the door." - -"And don't drive Bbelle too fast, d'ye hear?" - -The little groom had already gone. Bertrand was still standing in front -of the strong-box, which was open. He counted the remaining contents, -and frowned; he seemed terrified by the rapidity with which Dalville was -spending his money. He closed the desk at last, with a shake of the -head, saying: "It's his; he has the right to dispose of it." And to -dispel his melancholy thoughts, Bertrand went down to the cellar and -brought up a bottle of old burgundy, because, being entrusted with the -duty of watching the wine, he wished to be sure that it did not run -away. - - - - -IX - -MADEMOISELLE TAPOTTE AND THE MARQUIS - - -We have heard little Tony say that his master was at Madame de la -Thomassinire's ball; whence we must conclude that, since the day at -Madame Destival's country house, Dalville and the wealthy speculator had -become more intimate. Auguste, being invited by the gushing Athalie, had -not failed to accept her invitations, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire, -seeing that Dalville joined in all the pleasure parties without -calculating the expense, that he played for high stakes, and lost with -the best grace imaginable, agreed with madame that the young man was of -the sort to go all lengths. - -Madame Destival was secretly furious to see Dalville amid the throng of -Madame de la Thomassinire's adorers; but that did not prevent her from -continuing to call that lady "my love" and "my dear," because she would -have been sorry not to be invited to the gorgeous parties given by the -capitalist; and although she went to his house solely to seek subjects -for criticism, and although Monsieur Destival could not eat his dinner -for wrath at seeing a table much better served than his own, they were -very glad to subject themselves to these vexations. - -Is it surprising that Dalville, in that whirlpool of dissipation, and -constantly in the company of charming women who chose him for their -escort--is it surprising that he should have forgotten the milkmaid of -Montfermeil? However, the memory of Denise was not altogether effaced -from his mind, and on several occasions he had formed the plan of going -to the village to see the child and the young woman; but when he was on -the point of carrying out his plan, some new invitation, some festivity -that he could not miss, detained him in Paris, where the time passes so -quickly for happy people. - -It was to her country estate, at Fleury, that the charming Athalie -conveyed Auguste and three other gentlemen who had been at her ball. -Madame had devised the party while dancing a quadrille, and had -determined that they would eat fresh eggs on the grass, while walking -through the "ladies' chain." Auguste and the other three young men were -invited and they instantly accepted. Madame de la Thomassinire, who -displayed no less activity in her amusements than variety in her -costumes, issued her orders at once. Her husband alone knew nothing of -the excursion; and at eight o'clock in the morning, when the four -gentlemen were finally induced to leave the cart table, madame gave -them seats in her calche, laughing like a madwoman at the idea of -abducting thus four cavaliers in full dress. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was in bed, but his valet was instructed to inform him -when he woke where he could find madame, in case he should desire to -join her. - -A word or two that Madame Destival had heard during the night had -apprised her of the delightful project for the morning; and as she and -her husband were not of the party, they returned home in very ill humor. - -"Always some new form of dissipation!" said Madame Destival, with a -bitter smile. "That Madame de la Thomassinire is at her wits' end to -invent something that will ruin her husband." - -"If she only would ruin him!" exclaimed Destival; "but no; that man has -the greatest luck! Everything succeeds with him. However, he doesn't -shine by his wit, that's sure enough! But he has just made sixty -thousand francs in a transaction that I had in view." - -"Well, monsieur, why didn't you carry it out?" - -"I hadn't funds enough to buy the debt, madame." - -"You should borrow, find the money. Really, monsieur, you ought to blush -for shame when you see the show of magnificence that that Thomassinire -makes, and you do not outshine him. Those people have eight servants, -and I have just one wretched maid and an ill-tempered footman who does -everything!--I want a lady's maid, monsieur; I insist upon having one!" - -"Before long, madame, I hope----" - -"They have a calche and a landau and a coup, and we have only a very -shabby cabriolet! But monsieur must needs learn to drill, instead of -giving his attention to making money!" - -"I have several affairs under way, madame. If I sell Monin that -house----" - -"Well, come to some conclusion about it, monsieur. I tell you that I -can't live like this any longer; I must have two new cashmeres, a lady's -maid, a calche, and a country house where I can give parties; not like -that old barrack at Livry, which I can't endure now." - -"Never fear, madame. I must have a clerk, a man cook, and a negro -servant. I am going to venture into some new schemes, and you will see -that we will soon crush that miserable parvenu, who murders the language -with an assurance that suffocates me." - -The calche, drawn by two spirited horses, bore away Athalie and the -four young men of fashion, among whom was Dalville. Each of the four -paid court to the petite-matresse, who had the art of distributing a -word, a smile, a glance, to each in turn, and revelled deliciously in -the homage that was laid at her feet. Is there a greater joy for a true -coquette than to be surrounded by men who wear her chains? Athalie was -vivacious and playful; they knew that, to please her, they must be -overflowing with hilarity, and the four gentlemen vied with one another -in doing and saying the most extravagant things. Among all the _bons -mots_ that were made, there were some very bad ones; for the more one -tries to be witty, the less success one has. But Athalie, grateful for -the efforts they made to entertain her, greeted them all with bursts of -laughter; and the gentlemen zealously followed suit, although they would -have been sorely puzzled sometimes to say what they were laughing about. -In the midst of this running fire of nonsense, the light vehicle arrived -at the country house. - -Madame de la Thomassinire's property at Fleury was a charming abode, -which, in truth, left the little country house at Livry a long way -behind. There, everything witnessed to luxury and elegance: spacious -courtyards, cardrooms, ballrooms and banquet-halls; peristyles of a -severely simple style of architecture led to daintily furnished -apartments; nothing had been forgotten that could increase the comfort -and pleasure of the occupants of that charming abode. In the gardens, -which were of vast extent, you found summer-houses for reading, for -work, or for repose; cool grottoes, shady walks, dense shrubbery, -labyrinths where one could lose oneself, delicious nooks where the -rippling murmur of a brook invited one to dream or to do something else; -and over that enchanting spot a lovely woman of twenty years reigned -supreme and gave no thought to anything save the invention of new forms -of amusement. - -While the mistress of the house gave orders for an out-of-door -breakfast, the gentlemen strolled about the gardens and admired their -manifold beauties. Auguste walked alone toward a hedge between the -garden and the orchard. It was a part of the garden where no one ever -walked. Why, then, did Auguste turn his steps in that direction? Because -he had caught sight of a short skirt and a little cap beyond the hedge, -and an irresistible fascination drew the young man toward whatever -suggested anything feminine. - -Auguste entered the orchard, therefore, and saw a young woman picking -apricots. She had neither the refined features nor the charm of Denise. -She was simply a rosy-cheeked, fresh, buxom damsel; but there are men -who prefer that to waterfalls, grottoes and labyrinths constructed at -vast expense; Auguste was one of them. Who would believe that a simple -petticoat may be awarded the preference over the marvelous creations of -art; that it may disturb the peace of an empire, overturn a republic, -crush a whole people, astound the universe, ordain laws, and cause half -of mankind to lose their senses? O Cleopatra, Elizabeth, Delilah, -Judith, Ninon! your petticoats wrought all these miracles! To be sure, -it was not your petticoats exactly to which your thanks were due. - -The stout girl was standing on a ladder that rested against the tree, -and was plucking the ripest fruit. Auguste walked to the ladder and -looked up; I presume that he was looking at the apricots. - -"I say! what are you doing there, monsieur?" said the girl, when, upon -turning her head, she discovered the young man. - -"My dear girl, I am admiring. I am a great lover of the beauties of -nature, and I am as well able to appreciate them in sackcloth as in -silk." - -The stout girl, who did not understand this language, concluded that the -gentleman was fond of apricots, and offered him one, saying: - -"Here, monsieur, here's one that's good and ripe." - -Auguste took the apricot and walked still nearer the ladder. - -"I'm afraid that you'll fall," he said to the gardener; "I'll hold the -ladder." - -"Oh! it ain't worth while, monsieur, thanks; I know how to do it; anyway -I can cling to the branches." - -However, Auguste remained at the foot of the ladder, and as the girl was -on the fourth rung, the young man's hand naturally found itself in close -proximity to her leg, and, naturally again, that hand caressed a woolen -stocking encasing a calf with which a dancer at the Opra would have -been content. - -The gardener continued to gather fruit while Auguste patted her calf. - -"On my word!" he thought, "here's a peasant who knows what's what, who -is learned in the ways of the world. She is not precisely one of -Florian's shepherdesses. This leg reminds me rather of Teniers's Flemish -women; but at all events, it doesn't scratch, and that's very lucky, for -with such calves as these, the scar would be lasting." - -"When I heard someone coming behind me," said the girl, "I thought at -first 'twas monsieur." - -"Monsieur! what monsieur?" inquired Auguste. - -"Pardi! monsieur le bourgeois, my master." - -"Ah! Monsieur de la Thomassinire?" - -"Why, yes." - -"So he comes into his orchard sometimes, does he?" - -"Oh, yes! he comes here." - -"Does he like apricots?" - -"Oh, yes! apricots, and something else." - -"Does he take hold of your leg too, my child?" - -"Does he! pardi! rather! Catch him holding back!" - -The stout girl chuckled, and Auguste said to himself: - -"It seems that Monsieur de la Thomassinire, who talks of nothing but -the duchesses, countesses and baronesses he courts, dances attendance on -and deigns to be tender with his gardener. How many men try to take -credit in society for brilliant conquests, when they have triumphed over -nobody but their cook! However, there are many baronesses whose calves -aren't as firm as these." - -While he indulged in these reflections, the young man continued to pat -the leg, and the stout girl to laugh. Her basket being full, she began -to descend the ladder, and, as Auguste did not lower his hand, that -member necessarily found itself above the calf, where there was still -much to pat, and the stout girl laughed louder than ever. - -"Does Monsieur de la Thomassinire permit himself to embrace you also?" -Auguste asked, looking the gardener in the face. - -"Well, I say! well, pardi! Well, well, but you make me laugh!" - -At that moment Auguste saw Athalie's pretty cap over the hedge, as that -lady approached the orchard. He ceased instantly to make the stout girl -laugh, and asked her hastily: - -"Your name?" - -"Tapotte." - -"And your room?" - -"Over there, at the end, by the shed where they keep the hay." - -"Good; adieu--I'll see you again." - -With that the young man walked quickly to the entrance to the orchard -and passed through at the very moment that Athalie reached the hedge. - -"Where have you been hiding, monsieur?" she asked, with a smile. - -"Why, madame--I went in here, you see, not knowing that it was the -orchard, and, to tell you the truth, I have been eating your fruit." - -"Before breakfast? that is very wrong. I am a wee bit selfish; I don't -like anybody to take any pleasure without me. I supposed that you had -found some milkmaid here on my place, some peasant girl, whose--ruddy -complexion had taken your fancy." - -"Oh, madame!" - -"I do not think, however, that this establishment contains any rustic -beauties worthy of your homage; for I assume that you still have some -taste, and I agree that the little milkmaid was not bad-looking." - -"True, true, she was very pretty; and you remind me----" - -"Nonsense, monsieur; give me your arm and come to breakfast; everything -is ready on a plot of greensward shaded by honeysuckle. The other -gentlemen are waiting for us, and it is an unheard-of thing that I -should have to come in search of you." - -"If you would allow me to find you sometimes, madame, you would not have -that trouble." - -"Oh! no sentiment, monsieur, I beg; remember that we came here only to -be foolish." - -They reached the shady nook where a dainty repast was spread. A -petite-matresse puts coquetry into everything, and the open-air -breakfast, although it consisted simply of milk, eggs, butter, fruit and -excellent wine, seemed far richer when served by a lovely woman, in -china decorated with lovely landscapes. Daintiness never spoils -anything; it often enhances the value of the simplest things, and a -certain wine which has a most delectable flavor in an artistically cut -glass, might seem poor stuff in a beer mug. - -They had been at table a quarter of an hour, talking, laughing, and -eating heartily, because dancing, enjoyment and the fresh air sharpen -the appetite, when they heard Monsieur de la Thomassinire's voice in a -path near by. - -"There's my husband," said Athalie; "I was sure that he'd come; he's -very fond of this place. But he has brought somebody with him." - -"Let us pray that it isn't some horrible bore," said one of the young -men. - -"Oh! what does it matter? If it's anyone who bores me, I shall pay no -attention to him, and you must do as I do, messieurs." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire appeared with a man of mature years, but -dressed in the latest fashion, whose gait and manners, and even his -voice, were affected. He had a distinguished face, but his look was a -little deceitful; he smiled almost constantly, and frequently raised to -his eyes an eye-glass, through which he admired the flowers, trees and -shrubs. - -"Here they are!" said Monsieur de la Thomassinire, when he caught sight -of the little party. "My valet did not deceive me, and my concierge's -information was accurate. This way, monsieur le marquis, this way." - -"What's this? my husband has brought a marquis to see me!" exclaimed -Athalie; "come, messieurs, we must make a little room for him. Really, -Monsieur de la Thomassinire is as rattle-brained as I am! The idea of -not letting me know!" - -"This is exquisite, enchanting! It is all in the most perfect taste!" -exclaimed the marquis, going into ecstasies over everything he saw. When -he caught sight of the little party of five, he made a very low bow to -the mistress of the house, who had risen to receive him; while Monsieur -de la Thomassinire, who felt two feet taller since he had brought home -a marquis, bestowed a patronizing nod on the young men, and said to his -wife, taking his companion's hand: - -"Madame, this is Monsieur le Marquis de Cligneval, who has been kind -enough to condescend to allow me to bring him to call upon you. He came -to see me at my house this morning about a _consequential_ matter. I -said to him: 'We can talk about this just as well at my place in the -country.' That suited him, and gad! I had my dapple-grey horse put in -the cabriolet, monsieur le marquis got in with me, I gave the beast a -cut with my whip, and zeste! we were off like the wind.--My dapple-grey -goes prettily, eh, monsieur le marquis?" - -"Like an angel, my dear fellow.--Pray excuse me, madame, for appearing -in morning dress." - -"One is always suitably attired in the country, monsieur; and these -gentlemen, you will observe, are dressed just as I brought them away -from a ball, without giving them time to change their clothes. But you -will breakfast with us, I trust?" - -"With pleasure, madame." - -"Oh, yes!" said La Thomassinire, shaking Monsieur de Cligneval's hand; -"oh, yes! the marquis will have some breakfast; he promised. I'll have -some, too." - -"Take your seats then, messieurs, and be content with what I have to -give you." - -Madame gave the marquis a seat by her side; Monsieur de la Thomassinire -would have liked to sit on the marquis's other side, but he was obliged -to be content with a seat opposite him. Monsieur de Cligneval did full -justice to the breakfast; he declared everything excellent, delicious, -exquisite, although La Thomassinire exhausted his breath saying to him: - -"Oh! I usually have much better things to eat. But we didn't know, -madame was not notified. I hope to treat you much better another time. -This is an unpretentious repast; but when I choose, I do things very -nicely." - -While praising the food, Monsieur de Cligneval found time to bestow -compliments on the hostess. The marquis was well bred; he carried a -little too far perhaps the determination to make his good breeding -apparent; but he was agreeable and witty, and the whole party was soon -in high spirits, even Monsieur de la Thomassinire, who never laughed -because he thought it bad form, but who laughed very loud now in order -to copy monsieur le marquis. - -When she passed the fruit, Athalie found several that were not ripe. - -"These apricots are good for nothing," she said to a servant. - -"We must have some better ones than these," cried La Thomassinire. -"Tell the gardener to bring some at once--the best she can find." - -The servant obeyed, and Mademoiselle Tapotte soon arrived with a basket -filled with superb fruit, which she handed to Athalie, keeping her eyes -on the ground as if she dared not look at the guests; whereas, on the -contrary, the young men scrutinized the buxom creature, making comments -in undertones, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire cast furtive glances at -her. - -"That is right!" said Athalie, as she took the basket, "these are fine. -See, messieurs, they have just been picked; they look much -better.--Another time, Tapotte, don't send me green fruit." - -"No, madame," said the gardener, with a very awkward curtsy; then she -took her leave, much redder than when she came. - -"What did you call that stout damsel, madame?" inquired one of the young -men. - -"Tapotte, monsieur." - -"Indeed! that's a queer name." - -"It's amusing," said the marquis. - -"Yes, very amusing," rejoined La Thomassinire. And Auguste reflected -that the name was well deserved. - -"She's not a bad-looking girl," said one of the young men. - -"Oh! what can you see that's attractive in that creature?" cried -Athalie; "she's heavy and awkward and vulgar." - -"Mon Dieu! she's a huge mass of flesh that moves, and that's all," said -the marquis. - -"Yes, yes," assented La Thomassinire, blushing slightly, "she moves, -she moves, and, as monsieur le marquis says, she knows how to do nothing -else." - -"What are you laughing at, Monsieur Dalville?" Athalie asked Auguste; -"at Mademoiselle Tapotte? You have said nothing about her." - -"I'll bet that monsieur agrees with me," said the marquis, "and that he -sees nothing about her that deserves to be looked at a second time." - -"He!" rejoined Athalie; "oh! you don't know him, monsieur; he detects -charms under round caps and calico dresses." - -"I don't deny it, madame, and I do not think that it is necessary to -wear fine clothes in order to be beautiful. As for your gardener, -certainly she has neither pretty features nor a pretty figure; but, for -all that, her freshness and bloom, her good-natured appearance----" - -"Fie, fie, monsieur! fie! hold your tongue! for you are quite capable of -perverting these gentlemen. But we have devoted quite enough time to -Mademoiselle Tapotte; I hope that monsieur le marquis will do me the -honor to come and look at my garden; and if he could be induced to give -us this day----" - -"Madame, I am too pleasantly situated here to summon courage to refuse, -and although I am expected to dine with a Bavarian prince, I cannot -resist your charms." - -"I count upon you also, messieurs," said Athalie, addressing her other -guests; "you must pass the whole day here. Oh! no refusals! you must do -it, or you and I will have a falling-out. I have rooms to give you -to-night, and to-morrow morning I will drive you back to Paris in my -calche." - -"Yes," said La Thomassinire, "as the marquis is to stay, you other -gentlemen must stay too. There will be more of us, and it will be more -amusing. I have some matters to attend to; but, faith, when one has the -honor of having a marquis under one's roof, the devil may take the -rest." - -The young gentlemen attempted to raise some objections on account of -their clothes; but the fascinating Athalie once more announced: "I -insist upon it!" at the same time bestowing upon them one of the smiles -which it is so hard to resist; and that levelled all obstacles. Auguste -made no objection at all, being by no means ill pleased to pass a night -at Fleury, and smiling already at certain thoughts that passed through -his mind. - -They left the table. La Thomassinire seemed determined not to leave the -marquis's side for an instant; but that nobleman offered his arm to -Athalie for a stroll about the garden, and La Thomassinire, as he could -not take the marquis's other arm, walked on the other side, keeping -close at his elbow, and talking constantly to him, although most of the -time the marquis made no reply because he preferred to talk with madame. -Auguste took a seat in a grotto made of shells, not daring to return to -the orchard during the day. The other young men had taken possession of -the billiard room. - -But Athalie, having arrangements to make for the entertainment of her -guests, and being determined that the dinner should make them amends for -the frugality of the breakfast, soon left Monsieur de Cligneval with her -husband. La Thomassinire instantly seized the marquis's arm and walked -on with him, saying: - -"Now, let us talk business, monsieur le marquis, for that is my strong -point,--business,--especially large affairs, speculations, and--What do -you think of my labyrinth?" - -"Charming!" - -"And my pond?" - -"Superb!" - -"The waterfall is mine, I invented it. Formerly the water used to fall -straight down. That was too commonplace! I had rocks arranged -zigzag--that's very much prettier." - -"Yes, it does you credit." - -"You are very kind. Now I am going to take you into my woods, thence -into my fields, where I have some thoroughbred merino sheep. Another -invention of mine. Then we will go into my desert; you shall see my -deer--ah! they are superb creatures, my deer! almost like stags." - -"Have you no stags?" - -"No; I wanted one, but Madame de la Thomassinire declared that it was -unnecessary, that we had enough tame beasts. I will take you to my -summer-house too; we have enough fine things to see to take up two or -three hours." - -The marquis, who was beginning to be weary of the tte--tte, announced -that he was fatigued, and as they were then near the grotto where -Auguste was seated, they took seats beside him, La Thomassinire having -said that he was tired as soon as Monsieur de Cligneval spoke of -resting. - -"I have an estate of this sort," said the marquis, reclining on a mossy -bank, "in Bourgogne, a very fertile province. I have another in Berry, -where my grandfather owned a very handsome chteau." - -"I have three farms in the department of Seine-et-Oise," said La -Thomassinire quickly, smoothing his chin; "I own two houses in Paris, -and I am on the point of buying a third." - -"My grandparents were enormously rich!" said the marquis. "I haven't a -very clear idea how much I have left! I worry very little about it. When -a person has credit and is in favor at court--Why, if I wanted half a -dozen offices, I should only have to say the word!" - -"My credit is unlimited! My paper is eagerly sought after at the Bourse! -I am swamped with business. I receive the very best society at my house, -and my guests play for infernally high stakes!" - -"Pardieu! that reminds me that I lost three thousand francs at cart -the day before yesterday," said the marquis carelessly. - -"I won four thousand two days ago, at the house of a banker, who's a -friend of mine," replied La Thomassinire instantly. - -"Oh! that's a mere trifle! When I play, I do it for the sake of doing -something!" said the marquis. - -"To be sure," said La Thomassinire; "I am not sure that I didn't forget -to take the four thousand francs from the table, I pay so little -attention to money!" - -"But a month ago," said the marquis, "I was in a really serious -game--the stakes were no less than eighty thousand francs." - -"I staked a house last winter," rejoined La Thomassinire; "it was not -built, to be sure, and unluckily the contractor failed the next day, for -the third time." - -Auguste listened in silence to his two neighbors, as they tossed the -ball back and forth. But at last La Thomassinire, fearing that he might -be unable to think of anything with which to cap the marquis's next -boast, changed the subject. - -"What do you think of this view?" he asked. - -"Very pretty," the marquis replied; "but why not have embellished it -with some picturesque ruins--_fabriques_--here and there?" - -"Oh! I didn't want any factories--_fabriques_--on my property! The idea! -Workmen are noisy, always singing, and I don't choose to have anything -to do with that sort of people." - -The marquis glanced at Auguste with a smile, and they left the grotto -for the billiard-room, where Monsieur de la Thomassinire missed every -shot, and exclaimed after every stroke that he misplayed: - -"The trouble is that I've got a crooked cue; I can't see straight -to-day; it's the fault of the table; my head aches; something's the -matter with me; I'm not in the mood for playing; but if I were, you -would be nowhere." - -Little Tony had arrived long before and had handed his master the fresh -supply of funds. When the marquis saw that Dalville had a cabriolet, he -manifested great friendliness for him, and declared that there was -sympathy between Auguste's tastes and his--a sympathy which Auguste had -not observed, although that fact did not prevent his responding to -Monsieur de Cligneval's advances. - -The dinner-hour arrived, and they went to the table, where Athalie did -the honors with much grace. Not to depart from his custom, La -Thomassinire did not appear in the dining-room until the soup had been -removed; but he was delighted to say before the marquis that he had ten -important letters to write. - -The dinner was even more agreeable than the morning repast, because they -knew one another better, and delicious wines heated their brains and -urged them on to folly. Athalie had the knack of keeping the party in -good humor by her sallies. The marquis thought her divine, entrancing, -and confounded himself in compliments. The petite-matresse was not -ambitious to fascinate a man of fifty, but she was very glad to earn the -praise of a marquis; and the young men were not jealous of the marquis; -so that there was nothing to mar the general jollity. They allowed La -Thomassinire to talk endlessly of his farms, his wealth, his -speculations; but they applauded him when he extolled his wines and his -cook. - -They left the table as merry as well-bred people can be. Athalie went to -see if her harp was in tune. The men went into the garden for a breath -of fresh air. It was not dark as yet, but the light was fading. - -The marquis had sauntered away, and Auguste was left alone with La -Thomassinire, who also claimed to be congenial to him, when, as they -strolled along a shaded path which was quite dark, and which skirted the -orchard, they heard the report of a hearty kiss. Auguste halted, curious -to know what was going on. La Thomassinire followed suit, with an air -of amazement. - -"Did you hear?" he asked Auguste. - -"Yes," was the reply, "I heard very distinctly." - -"What was it?" - -"If you didn't recognize the sound, it is useless for me to tell you -what it was." - -"Why, it seemed to me--but in the dark one may be mistaken." - -"Indeed! do you think that one doesn't hear as well by night as by day?" - -"The fact is that I can't believe that anybody on my premises would -venture----" - -The sound of the second kiss interrupted him. The two gentlemen walked -toward a clump of shrubbery near by, and saw Mademoiselle Tapotte in the -marquis's arms, defending herself very feebly, as her custom was; while -the marquis, with flushed face, gleaming eye and thick voice, said to -her: - -"On my honor, you are a rose-bud, and I will have an assignation." - -But the rustling of the foliage caused the marquis to release his hold; -Tapotte ran away, and Monsieur de Cligneval returned to the house, while -Auguste said laughingly to La Thomassinire: - -"It seems that your champagne changes the aspect of things: that mass of -flesh has become a rose-bud." - -"Oh! that is court language. The marquis was joking, no doubt. However, -I should have been terribly sorry to have him see us! A marquis, you -know! I ought not to have seen anything! Monsieur Dalville, I urge you -to maintain absolute secrecy about this matter; it is very important." - -"Never fear!" - -"I ask you to promise me." - -Having quieted his host's fears, Auguste returned to the house with him. -Athalie took her place at the harp; the gentlemen seated themselves at a -card-table, and, while listening to the harmonious strains that the -young woman extracted from the instrument, they did their best to win -their opponents' money. Tea was served, then punch. The marquis won from -everybody; but he was so courteous, his manners were so amiable, that -one was almost tempted to thank him for condescending to take one's -money. Athalie, fatigued by the ball of the preceding night, retired -early; and ere long all the guests withdrew to their rooms. - -The weather was superb and the soft moonlight seemed to invite one to -enjoy the cool evening air. Auguste stole quietly downstairs, dressed in -an ample robe de chambre which he had found in his room, and walked -through the garden toward the orchard. I am not sure whether he went -there solely in search of coolness, but when he reached the grove of -fruit trees, where it was very dark, he vanished among the plums and -cherries. At last, after wandering about for some time, he found -himself before the building which the gardener had pointed out to him. -He drew near; he heard voices and recognized La Thomassinire's. The -young man concluded that he had arrived too late; however, he listened -to what his host had to say to Mademoiselle Tapotte. - -"Monsieur le marquis kissed you, my dear girl." - -"Me, monsieur! oh, nenni! nobody didn't kiss me." - -"Remember, Tapotte, that I am your master, and that I have a right to -know everything." - -"I don't know what you want to know!" - -"Monsieur le marquis kissed you." - -"What's a marquis?" - -"A magnificent man! rather short and fat, almost bald, about fifty years -old, and with an eye-glass--_lorgnon_--on one side." - -"Oh! he's a marquis, is he? I don't know whether he had an -onion--_ognon_--on one side, but he smelt pretty strong of liquor--I -know that." - -"Don't think that I mean to scold you, Tapotte; far from it! I simply -want to know what he said to you, so as to do it like a marquis, when I -have the opportunity." - -"Why, bless me, he went about it the same way they all do. In the first -place, he squeezed me." - -"Good." - -"Then he squeezed me again." - -"Good." - -"Oh, yes! good! good!--I yelled." - -"You did wrong, he was a marquis!" - -"I don't care, when he hurt me. And then--well since it amuses you, why, -he kissed me." - -"Good." - -"He wouldn't let me go; he swore I'd got to say I'd meet him; but I -wouldn't." - -"You were wrong! You're a fool, Tapotte! You shouldn't have refused -monsieur le marquis." - -"Bah! get along with you! He's old and he's ugly!" - -This conversation suggested an idea to our hare-brained youth; he -wrapped his head in his handkerchief, and began to cough and spit, -imitating the decidedly nasal notes of the marquis. - -"Mon Dieu! there's some one outside!" cried La Thomassinire. - -"Yes, some old fellow coughing," replied Tapotte. - -"Why! it's he--it's the marquis. Fool that you are! Why didn't you admit -that you told him where you lived?" - -"I swear, monsieur, that I----" - -"Hush! hold your tongue! he's there and he's getting impatient." - -"Jarni! he's got the catarrh, that man has!" - -"Faith, I cannot hesitate.--Monsieur le marquis! What an honor! I will -jump out of this window in the rear." - -"But don't I tell you, monsieur, that I didn't say I'd meet him----" - -La Thomassinire was no longer listening; he had opened a window and -jumped out, and was in the garden. At the same moment, Auguste opened -the door, and entered the gardener's abode. When she saw that it was not -the marquis, she uttered a cry of surprise; but Auguste whispered to her -to keep quiet, and Mademoiselle Tapotte did whatever the young man -wished, much preferring a tte--tte with him to one with monsieur le -marquis. - -La Thomassinire walked about under the apricot trees, presuming that -the marquis would not remain long with Tapotte; but after half an hour, -as his guest did not leave the gardener's house, our financier decided -to go to bed. - -"The deuce!" he said to himself; "the marquis seems to have had a long -story to tell her. I must try to make my interviews last as long as -monsieur le marquis's." - -The next day the company assembled preparatory to starting for Paris. -Athalie was fresher than on the evening before, the marquis less -flushed. Auguste seemed fatigued and La Thomassinire's expression was -very sly as he looked at the nobleman. Mademoiselle Tapotte alone was -just as usual. - -They entered their carriages and left the charming retreat at Fleury. -Let us follow their example, and return to Paris. - - - - -X - -THE INN - - -To console himself in his master's absence, Bertrand had sent for the -concierge to come up and keep him company. This concierge was an old -German named Schtrack, who had come to France to make trousers, and, -having found employment as a concierge, passed his time in drinking, -smoking, and in beating his wife. He was by no means capable of carrying -on a conversation, even with a cook; but he would drink, and listen with -imperturbable stolidity to Bertrand's stories of his campaigns, and to -the minute details which the ex-corporal delighted to repeat, often for -the twentieth time. Schtrack always seemed to take the same deep -interest in them, keeping his eye fixed on the narrator, moving his -head or frowning when the battle waxed hot, and emitting a cloud of -tobacco smoke and a _sacreti!_ when Bertrand paused for breath. - -After assuring themselves that the burgundy was not spoiling, they had -subjected the claret and the madeira to the same test. The more Bertrand -talked, the thirstier he became; now he must have been exceedingly -thirsty, for he had talked steadily from the preceding evening; the two -worthies having passed the night doing what they called "tasting the -cellar," and Schtrack having left Bertrand's side but twice, to -administer chastisement after the German style to his wife, who presumed -to find fault because her husband did not come down to his lodge. - -Bertrand sometimes interrupted the narrative of his campaigns to talk -about Auguste, to whom he was devotedly attached, and to confide to -Schtrack his anxiety on account of his lieutenant's senseless -extravagance and his penchant for women; and Schtrack listened to it as -he listened to the story of Austerlitz, ejaculating _sacreti!_ from -time to time. - -Although his patience was tried by hearing nothing else all night, -Bertrand nevertheless said to Schtrack: - -"Tell me, old fellow, what can I do to keep Monsieur Dalville from -ruining himself?" - -Schtrack, who had never before been questioned by Bertrand, reflected -fully five minutes before he replied: - -"Sacreti! let's take a drink." - -"Yes, let's take a drink, that's well said," rejoined Bertrand, touching -the concierge's glass with his; "but it doesn't answer my question. I -love and respect Monsieur Dalville; I would jump into the fire for him; -but, thunder and guns! it breaks my heart to see him pay out money for -this one, lend to that one, play for infernally high stakes, spend money -in foolish extravagance, and, last of all, injure his health; for what -man could stand such a life? And most of those pretty hussies deceive -him, I'll bet! But he won't listen to me. The heart is all right, oh! -the heart is first-class, but the head----" - -"Sacreti!" said Schtrack, emptying his glass. - -"For instance, that little woman who lives in this house, for all her -soft voice and her eyes always on the floor, and although she's fainted -three times on learning of my master's perfidy, I wouldn't swear--I have -imagined several times that I've seen a little man rushing upstairs as -if there was a squad of police at his heels.--Do you know who I mean, -Schtrack?" - -"Ya! ya!" - -"Well, who is that little man?" - -"I don't know." - -"As concierge, you should know." - -"You'd petter ask mein vife." - -The sound of Dalville's carriage wheels put an end to the conversation. -Schtrack went down to his quarters, and Bertrand tried to assume a -sedate air with which to receive his master. - -"Here I am, my dear Bertrand," said Auguste, as he entered his -apartment; "I passed a delightful day yesterday. Oh! don't scold me; I -was virtuous--that is, so far as circumstances allowed me to be. Has -anybody been here during my absence?" - -"Yes, monsieur: in the first place, Mademoiselle Virginie." - -"Poor Virginie! she must be angry with me for neglecting her for more -than three weeks." - -"She says that she shall die of grief." - -"Oh! she has said that to me so often!" - -"She breakfasted here; she ate cold fowl and pie." - -"Very good; evidently her grief isn't dangerous as yet." - -"While she was breakfasting, your neighbor, Madame Saint-Edmond, came to -ask me if I'd seen her poodle; she wanted also to speak to monsieur -about a matter that she said was important. She came in, and the two of -them waited a long while for you." - -"What! were they here together?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"Gad! that must have been amusing!" - -"Amusing, if you choose to call it so! I was afraid for a minute that it -was going to be serious." - -"Oh! you see the dark side of everything." - -"I assure you, monsieur, that those ladies didn't look at the bright -side, either of 'em. They went away at last. Mademoiselle Virginie went -to see an Englishman, who is to buy a linen-draper's shop for her." - -"Bertrand, you're a slanderer." - -"I am simply repeating what she said, monsieur." - -"I will go up to-night and see Lonie. What next?" - -"Monsieur Destival came to see you; he seemed full of business." - -"Oh, yes! he has spoken to me very often lately about an excellent -investment in which I can get ten per cent for my money." - -"I advise you to get as large a per cent as you can, monsieur; for we -are running through the funds pretty fast." - -"That is true; I must put my affairs in a better condition." - -"Yes, that wouldn't be a bad idea." - -"I have been obliged to sell a farm already." - -"Poor farm! When I think of it, it makes me feel sad." - -"Don't be alarmed, Bertrand, I propose to cut down my expenses after -this. I will see Destival, and if he can still find a profitable -investment for my money, I shall recover what I have thrown away. Come, -my old comrade, no moping; it does no good. I am young and rich. You -must agree that I have no reason to despair as yet." - -"That is so, lieutenant; that's what I said to myself when Schtrack and -I were inspecting the cellar, to make sure that everything was all -right." - -"You did very well, Bertrand; inspect, superintend, manage everything to -suit yourself. I am going to change my clothes; then I will go up to see -my neighbor; and to-morrow I will attend to more serious affairs." - -"Excellent young man!" said Bertrand, following Auguste with his eyes. -"He leaves me in control here. But tasting his wines isn't the whole -thing; that isn't enough; I propose to make myself useful to him in -spite of him, and I will go down and have a talk with Madame Schtrack -about the little man who goes up to our neighbor's room." - -Madame Saint-Edmond greeted Auguste with an offended air; she was -melancholy, her eyes were red, she still held her handkerchief in her -hand. It is true that, as she had learned of Auguste's return, she was -expecting a call from him. Dalville inquired sympathetically what the -cause of her depression might be; she refused to confide in him; but she -let drop a word or two concerning the woman she had met in his rooms; -these words were followed by stifled sighs and sarcastic laughter, and -Madame Saint-Edmond added to each of her comments: - -"You are entirely at liberty, monsieur, to receive whomever you choose." - -Auguste, touched by Lonie's apparent suffering, succeeded in -tranquillizing the pretty blonde, who consented at last to make peace -with her neighbor on condition that she should never again meet in his -rooms that woman who had made impertinent speeches to her, and the mere -sight of whom would throw her into hysterics. Auguste promised; in love, -as in politics, one always makes more promises than one intends to keep. - -But Lonie was still pensive and preoccupied. - -"Something is troubling you," said Auguste. - -"No; oh, no! nothing, I assure you," replied the pretty blonde, in a -tone which meant the exact opposite. - -"But it is perfectly evident to me that you are concealing something -from me." - -"Why, no, you are mistaken; at all events it doesn't concern you at -all." - -As we are always anxious to know what does not concern us, Auguste -became more insistent; he demanded that she should tell him all, -whereupon Madame Saint-Edmond confessed in a low, silvery voice that a -milliner, to whom she had owed two thousand francs for a long time, had -forced her to give him a note; that that note would come due in two -days, and that she was sorely embarrassed about paying it. - -Auguste regretted that he had been so inquisitive; but it was too late -to retreat; besides, he was too fond of obliging his friends not to come -to his neighbor's assistance. - -"Send the holder of the note to my apartment," he said; "Bertrand will -pay it." - -Lonie refused; she was afraid of inconveniencing Auguste; she would be -terribly distressed to have him think that her selfish interests had -any influence upon the sentiment he aroused in her. But Auguste -insisted, he did not choose that she should have recourse to others; and -Lonie consented at last to allow herself to be accommodated, on -condition that it should be considered a loan, which she would repay to -her friend. - -Bertrand leaped backward when Auguste said to him next day: - -"You will pay Madame Saint-Edmond's note for two thousand francs which -the holder will present here." - -"Two thousand francs for that little minx!" cried the ex-corporal, -beating his brow in desperation. "Ah! lieutenant, if this is the way you -put your affairs in order!" - -"No comments, Bertrand; I am only lending Lonie the money, and if I -ever find myself in difficulties, I am sure that there is no sacrifice -of which that woman would not be capable, to oblige me." - -"You may believe that, monsieur, but I----" - -"You will pay the note, Bertrand." - -"I will pay it, lieutenant." - -Auguste went out singing, and Bertrand went down to his friend -Schtrack's, to question his wife. - -Bertrand paid the note and Lonie was more loving than ever with -Auguste. But one morning, when she did not expect him, Dalville found in -his neighbor's room a little man, who instantly took his leave with a -very low bow, which Madame Saint-Edmond barely acknowledged, dismissing -her gentleman in a very curt tone. - -"Who is that man?" Auguste inquired when the stranger had gone. - -"Mon Dieu! that is a very ridiculous individual, whom one of my aunts -sent to me. He is fresh from the provinces and is seeking employment. -But, as he is a terrible bore to me, I receive him in such fashion that -he soon brings his visits to an end. He's as stupid as he is ugly." - -"Why, he didn't strike me as being so very ugly." - -"Bah! how did you look at him? He is horrible! A hideous nose and sunken -eyes, and such an awkward, ridiculous figure! Oh! I can't endure the -man." - -Auguste pushed his questions no farther and said no more about the -little man; but he was secretly vexed to hear her speak so ill of him, -because he knew the tactics of ladies of her stamp, who often employ -that method to conceal their intimacy with a person. - -On returning to his own rooms, Auguste noticed that Bertrand looked at -him with a sly expression, and hovered about him as if he were seeking -an opportunity to speak to him. - -"You want to tell me or ask me something, I see, Bertrand," said -Auguste, stopping in front of the corporal. "Speak, for heaven's sake, -instead of prowling about me in this way. You have no comprehension, my -old friend, of the little wiles of the ladies, who, when they have -anything to say to us, have the art to force us to question them." - -"True, lieutenant, you're right; it's better to go straight to the point -without countermarching. You must have met a certain little man at the -neighbor's, for I saw him come down just after you went up." - -"Well, yes, I did see a gentleman there; what of it?" - -"What of it! Is this the first time you've met him?" - -"Yes." - -"He goes there often, however." - -"Who told you that?" - -"Madame Schtrack, the concierge." - -"What, Bertrand! do you chatter and talk gossip with a concierge?" - -"Gossip! no, lieutenant; ten thousand cartridges! I! gossip! Do you call -what I've just told you gossip, lieutenant?" - -"Why, pretty nearly. Is not Madame de Saint-Edmond at liberty to receive -visits? Does she owe me an account of all her callers? What right have I -to set spies on her acts? and if anyone should give her a faithful -report of mine, do you think that she would have no reason to reproach -me?" - -"True, lieutenant; I am in the wrong. I'll go on drinking with Schtrack, -but I won't talk with his wife any more, because I don't want it said -that an old moustache like me talks gossip." - -Although he had scolded Bertrand, Auguste remembered Madame Schtrack's -statement; and, when he thought of the abuse Lonie had heaped upon the -little man, he could not avoid conceiving some suspicions. We may agree -that we do not deserve a faithful mistress, but we can never forgive her -for her infidelity. - -"Lonie must be horribly false, horribly treacherous!" said Auguste to -himself. "Why need she pretend to love me, unless she retains her hold -on me for selfish reasons, or unless she loves two men at once? Such -things have been known." - -As he walked down Boulevard Montmartre, Auguste felt a light touch on -his arm. He turned; Mademoiselle Virginie stood before him. - -"I am very lucky to meet you, monsieur," she said, looking at Auguste -with a certain expression in which there was something most seductive; -indeed, Mademoiselle Virginie made many conquests, because she had -adopted the habit of imparting that alluring expression to her eyes; -and although Auguste knew her glances by heart, he still took delight in -looking at her, especially when it was a long time since her lovely -black eyes had been fastened upon him. - -"Oh! although you look at me with a smile," she continued, "that doesn't -prevent me from being horribly angry with you." - -"Really? you are angry with me?" - -"Monsieur, I beg you not to address me so familiarly! Have we ever been -on intimate terms?" - -As she spoke, Mademoiselle Virginie burst into a roar of laughter that -caused several passers-by to turn their heads; for in Paris very little -is required to attract the attention of the passers-by. In fact, there -was one man who stopped, and who, presumably because he had never in his -life heard anyone laugh, was about to ask Virginie what the matter was; -but a glance from Auguste led him to walk on. - -"You make me laugh, when I haven't the slightest inclination to," said -Virginie, suddenly assuming a most serious air. - -"What's the matter with you? Come, tell me your troubles; you know very -well that I am your friend." - -"My friend! oh, yes! You are just nothing at all! A pretty friend, to go -two months without seeing me!" - -"It wasn't my fault--I have been busy." - -"Indeed! busy, eh? I know what kind of business. The blonde of the third -floor, and the lady in the country, and this one, and the other one! -It's no use talking, you're a thorough scamp, you're not a bit agreeable -any more! You used to be agreeable to me now and then." - -"Why didn't you come to see me?" - -"Oh! I say! do you think I haven't anything else to do but that? Don't I -have to work?" - -"Ah! you work, do you?" - -"Indeed I do; I have reformed now, I never go out." - -"Do you still live in the same place?" - -"No, I have moved." - -"Why, you do nothing but move." - -"Really, my dear, I have sold my furniture." - -"Sold your furniture? What a pity!" - -"Listen to me; I couldn't live on nut shells, could I?" - -"No, they wouldn't be good for the stomach; but as you are working----" - -"Oh, yes! it's very amusing; work a whole day to earn fifteen sous! Mon -Dieu! how I wish I were a man!" - -"What for?" - -"So as not to be a woman. I know that there are some women who are -happy, who swim in pleasure, who have feathers and velvet caps! Ah! a -velvet cap's becoming to me; I tried one on at a friend's. I propose to -have one this winter, all velvet, with gold tassels." - -"With your fifteen sous a day?" - -"Go on! No, but I sold my furniture because I owed some money; I was -four terms behind with my rent, and I had to pay." - -"Why, I should say that, the term before the last, I----" - -"No, I used that for something else. I am living with a friend until I -get more furniture. Oh! you can't imagine----" - -"What, pray?" - -"I am going to be married." - -"Nonsense! really?" - -"Faith, yes! It's a man who's mad over me; he adores me; he's turning -yellow with it." - -"Try to marry him before he gets too dark." - -"No, I was joking; but really, joking aside, he's a very good match--a -magnificent man!" - -"How old?" - -"Forty." - -"What does he do?" - -"He's a government clerk; he has a very fine place." - -"Well, my dear girl, marry at once; it seems to me that that is the very -best thing that you can do." - -"Ah! how happy I would make that man, if I married him!" - -"Well said; that purpose does you honor." - -"Oh, no! that's not it; you don't understand me. I mean that he would be -enchanted if I would consent to take him for my husband." - -"Ah! that makes a difference. But what deters you?" - -"The trouble is that I don't love him." - -"What's that? such a magnificent man!" - -"Yes, but his legs are a little bowed." - -"You must make him wear a frock coat." - -"And then he has a nose of such length--my dear, you can't conceive what -it is! His nose frightens me." - -"I never knew you to be so timid." - -"The fact is, I don't want to marry. Later, we'll see about it. Do you -know, I am strongly inclined to go on the stage?" - -"Ah! that's something new." - -"Tell me, do you think I'd be very bad? You see, I have a good voice -when I choose. Do you know that I'm as pretty as a love, on the stage?" - -"You have no need to be on the stage for that, madame." - -"Dieu! how genteel! But really, no joking, rouge and the bright light -and the footlights--all those things make me a dazzling sight. I have -tried on Iphignie's costume, and it's surprising how becoming it is. I -had an offer to go into the chorus at the Vaudeville, but that didn't -tempt me much." - -"Not to play Iphignie?" - -"No; how stupid you are! It was to get accustomed to the boards and the -audience, as they say, and to looking into the auditorium. What do you -advise me to do?" - -"I? nothing; do what you choose; but, if you really have a chance to -marry, that would be much better than going on the stage." - -"Bless my soul! you talk like my aunt. But it's true that I could never -be an actress; if I went on the stage and saw all those faces looking at -me, I know that I should laugh like a lunatic. But I say, are we going -to stand on this same spot till to-morrow? People will take us for -spies. Where are you going?" - -"I am going to Monsieur Destival's on a matter of business." - -"He is that tall, lanky, ugly creature I've seen you with sometimes in a -carriage?" - -"It is quite possible." - -"Ah! what a funny face he has! That man reminds me of one of Sraphin's -marionettes--you know, the one that sings _tire lon pha_ in _Le Pont -Cass_." - -"You will always be the same, won't you?" - -"Why, a body must laugh once in a while. Look you, Auguste, you can go -to your Monsieur Destival's another day; to-day I don't propose to leave -you." - -"But, really, I have some business." - -"So much the worse! It makes you very unhappy to think of passing a day -with me, don't it?" - -"No, of course not; but there is to be a musical party at Madame de la -Thomassinire's this evening, and I promised to be there." - -"You can sing when you get up to-morrow, if you like music so much; but -to-day, monsieur, you stay with me; we will go into the country to -dinner, and to-night you will take me to the theatre; you've been -promising me this for a long while." - -It was impossible to resist Mademoiselle Virginie, and Auguste yielded -with a good grace. - -"We will take a cab," he said, "and go wherever you choose in the -country." - -"Why not take your cabriolet? why go in a cab with wretched nags, when -you have a lovely horse that goes like the wind?" - -Auguste, who chose to remain incognito with Virginie, preferred a cab, -in which he would not be seen. There was a stand nearby; he helped his -companion in, saying: - -"Where shall we go?" - -"Where you please." - -"It makes no difference to me." - -"Nor to me." - -"But we must decide. Shall it be the Champs-Elyses?" - -"Oh! there are too many people there." - -"Vincennes?" - -"Too far." - -"Vaugirard?" - -"A pretty kind of country, with not a tree anywhere about!" - -"Sceaux?" - -"Too fashionable! I am not dressed." - -"Montmartre?" - -"To look at quarries and donkeys?" - -"Saint-Denis?" - -"There's nothing nice there but cheese-cakes, and I prefer the ones in -the Passage des Panoramas." - -"Belleville?" - -"That's a little vulgar, but it's amusing; besides, I have a decided -penchant for Prs Saint-Gervais and Romainville wood." - -"Belleville it is, then. Off we go, driver!" - -The cabman lashed his horse. Virginie was in a merry mood; with her the -annoyances of yesterday, the cares of to-morrow vanished before the -enjoyment of the moment. For his part, Auguste was not sorry to have his -mind diverted from the thoughts that disturbed him concerning Madame -Saint-Edmond, whom he had told that he expected to pass the evening at -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's. - -They reached the Belleville barrier; it took the cabman half an hour to -drive his nags up the hill, and when they reached the Ile d'Amour, they -refused to go any farther. But Virginie was very glad to walk in the -fields, so they alighted, dismissed the cab, and took a narrow road to -the left, which led to Prs Saint-Gervais. - -The sight of the green grass and trees made Virginie sentimental; she -sighed as they strolled along the avenues of lilacs, where several -cottages had recently been built. - -"How ridiculous," she cried, "to build houses everywhere, even in the -fields! you might as well go to walk in your bedroom. It used to be so -pretty here! We lunched on fresh eggs over there once--do you remember? -We drank beer under that arbor. And that restaurant, in the woods, just -beyond the keeper's, where we went several times--the one where they -have private rooms." - -"Oh, yes! the Tournebride." - -"The Tournebride, that's it. Ungrateful wretch! doesn't that name recall -any memories?" - -"Yes, it reminds me of a certain fowl that we could not succeed in -carving." - -"Indeed! it reminds you of nothing but a fowl! You are not at all -romantic to-day." - -"Do you want to dine there?" - -"I not only want to, but I insist upon it. It's rather far away, but the -walk will give us an appetite." - -"Besides, we can rest on the way." - -"Oh! since people have built everywhere, there are no nice places to -rest." - -They ran along, throwing leaves and grass at each other and plucking an -occasional wild flower. At last they reached the sandy soil of the -woods, and Virginie sighed again when she saw that the trees had been -felled on large tracts, and that building was in progress there also. - -"These people seem to have determined on the destruction of Romainville -forest!" she said. - -"It will grow again, my dear." - -"Oh, yes! but meanwhile we shan't grow again. How indifferent men are! -they don't get attached to anything. Think of the love ciphers that we -carved with a knife on the bark of an oak tree; I looked forward to -seeing them again. There was an A and a V intertwined in a heart." - -"They probably served to warm some old annuitant's feet, or to boil the -kettle for some respectable family." - -"That's it--make soup with my heart; that's very pleasant to think of! I -shan't cut any more letters on trees.--Ah! here's the Tournebride -luckily; I was afraid they'd cut that down too." - -The Tournebride was the most famous restaurant in Romainville forest; -but for all that, it would not have been safe to order a charlotte russe -there, or a _karik l'Indienne_, because the landlord would have -thought that you were talking Tartar, or making fun of him, and would -tell you to go to Noisy-le-Sec for your dinner. But if you confined your -ambition to a bill-of-fare dainty enough for the worthy bourgeois of Rue -Saint-Denis, and very popular among the young work-girls who came to -Romainville with their sweethearts, you might be certain of being -satisfied at the Tournebride, which is only three gun-shots from the -keeper's lodge, on the road leading to Romainville village. - -Auguste and Virginie entered the inn, and, as is usual in country -restaurants, they went through the kitchen to reach the salons and the -private rooms. They enjoyed the sight of veal-stews, cutlets, and beef -_piqu_; and as such restaurants had no printed bill-of-fare, the -kitchen took the place of one. When you walked through, you saw all the -saucepans, and you inhaled the combined odors of five or six ragouts, -which might stand you instead of soup, but which was less agreeable -after you had dined. - -The host welcomed his guests with a smiling face, his cotton cap over -his ear; as he answered questions he ran from one saucepan to another, -and spitted a pigeon as he extolled his beefsteak. - -"Let's make up our minds at once what we'll have," said Virginie, who -was accustomed to country restaurants. "Is the beefsteak tender?" - -"Oh! delicious, madame." - -"With kidneys, eh, my friend?" - -"Yes, they are essential.--Have you any kidneys, monsieur l'hte?" - -"Here, monsieur, just smell this," said the landlord, holding a saucepan -under Auguste's nose. "I won't tell you, as my confrres in Paris do, -that they're stewed in champagne, but I'll swear it's white wine, and -delicious." - -"Very good." - -"And a pigeon pie, if you please, delicious also." - -"Some asparagus and lettuce." - -"If monsieur would like a fine omelette souffle?" - -"Ah, yes! I remember very well that you make very good ones." - -"Yes, monsieur; they puff up like a cotton nightcap." - -"Let us have an omelette souffle then. Give us a private room, please." - -"Take monsieur and madame to the unoccupied room on the first floor." - -A waiter, who was no longer young, but who smiled all the time, escorted -the newcomers to a room that looked on the forest. - -"Why not give us the room opposite?" asked Virginie; "the outlook is -better, we can see the road." - -"There is somebody there, madame--a party." - -"In that case, let us stay here," said Auguste. - -The waiter laid the table, then left the room, saying: - -"I will go and see to the dinner; if monsieur wants anything before it -is ready, he can call." - -That meant that he would not come up unless he was called. Such people -are almost as cunning in the country as in Paris. - -Auguste did not call for some time, because they felt that they must -rest before dinner, and moreover the private rooms of the Tournebride -made Mademoiselle Virginie very romantic; at all events, that is what -she told Auguste, laughing like a madcap, which, by the way, is not -romantic; but Mademoiselle Virginie had a way of her own of being -romantic. - -At last the stomach made itself heard; and in face of that domineering -master, all illusions vanish. The most romantic of mortals, standing in -rapt admiration before a rushing torrent or a waterfall, is compelled -to make an end when the dinner-bell rings. Virginie and Auguste were -admiring neither a torrent nor a waterfall; I am not certain that they -were absorbed in admiration of anything; but I know that they opened -their door and beat a tattoo upon it with knife handles--a method of -attracting attention which makes bells unnecessary. - -The waiter brought up the dinner, to which they did justice; the -beefsteak and kidneys were in truth delicious, and they had no ground -for complaint. While the waiter was present, Mademoiselle Virginie, who -was reasonably curious, expressed surprise that the party opposite -should be so silent that they did not hear voices, whereas, ordinarily, -the guests at country restaurants are very noisy. The young woman -concluded her remarks by asking the waiter: - -"Isn't it a large party?" - -The old waiter replied, smiling so as to show the whole of his three -remaining teeth: - -"It's no larger than yours." - -"Oho! a party of two, is it?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"A man and a woman?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"They seem to be even more romantic than we are; they have forgotten -about dinner." - -"Oh! the dinner's all ordered, it's coming up directly. I know their -ways; they're regulars." - -And the waiter left the room, closing at the same moment his mouth and -the door, the latter of which he had been holding ajar. - -"You are very inquisitive," said Auguste, "to want to know how many -people there are opposite. What difference does it make to us what -others say and do?" - -"Oh! none at all; but, don't you know, I like to see--it amuses me." - -"Let us eat and not worry about our neighbors; that will be the better -way." - -"It don't interfere with my eating!--Wait! they're opening the door." - -And at that moment a man's voice in the corridor called: - -"Bring up the dinner, waiter." - -"It's the man calling," said Virginie; "he's got a little soprano voice, -but the voice don't prove anything at all." - -"Will you have some pigeon?" - -"Do wait a minute; you're hurrying me too much." - -Just then they heard a woman's voice saying: - -"My friend, you forgot to order fritters." - -Auguste gave a jump when he heard that voice; and Virginie, alarmed by -his abrupt movement, asked: - -"Well! what's struck you now? Did you swallow a pigeon wing the wrong -way?" - -"No, nothing's the matter. It was that voice that surprised me; I -thought that I recognized----" - -"Ah, yes! I understand; it is probably some old flame of monsieur who's -in yonder room. Well! what then? Do you think that you ought to think -about any other woman when you're with me? That's very polite. Does it -make any difference to you who the woman's with? Are you still in love -with her? If I knew that you were, I'd go and make a row." - -"Why, no; there's no question of love, but it's because----" - -"Because, because--You don't know what you're saying. Eat your dinner at -once. Why don't you eat?" - -"I am not hungry any more." - -"Indeed! monsieur has ceased to be hungry since he heard that lady's -voice, which has taken away his appetite. How touching! What are you -getting up for? Where are you going?" - -"I am going downstairs a minute." - -"I don't want you to leave the room. You don't need to go downstairs. -You want to see that woman opposite, that's all; but you shan't see -her." - -As she spoke, Virginie rose too, and planted herself in front of the -door. - -"I assure you, my dear love, that I do need to go down," said Auguste, -gently taking Virginie's arm in order to put her away from the door. - -"My good fellow, I don't care what happens, but you shall not leave this -room." - -Auguste, laughing all the while, succeeded in removing Virginie from the -position she was determined to defend. She flew into a rage; the door -was partly open and Auguste attempted to go out; but she caught him by -his coat tails and the struggle began anew. At last, Virginie's strength -being exhausted, she suddenly released her hold. Auguste plunged into -the corridor, and collided with the waiter who was bringing his -neighbors their soup, splashed the julienne against the wall, hurled the -tureen to the floor, and caused him who carried it to stumble and -stagger. - -At the outcry emitted by the waiter and the crash of the soup-tureen, -the two persons in the other room, divining that it was their dinner -that had come to grief, instantly opened their door, and Auguste, who -was still in the hall, saw Madame de Saint-Edmond, and the little man -whom she held in horror. - -At first Lonie's glance did not fall on Auguste; she saw nobody but the -waiter, who was picking up the fragments of the tureen, exclaiming: -"That's too bad! luckily no one's hurt." - -But Auguste suddenly appeared at the door of the room and bowed to -Lonie. - -"I am distressed, madame, to have upset your soup." - -Lonie raised her eyes, gave a shriek, and fainted. That was the best -thing that she could do under the circumstances. The little man, who -also had recognized Dalville, and who was afraid of being challenged to -fight a duel, leaped over the stooping waiter, and rushing down the -stairs four at a time, left the Tournebride and plunged into the woods, -without casting a glance behind. Virginie, who had left her room, -exclaimed in surprise when she recognized Auguste's neighbor in the -unconscious woman; and the waiter, thinking that everybody was shouting -because of the soup, kept repeating: - -"It's nothing, messieurs, mesdames; don't get excited; there's more -downstairs; we always have plenty of julienne." - -Virginie's anger had vanished and she laughed as if she would die. -Auguste looked at Lonie, who sat in her chair, with her head thrown -back, and did not open her eyes; while the waiter, seeing nothing of -what took place inside the room, went downstairs, crying: - -"I'll bring up some more soup; it'll only take a minute." - -Meanwhile Virginie had walked up to Madame Saint-Edmond, and, taking the -mustard pot from the table, had held it under her nose; with the result -that the pretty blonde instantly recovered consciousness and cast a -languid glance on the person who had been so attentive. But when she -recognized Virginie, her expression changed, and she roughly pushed away -the mustard pot which that young lady was holding to her nose. - -"Does madame feel better?" queried Virginie, imitating Lonie's -mellifluous tone. - -The latter, choking with rage, rose and said in a trembling voice: - -"I don't need anything." - -"Come, my dear love," said Auguste, "we must not intrude upon madame any -longer; I deeply regret that I frightened her companion away. But -doubtless the gentleman is only awaiting our departure, to return; we -must not compel him to stay in the kitchen any longer. Let's go and -finish our dinner." - -"Yes, let's go back and eat our omelette souffle," said Virginie, with -a profound curtsy to Lonie, and she returned to her seat at the table -in the other room. Auguste was about to do likewise, when Lonie ran to -him, raising her eyes to the ceiling, and said in an undertone: - -"You judge me by appearances; but I swear to you----" - -"Oh! upon my word, this is too much," cried Auguste; and he angrily -slammed the door in Madame Saint-Edmond's face, exclaiming: "Take a -woman in the act, and she would still say: 'Don't judge by -appearances.'" - -Virginie was overjoyed by the incident; she joked Auguste about his -neighbor's fidelity, and he tried to laugh with her, although at heart -he was not over-pleased that he had allowed himself to be hoodwinked. -They finished their dinner at last and were about to leave their room -and the Tournebride, when they heard loud voices, and recognized those -of the inn-keeper and of Madame Saint-Edmond. - -"Madame," said the former, "you can't go away like this; I must be paid -for my dinner." - -"Monsieur," replied Madame de Saint-Edmond, imparting a moving -intonation to her voice, "I am very sorry, but you must believe that I -had no intention----" - -"I see, madame, that you have an intention to go away; your friend went -off like a shot just now; who is to pay me for my dinner, I should like -to know?" - -"But, monsieur," rejoined Lonie, and her voice became a little less -pathetic, "after all, we didn't dine; so we don't owe you anything." - -"What's that? you don't owe anything, madame! When a dinner's ordered, -and such care taken with it as with this one, do you think it isn't to -be paid for? Do you propose to leave your fillets and sweetbreads on my -hands? It isn't my fault that you don't choose to eat." - -"You can give them to some other party, monsieur." - -"You had a bottle of old macon when you got here; and there's the soup -wasted, and the broken tureen." - -"That's none of my affair, monsieur." - -"Your dinner's your affair, madame; eat it and pay for it." - -"I don't feel well, I tell you." - -"Pay for it then." - -"But I have no money with me." - -"You shouldn't have let your friend run off as if he'd seen the devil! A -man ought not to leave a woman in a false position! The deuce! decent -people don't do that! He must be a nice kind of fellow, to disappear -with the money. You shouldn't go into a restaurant when you don't mean -to dine." - -"Monsieur," retorted Madame Saint-Edmond, with an angry ring in her -voice, "this isn't the first time we've come here to dinner; do you take -us for riff-raff?" - -"No, madame; of course I know perfectly well who I'm dealing with, but I -don't choose to give credit; a fine dinner like this ought not to be -refused when it's all cooked." - -During this dialogue, Auguste had all the difficulty in keeping Virginie -from laughing aloud. At last, moved to pity by the sentimental Lonie's -plight, he went downstairs, followed by Virginie, and said to the -landlord, who did not take his eyes from Madame Saint-Edmond: - -"As I have the honor to know madame, I beg you to add the amount of her -bill to mine, monsieur; I will pay both." - -The host, whose only desire was to be paid, resumed his affable air and -made haste to reckon up the two accounts. Meanwhile the pretty blonde -sank into a chair, holding her handkerchief to her face. - -Auguste having paid, Virginie, whose triumph was complete, took his arm -and left the inn with him, saying in a mocking tone: - -"If we meet the gentleman in the forest, we will send him back to -madame." - -That fling was the last straw, and Auguste felt amply avenged. - - - - -XI - -A VISIT TO MONTFERMEIL - - -Auguste, who had no secrets from the faithful Bertrand, told him of the -meeting in Romainville forest. - -"Well, lieutenant," said Bertrand, "was Madame Schtrack mistaken when -she told me about the little man that slunk upstairs as soon as you -left?" - -"I thought that Lonie adored me." - -"I'm surprised at that, lieutenant; you deceive the ladies so often -yourself, that you ought to be a little more suspicious of their oaths." - -"On the contrary, my dear Bertrand, I assure you that those who are most -cunning in seduction allow themselves to be deceived with astounding -ease." - -"Then it's no use to be cunning." - -"Because you're very fond of a person, that doesn't prove that you know -that person thoroughly." - -"It is certain that if you knew her thoroughly, you might not be so fond -of her; for instance, I love wine, I confess; I always know when it's -good, but I can't always tell what province it comes from." - -"And I love women, I appreciate their charms, I admire their beauties; -but their hearts--Ah! if they exhibited them to the naked eye, the -prettiest ones wouldn't always be preferred." - -"For all that, lieutenant, if I were you, I'd be a little shy of those -affected airs, and those voices always pitched in a falsetto key, which -never come from the chest; it seems to me that a person can't be talking -honestly when she always acts as if she was singing. I would be on my -guard too against fainting fits, tears and stifled sighs." - -"Why, my dear Bertrand, when the tears are shed by lovely eyes, when the -voice comes from a pretty mouth, when the person who pretends to faint -displays a charming body, a shapely figure, is it so easy to resist? No, -one must surrender--with liberty to repent later." - -"That is true. In fact, that's just like me: to find out whether a -wine's good, I must taste it; and it's never the bad one that a man does -himself harm with. It's a pity that this meeting didn't happen the day -before yesterday, before you paid the note for two thousand francs!" - -"Let's not think any more about that!" - -"No; only let it be a lesson for the future." - -"Bertrand, when you meet Madame Saint-Edmond, I desire you to be as -polite to her as before!" - -"Oh! never fear, monsieur, I'm a Frenchman, and an old soldier knows the -respect due to the sex. Parbleu! if one must needs look askance at -everybody who hasn't got the countersign, one would have to look -cross-eyed too often. At all events, lieutenant, that makes one less, -and we shall be able to straighten out our cash-box a little, and----" - -"Oh, yes! I am fully determined to settle down. Destival has spoken to -me about another excellent investment. I will go to see my notary -to-morrow and turn my securities into cash.--Oh! by the way, you will -pay a small bill for furniture that will be sent here within a few -days." - -"Have you been buying furniture, lieutenant?" - -"Not for myself, for Virginie." - -Bertrand turned away, biting his lips, and struck himself repeated blows -on the forehead to keep himself from speaking out and venting his wrath. -Auguste, observing his cashier's ill humor, continued with a smile: - -"Come, don't get excited, Bertrand! really, you are getting to be so -severe!" - -"I, monsieur! I haven't said a word!" - -"Deuce take it! I am rich; do you expect me to deny myself all -pleasure?" - -"I don't expect anything at all, monsieur." - -"Ought a man in my position to lead the life of a petty tradesman with -an income of twelve hundred francs?" - -"We spent forty thousand francs last year, and your income only amounts -to fifteen thousand; if we go on that way, we're perfectly certain to -be left as naked as little St. John." - -"No; I shall succeed in keeping a better proportion between my expenses -and my income this year. But this bill is a mere trifle. Poor Virginie! -she's so amusing!" - -"Oh, yes! she's amusing enough! but she'd ruin a platoon of -contractors!" - -"You certainly can't call her voice falsetto." - -"No, parbleu! there's no doubt about it's coming from her chest; and she -must have a strong one too, for she uses it devilish hard. Thunder and -guns! what a chatter!" - -"She hasn't any prim ways or affected manners." - -"Oh! as far as that goes, I'll admit that she's outspoken! She don't -conceal her game, at all events. But all the same, lieutenant, you can -scold me if you choose, but I tell you again that these women ought not -to occupy every minute of a man's time; and that it makes me feel bad to -see that they don't love you as you deserve to be loved; because, at -heart, you're a good man, you have lots of good qualities and fine -feeling; and all that ought to make you see that it isn't by running -after women all the time that--That's all, lieutenant." - -Auguste was silent for some time, and Bertrand, surprised to see him so -pensive, feared that he had offended him, and dared not open his mouth. - -"I believe that you're right, Bertrand," said Auguste at last. - -"Really, lieutenant--you agree with me?" - -"Yes, I feel that a genuine passion, a sincere attachment, must make a -man happier than all these momentary fancies. But is it my fault that it -is so difficult to find a frank and sincere heart in society?" - -"No, certainly not; it isn't your fault." - -"Or that coquetry and falsity take the place nowadays of love and -friendship?" - -"Such substitutes shouldn't be allowed!" - -"Ah! my dear Bertrand, we should be too fortunate if all women were -faithful." - -"True, we should be too fortunate." - -"And yet the whole business of living would be intolerably monotonous -then." - -"Ah! do you think it would injure business?" - -"You see, Bertrand, we must take the world as it is." - -"We have no help for that." - -"But when I have found a woman who will love me for myself, who will be -incapable of deceiving me, who will try to please nobody but myself -alone, why then----" - -"Then, lieutenant?" - -"Oh, Bertrand! such a pleasant memory! And it's so long since I thought -of her!" - -"Who, lieutenant?" - -"Lovely Denise, the pretty little milkmaid of Montfermeil. Ah! she is -virtuous, I'll swear to that." - -"That would be taking a big risk; you hardly know her, and you haven't -seen her for two months." - -"Do you know why I haven't seen her, Bertrand?" - -"Because you forgot her." - -"No, it isn't that alone. I have had another reason; you'll laugh, but -it is that I am afraid of becoming too fond of that girl." - -"In that case, it's very delicate on your part." - -"Yes, of course it is; for why should I try to seduce that child, who is -virtuous and innocent, and who is living a tranquil life in her -village?" - -"That would be very wrong, monsieur; there's girls enough willing to be -seduced in Paris, without going into the suburbs to look for others." - -"Saddle my horse, Bertrand, and saddle the cabriolet horse for yourself; -make haste." - -"Why, where are we going, monsieur?" - -"To Montfermeil, to see Denise." - -"What! when you just said----" - -"I have reflected that there's no danger for her, because she doesn't -love me." - -"Do you think not, monsieur?" - -"She told me so many times. But I want to see Coco, my little protg, -poor child. I really long to hug the little fellow. You will see how -pretty he is, Bertrand--and such vile relations!--Put some money in your -pocket, Bertrand." - -"Oh! as much as you choose, lieutenant, to relieve the unfortunate, to -help an orphan; one never regrets such things, and it gives one a -hundred times more pleasure than paying for the brunette's hangings and -the blonde's shawls." - -The horses were saddled; Auguste and Bertrand mounted, and started for -Montfermeil about ten o'clock in the morning. At eleven they had passed -Raincy; a little later they reached Livry, turned to the right, and soon -saw the village of Montfermeil before them. - -Bertrand was drenched with perspiration; he was not used to riding hard, -as Dalville was; and although it was September, it was still exceedingly -warm. Bertrand drew rein, observing to Auguste that their steeds needed -a breathing-space; but, thinking that he recognized the path by which -Coco had taken him to his cabin, Auguste urged his horse forward, -calling to Bertrand: - -"Ride on to the village; I'll join you there." - -"All right, I'll go on to the village," said Bertrand to himself, -letting his horse walk. "Shall I go to the inn? Or shall I inquire for -the little milkmaid? No, I don't want milk for my horse, and the girl -probably wouldn't be able to feed us both.--A very pretty village, but I -don't see any signs of an inn." - -Bertrand allowed his horse to go where he chose; he passed several -hovels of only one story, not caring to halt at such wretched abodes; -but he soon found himself beside a rippling stream bordered by willow -trees, with a pretty cottage on the opposite side. Bertrand crossed the -brook and stopped in front of the yard. A small boy was playing with a -goat; a little farther on a girl was churning butter, and at the rear -was an elderly woman arranging fruit in a basket. - -From his saddle Bertrand could overlook the whole yard, and he watched -that rustic picture. Suddenly the girl raised her eyes, saw the -horseman, and rushed toward him, exclaiming: - -"I can't be mistaken--it's Monsieur Bertrand." - -And as she spoke, the girl's eyes searched the road for another -horseman. - -Bertrand recognized Denise and bestowed an affable nod upon her, saying: - -"By the great Turenne, I couldn't have stopped at a better time. Bbelle -has a most amazing scent!" - -"Pray come in, Monsieur Bertrand," said Denise, her eyes still fixed on -the road. - -"You're very kind, mamzelle, but I'm looking for an inn, where my horse -and I can get something to eat." - -"You'll find all you want here. We won't let you go anywhere else, will -we, aunt?--Come in, Monsieur Bertrand." - -Bertrand could not resist the girl's courteous insistence. He was -surprised to hear her call him by name, having no idea that Dalville -could have amused himself by mentioning him to Denise. While he -dismounted, the girl ran to her aunt, and, to induce her to treat the -newcomer cordially, she made haste to tell her that Bertrand was the -companion of the gentleman who had been so kind to Coco. Mre Fourcy -rose and made a low reverence to Bertrand, who could not conceive the -cause of so much politeness. - -Bbelle was taken to the stable, the child left his goat, to go and look -at her, and Denise ushered Bertrand into the house and made haste to -offer him wine. Meanwhile Mre Fourcy made an omelet, Bertrand having -admitted that he would be glad to eat a morsel. - -Denise was burning to learn something about the young man who had -commended Coco to her care; but she waited for her aunt to leave the -room before mentioning him. She did not know how to question Bertrand, -whom she supposed to have been sent by the handsome young man to make -inquiries about the child; and she waited for Bertrand to speak first; -but as he did nothing but eat and drink, Denise decided to question him. - -"He sent you to find out whether Coco had everything he wants, and -whether I'd made a good use of the money he left with me, didn't he, -monsieur?" - -Bertrand emptied his glass at a draught and replaced it on the table -with a bang, saying: - -"For a village wine, that ain't bad at all." - -"Didn't you hear what I said, monsieur?" asked Denise timidly. - -"I beg pardon, but you will be very good to act as if I hadn't heard, -for I didn't understand." - -"I asked you if that gentleman, that young man I saw with you, first in -a cabriolet, and afterward at Madame Destival's----" - -"You mean Monsieur Auguste Dalville?" - -"Ah! is his name Auguste Dalville?" - -"How is it that you don't know his name and do know mine?" - -"Because he called you by name twice before me, in the courtyard, and I -haven't forgotten your name." - -"You are very kind, mademoiselle." - -"So Monsieur Auguste Dalville didn't come with you to-day?" - -"I beg pardon, but he's close by! he'll be here very soon." - -"He is here, he is coming!" cried Denise, jumping for joy. But she -added, to conceal her emotion: "You see, when you came alone, I thought -that you wasn't with him any more." - -"Do you suppose I'll ever leave my master, my benefactor, a man who has -done everything for me, and who still calls me his friend? Ten thousand -bayonets! No, my dear child, that can never be; I'm attached to Monsieur -Auguste, just as my sword hilt is to the blade; nothing can ever -separate me from him, except himself. But I don't worry about that; -although I do make bold to scold him a little, he knows old Bertrand's -heart." - -Denise wiped away the tears of emotion which the old soldier's devotion -brought to her eyes; then she cried, taking Bertrand's hand and pressing -it in hers: - -"Ah! what a fine thing for you to say, Monsieur Bertrand! How nice it is -to love a person like that!" - -"Does it surprise you? did you think that Monsieur Auguste didn't -deserve to be loved so well?" - -"I don't say that, monsieur; far from it. Another glass, Monsieur -Bertrand?" - -"With pleasure, mamzelle." - -Denise was delighted to hear him talk of Auguste; and as the wine made -him very communicative, he went on; for when he was talking about his -benefactor, it was the same as with his campaigns--there was no way of -stopping him. - -"Yes, my pretty child, Monsieur Auguste's a fine fellow--a rake, a -lady-killer, fickle and dissipated, it's true; but those things don't -touch the real man." - -"What, monsieur! he's all that? Why, it's very wicked to be a rake and -fickle. And you said such fine things about him just now!" - -"Have I said any ill of him, my girl? Don't you know that young men must -sow their wild oats? But I trust that with my advice--Corbleu! if -Schtrack knew of this wine--And when it's so hot, it makes you thirsty -as the devil." - -"I believe, monsieur, that while Monsieur Auguste was talking to me in -Madame Destival's courtyard, you whispered in my ear: 'Look out for -yourself!'" - -"It's possible, my child, quite possible.--Look you, Mamzelle Denise, -you're a pretty girl----" - -"Very polite of you, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"Oh, no! I say that in all honesty. You look to be a good girl, too, and -it would be a pity to let you get caught. My master's a fine fellow, but -as soon as he sees a pretty face, he flashes up like powder! it's too -much for him. He'll swear that it will last forever; but at the first -village where he sees another pretty girl, he'll take fire and swear the -same to her." - -"Oh! that's very wicked!" - -"No, it's a disease of youth, and it will pass away!--You see, in Paris -I can't always be at his heels to warn the pretty girls he makes love -to; besides, in the big cities, the girls know enough about such things -not to need any warning. But when I happen to see my lieutenant talking -to a child who looks to me to be virtuous and respectable, like you, -then I just whisper in her ear: 'Look out for yourself!' and if that -don't save her, it ain't my fault, at all events." - -Denise made no reply, for she was reflecting upon what Bertrand had just -said; he wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, drank, and replied: - -"However, the proof that Monsieur Auguste's a fine young man is that, -when he reflects, he don't make a fool of himself. For instance, he -found you to his taste; well, he didn't come again to see you; he told -me that it was for fear of getting to be too fond of you." - -"Too fond of me!" cried Denise. "What! did he really say that, monsieur? -Then he loves me." - -"Not at all, my pretty child; that is to say, not any more than the -others. But he would have tried to seduce you as a matter of habit, and -you might perhaps have listened to him; for he's a good-looking fellow, -and he has such a way of telling of his love that he'd make a woman of -sixty believe in it." - -"And that's why he hasn't been here?" Denise inquired, with a sigh. - -"Yes; but to-day he remembered your saying that you didn't love him; so -then he came." - -"I didn't say that, Monsieur Bertrand." - -"No? then he did wrong to come." - -"I don't say that I do love him either." - -"So much the better for you, Mamzelle Denise; for that would be laying -up trouble for yourself." - -"Whoever heard of a village girl loving a fine gentleman from the city?" - -"I don't know whether it's possible, but I know that it sometimes -happens." - -"Don't worry, Monsieur Bertrand, I shall never have any feeling but -friendship for Monsieur Auguste; and if it's the dread of my loving him -that keeps him from coming to the village, why, tell him he can come as -often as he likes. Denise knows only too well that she isn't capable of -winning the heart of a city gentleman; she won't ever forget it." - -"Bravo! that's what I call talking, my dear child. I drink to your -virtue,--and, as you see, I leave no heel-taps.--But what's the matter, -pray? are you crying?" - -"No, Monsieur Bertrand, no; you see, I should be very sorry to--But it's -all over now. Monsieur Auguste won't be afraid any more to come to see -his little protg. He won't let two months go by again, without -coming." - -"Oh! that depends. At Paris, you know, Mamzelle Denise, my master don't -have a minute to himself; he's always at some party or some -entertainment! People fight to see who shall have him! He gets ten -invitations a day." - -"Oh, yes! he don't have time to think of the village. Is he so very rich -then, your Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Rich? Yes, to be sure, he is as yet; but if he keeps on at this rate, -he won't be rich long!--Your health, Mamzelle Denise." - -"What do you mean by that, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Oh! nothing, nothing!--At any rate, I ought not to presume to -criticise. Monsieur Dalville's money's his own; let him give it to women -who deceive him, to grisettes who ruin him; let him pay for furniture -and rugs and calico dresses--it's none of my business; I must just obey -and pay; but it makes me feel bad because--damnation!--what with women -on one side and cart on the other----" - -"What's cart, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Oh! that's a little game at which people ruin themselves while they -imagine they're enjoying themselves. They say it's a delightful game, -because it's played so fast. For my part, I think it's played much too -fast; but Monsieur Auguste gambles so as to do like the others. That's -his business. Besides, if he chooses to ruin himself, why, you -understand, subordination before everything.--Your health, Mamzelle -Denise." - -Denise was greatly surprised by what she had heard; she was wondering -whether she ought to believe Bertrand, who continued to drink and talk, -when Coco came bounding into the room. - -"Who is that child?" queried Bertrand. - -"The little boy to whom Monsieur Auguste gave so many tokens of his -generosity." - -"He's a pretty little fellow.--Come here, my boy; get up on my knee--so. -Haven't you got any father or mother, little white head?" - -"Yes, monsieur, I've got Papa Calleux," Coco replied, looking up at -Bertrand. - -"What does Papa Calleux do?" - -"He works in the fields." - -"He's a drunkard," Denise whispered to Bertrand. - -"The devil! that's a villainous fault," the latter replied, putting his -glass to his lips. "A man must drink--it's a necessity--but he should be -able to govern his thirst, and above all things, never lose his -wits.--But, by the way, seeing this little fellow reminds me that he's -the one my master's gone to see; when he left me, he said: 'I'm going to -the child's cabin.'" - -"Oh dear! he won't find anybody there," said Denise. "And you never told -us! We must go to meet him. I supposed he was at Madame -Destival's.--Come, Coco, come; we are going to find your kind -friend--the one you love so much." - -"The one you talk to me about every day, Denise?" asked the child. - -"Yes, your benefactor.--Are you coming with us, Monsieur Bertrand?" - -"Faith, Mamzelle Denise, I'm very comfortable here; and if you don't -need me----" - -"No, no; my aunt will keep you company.--Come, Coco, let's make haste to -look for your kind friend." - -The child asked nothing better than to go with Denise. They left -Bertrand in the act of making a military salute to Mre Fourcy, who had -just entered the room, and they started for the cabin. - -But Denise was moved by conflicting emotions, of whose source she had no -very definite idea: she was happy, and yet she trembled, and her -breathing was labored; and as one cannot run far under such -circumstances, Denise slackened her pace. But Coco ran on ahead, because -at seven years of age such emotions are unknown. - -Denise was so engrossed by what Bertrand had said to her, that she did -not at first notice that the child had left her; but Coco was well -acquainted with the roads, so that the girl was not anxious about him, -and she paused a moment under a great tree, glad of an opportunity to -prepare for her meeting with the young man. A thousand thoughts passed -through her mind; but the one that recurred most frequently was that -Auguste had come to the village again solely because he thought that she -did not love him. - -"Is it quite certain that he thinks that?" said Denise to herself; -"perhaps Monsieur Bertrand heard wrong. Is it quite true that Monsieur -Auguste is such a deceiver as he says? An old soldier can't know much -about all those things. But after all, what difference does it make to -me, as I don't care for the young man? As Monsieur Bertrand says, what -good would it do me to love him? He'd just laugh at me afterward. Oh! -there's no danger of my marrying a young man from Paris.--A rake, a -seducer, fickle----" - -Having reflected thus, the maiden arranged her neckerchief, adjusted her -cap, retied her apron, and looked down at herself, murmuring: - -"Oh dear! how tumbled I am! If I had known this morning--if I could have -guessed. That gentleman won't think me pretty again--Bah! it's all one -to me; but a body don't like to look as if she was careless and hadn't -any taste." - -At last, having completed her scrutiny of her toilet, Denise was about -to leave the tree, when she heard a voice. It was Auguste's. The girl -recognized it, and she had to stop again to recover her breath. - -But Auguste was not alone; he was talking and laughing with a pretty, -rosy-cheeked peasant girl, by whose side he was walking, leading his -horse by the rein. Denise being hidden by the great tree, Dalville did -not see her. - -The peasant halted a hundred yards from the tree which concealed Denise. - -"Adieu, monsieur; I'm going this way; and if you're going to -Montfermeil, that's your road straight ahead." - -"We shall not part like this, my beauty," said Auguste, dropping his -horse's rein to put his arm about the girl's waist; "we must at least -bid each other adieu----" - -"Let me go, monsieur, let me go, I say! You squeeze too hard." - -"Not so hard as I would like to." - -"I say, did it take you like this, all of a sudden, when you got off -your horse?" - -"It always takes me this way." - -"It's worse than a clap of thunder.--Look here! are you going to let me -go?" - -"When I have kissed you." - -"No, none of that.--Look out; while you're getting excited, your nag's -going off." - -"I can find him again." - -"Look, he's already trampling down Nicolas's beans." - -"Let him trample." - -"Monsieur, I tell you I'll yell if----" - -The sound of a kiss interrupted the peasant, and echoed in Denise's -heart. She had heard it all, and she did not stir. This first victory -would perhaps have been followed by a second, had not Coco's voice made -itself heard; he ran toward Auguste, whom he had just caught sight of, -shouting at the top of his lungs: - -"Here's my kind friend! Good-day, my kind friend! Have you come to play -with me?" - -When he heard the child's voice, Auguste left the peasant and went to -meet him, while she walked away, saying to herself: - -"It's mighty lucky the little fellow came, all the same; for it wa'n't -no use for me to fight--he kept right on! Jarni! what a scamp he is!" - -Auguste took the child in his arms, kissed him, and received his -caresses with keen enjoyment. - -"You weren't at the house, Coco," he said; "I found nobody there. Don't -you live there now?" - -"No, I'm with my little Denise all the time now; since Grandma Madeleine -died, I've lived with Denise. I'm awful happy now, 'cos she loves me -ever so much; she loves me as much as Jacqueleine." - -Wiping her eyes, to which the tears had risen, the girl left the great -tree and walked toward Auguste, trying to assume a laughing expression. - -"Look, there's Denise," said the child, as he spied the little milkmaid -coming toward them. - -Auguste instantly ran to meet her. - -"So here you are, my dear Denise! How glad I am to see you again! It has -been so long!--On my word, you are prettier than ever." - -Denise curtsied coldly to him, and replied in a constrained tone: - -"You are very kind, monsieur." - -"Had it not been for business that has kept me in Paris, I should have -come to see you long ago. I have wanted to do so more than once, for I -have often thought of the little milkmaid of Montfermeil. And you--have -you thought of me sometimes?" - -"Oh! not often, monsieur," replied Denise, twisting the corner of her -apron. - -"That is what I call plain speaking," said Auguste testily; but he soon -recovered his usual good humor and continued: "After all, Denise, you -would have been very foolish to bother about me. Do I deserve to arouse -the interest of so pure and sincere a heart as yours? No, I do myself -justice. I assure you, Denise, I am very glad for you that you have no -affection for me; but I hope to have your friendship, and I will be -worthy of it despite my vagaries. What do you say, Denise? You will be -my friend, won't you? and when some of the fashionable city ladies have -been guilty of fresh perfidy toward me, I will come to you to forget -them. The sight of you will reconcile me to your sex; you will make me -believe once more in virtue and fidelity, in all the qualities that we -seek in women, and--But I haven't kissed you yet, Denise, and a friend -has that privilege." - -Denise blushingly offered her cheek, and Auguste imprinted upon it a -single kiss, because the little milkmaid's cold and constrained manner -led him to think that it was only from good-nature that she granted that -favor. - -"It seems that there have been some important happenings here," -continued Auguste. "Coco tells me that he lives with you, that his old -grandmother is dead----" - -"Yes, monsieur; I asked Pre Calleux to let us keep his son, and he -consented. I thought Coco would be happier at our house. Did I do wrong, -monsieur?" - -"As if you could do wrong!" - -"And then my little Denise takes good care of Jacqueleine," said Coco; -"and she lets me play all I want to,--if I'll pray to the good Lord for -my kind friend every morning and every night." - -Denise blushed and looked at the ground. - -"Isn't it natural to pray for one's benefactor?" she stammered. - -Auguste was touched; he gazed at the girl and the child for some -moments, profoundly amazed that a little money, given for the purpose of -doing good, should afford him greater happiness than the money he spent -by the handful to pay for his pleasures. Then, as if he were ashamed of -his emotion, he exclaimed: - -"Thanks for a mere trifle!--But, now that my little fellow is with you -for good and all, I don't propose that he shall be a burden to you. You -can hardly have anything left of the paltry sum I gave you, and to-day I -will make up for my neglect. I want Coco to do something, to learn----" - -"Oh! Denise is teaching me my letters now," said the child. - -"What! do you know how to read, Denise?" asked Auguste. - -"Yes, monsieur, and to write too," the girl replied, with an air of -importance. - -"Upon my word, that is very fine for a milkmaid," said Auguste with a -smile, "and I am sure that you know more than any of your companions. In -that case I will leave Coco's education in your hands for a few years. -Later, we will see--I will have him come to Paris----" - -"And Jacqueleine, too, can't she, my kind friend?" said the boy, taking -Auguste's hand. - -"Yes, my boy.--But I am forgetting poor Bertrand, who is waiting for me -in some village wine-shop." - -"He's at our house, monsieur; I left him with my aunt." - -"Let us go and join him then, for I will confess, my dear Denise, that I -am dying of hunger and thirst." - -"Mon Dieu! monsieur, and I never thought of asking you. Come along; we -shall soon be there." - -They set out for the village. Auguste offered the maid his arm, which -she accepted with a blush, hardly daring to lean upon her escort, lest -the slightest pressure of her arm should lead him to guess what she -would have liked to hide from herself; and even holding her breath, -because she was afraid that anything might betray her. Blessed age! -blessed age of innocence, when love retains all its modesty, when she -whom love assails, while striving to conceal it, allows it to appear in -her eyes, in her voice, in her slightest acts! It would unquestionably -have been very easy to read the girl's heart at that moment; but is it -possible for a man accustomed to the manoeuvres of city coquettes to -recognize true love? - -They reached the cottage and found Mre Fourcy sitting beside Bertrand -and listening with eyes as big as saucers to the tales of battle which -the ex-corporal watered with the native wine. Denise's aunt curtsied -again and again to the gentleman from Paris; Denise ran hither and -thither, turning everything topsy-turvy in order to give Auguste a -dainty luncheon at once; and while she was making it ready, Coco led his -kind friend to see Jacqueleine, and Mre Fourcy followed, to call the -visitor's attention to the beauty of her roosters, the size of her eggs, -and the gentleness of her cows. After inspecting the cottage, Auguste -went into the garden, still under the guidance of Mre Fourcy and Coco; -they gave him grapes and other fruit to eat, and presented him with the -finest flowers. Auguste expressed great admiration for everything, and -each of his encomiums procured for him an additional reverence. - -At last the repast was served. It was one o'clock, the universal dinner -hour in the village. Denise had worked to such purpose that she was able -to offer Auguste a full meal. There were chickens, ducks and rabbits. -When he saw the bountifully-laden table, Auguste insisted that his hosts -should sit down with him. The villagers made some demur, but the young -man declared that he would accept nothing unless they bore him company. -They submitted, with renewed curtsies; Auguste took his seat between -Denise and his little protg, with Mre Fourcy opposite; and at his -lieutenant's invitation, Bertrand seated himself beside the aunt. - -The meal, enlivened by Auguste's sallies, Bertrand's bumpers, and the -child's artless joy, aroused an unfamiliar sentiment in each of those -who partook of it. Mre Fourcy, bursting with pride at the idea of -dining with such a fine gentleman, sat a foot away from the table, and -did not lift her glass without saluting the company. Bertrand was deeply -gratified to sit at table with his lieutenant; and, desirous to prove -that he was ever mindful of the respect he owed him, he maintained while -eating the attitude with which he would present arms; he did not lift -his eyes from his plate, even to fill his neighbor's glass, the result -being that he sometimes missed it. The child laughed and chattered, -played with Auguste, and fed his goat. Denise spoke very little; she was -embarrassed and did not eat, and yet she was conscious of being very -happy, seated beside the hare-brained youth who kissed every girl he -saw, and who had the secret of winning the love even of those to whom he -did not make love. - -Auguste had never been in such high spirits as at that meal: he caressed -the child, he joked with Mre Fourcy, he forced Bertrand to drink with -him; it seemed to him that the fresh, pure air of the fields set him -free from all the trammels of society, and that he breathed more freely, -happy to be rid for a moment of etiquette and gallantry. - -"Bertrand," said the young man, filling his glass; "I really believe -that I am happier here than at a sumptuously-laden table, surrounded by -pretty women covered with jewels, and served by an army of footmen." - -"Here, monsieur, you see nobody but people who care for you, and who -will not ruin you by compliments and courtesies." - -"Well, Bertrand, when the others have ruined me, this is where I will -come to seek consolation for the ingratitude of men and the perfidy of -women. But you say nothing, Denise; does that mean that you don't -approve of my plan?" - -"No, monsieur," the girl replied under her breath; and her aunt -exclaimed: - -"Come, speak up, my child; you don't eat and you don't talk! Something's -the matter, sure." - -"It's a fact," said Auguste, "that you don't seem to share our -merriment. What is the matter, Denise?" - -"The matter, monsieur? Why, nothing, I give you my word." - -"And I give you my word that something is the matter!" cried Mre -Fourcy. "Pardi! for some time she's been all turned round; she don't -like dancing, she don't like games, she don't know what she does like. -But I know all about it, I tell you; when a girl gets to be like that, -it means that she's thinking about something.--Well, you needn't blush -for that, my child; you're a good girl, as everyone knows; but that -don't keep you from thinking about getting married, and I hope -monsieur'll do us the honor to come to the wedding." - -"Yes, most assuredly," said Auguste, with a slight grimace; "yes, -Denise, I shall be delighted to be a witness of your happiness; and as -you love someone--You didn't tell me that you had made your choice." - -Denise made no reply; she kept her eyes on her plate, and tried to -conceal her confusion by caressing Coco's faithful companion. - -Auguste rose abruptly from the table, and, without a word to the others, -left the room in evident ill humor, and went out to walk in the garden. -He did not choose to admit to himself the nature of his feelings; but -what Mre Fourcy said had caused him a pang. Even while he told himself -again and again that he cared nothing for Denise, he felt in his heart -that the young peasant's face aroused in him a sweeter emotion than -those of all the coquettes in Paris. - -He walked about at random through the winding paths, and did his utmost -to recover his merry humor. - -"I can't understand myself," he thought; "losing my temper because that -girl loves someone, and that someone is not I! I! Why on earth should -she love me, whom she has seen but three times, and of whom she knows -nothing? I must have a deal of self-love to dream that she could care -for me. But no, I feel that it is not vanity that makes me wish that -she should.--Well, I must return to Paris and forget this little -milkmaid. That will be easy enough; for what is there so extraordinary -about her? There are a thousand women in Paris prettier, more alluring, -more----" - -Auguste stopped short, for, happening to turn his head, he saw Denise -within a few yards. He fixed his eyes on the girl, who seemed afraid to -go forward and stood beside a tree. Her confusion, her flushed face, the -furtive glances that she cast at the young man, gave to her whole person -a grace and charm which art could not imitate; and Auguste said under -his breath: "No, there's not a woman in Paris to be compared with her." - -Surprised to see their guest leave the table so abruptly, Denise had -followed him at a distance. She remembered what Bertrand had told her, -and as she desired nothing so much as that Auguste should come often to -the village, she determined carefully to conceal her secret sentiments. - -Auguste walked toward her; for some time they stood face to face, -without speaking; at last the young man said, trying to assume an -indifferent manner: - -"So you love someone, Denise?" - -"Yes, monsieur," the girl replied, blushing and keeping her eyes on the -ground. - -"If I remember rightly, when I first met you, in the little path in the -woods, you told me that you had no lover." - -"That was true, monsieur." - -"Then you have given your heart away since that time?" - -Denise sighed and held her peace. - -"I have no right to question you," continued Auguste sharply; "but it is -the interest you arouse in me, the--Do you know, Denise, I was sadly -mistaken, for I thought that you loved me a little." - -"Oh, no! I don't love you, monsieur--not with love. I must tell you -that, as you wouldn't come to the village any more if it wasn't so. But -I do hope you'll come, monsieur; oh, yes! you must come to see the child -you've adopted! I shan't forget that I'm only a peasant and you're a -gentleman from the city; and I assure you that I shall never love you." - -As she finished, the girl turned away so that Auguste could not see the -tears that fell from her eyes. But he was already far away, striding -toward the house. He entered the living-room and said: - -"Come, Bertrand, we must return to Paris." - -"Return to Paris it is, lieutenant; I'm all ready to do four leagues an -hour. Adieu, mamma; your wine's very nice. Some day when Schtrack has -the time, I'll bring him down here to reconnoitre." - -The girl entered the room and tried to read Auguste's eyes; but he said -to her without looking at her: - -"Adieu, Denise, we're off." - -"Already!" cried Denise; "you seemed to be so comfortable here!" - -"Yes, I am very comfortable here; that is true; but business calls me -back. I will see you again, Denise; I will come again to see you." - -"You won't let so long a time go by without coming to see Coco?" - -"No, I promise you that. Take this--it's for him. I have no need to -commend him to you, you are so kind!" - -"Oh! as to that, monsieur, she loves the child as if he was her -brother." - -"But what is the use of leaving me so much money, monsieur?" - -"His house is falling to pieces; you must have it repaired; then have -the little garden behind it enclosed, and buy the whole place for my -little boy." - -"But, monsieur, this is three thousand francs that you've given me, and -it won't take so much money for that." - -"Take it, I insist; and if it isn't enough,--here is my address in -Paris. Write me, Denise, and you shall hear from me at once." - -Auguste tossed his card on the table, and kissed the child. - -"Good-bye, my kind friend!" said the little fellow, throwing his arms -about Auguste's neck. Mre Fourcy made the young man a curtsy, which -lasted as long as it took to count the three thousand francs. Denise -glanced at him with an embarrassed air, expecting that he would kiss -her; but he did nothing of the sort. After bidding the child adieu, he -bowed to the others, sprang lightly to his saddle, and rode away with -Bertrand, leaving the girl greatly depressed by the cold manner in which -he had left her. - -"What does it mean?" she said to herself; "he stayed away because he was -afraid he'd fall in love with me, and now he acts as if he didn't like -it because he knows I'm not in love with him. What should I do, so that -I can see him often?" - -As he trotted along beside his lieutenant, Bertrand, as his custom was, -ventured to indulge in a few observations. - -"It's a fine thing to be generous, certainly, and we shouldn't regret -the money we give to do good. Still, monsieur, it seems to me that three -thousand francs is a good deal just at this time when our cash-box isn't -very well supplied; you might have embarrassed yourself less by giving -it in several instalments, and it would have amounted to the same -thing." - -"I probably shall not come to the village again for a long while," said -Auguste pensively. - -"Oh! that makes a difference, and I am wrong." - - - - -XII - -INVESTMENTS AND INNOCENT GAMES.--THE PUNCH AND THE LAMP-POST - - -On his return to Paris, Auguste found Monsieur Destival waiting for him -at his rooms. The business agent shook hands effusively with his dear -friend. - -"Dear Dalville, where in the deuce have you been?" said Destival, -casting a glance out of the window, into the street, from time to time. - -"You have been waiting for me--I am very sorry." - -"Oh! there's no harm done. To be sure, I have a thousand and one places -to go to; but my new horse is splendid. By George! he's an invaluable -beast! Did you notice him at the door?" - -"No, I didn't pay any attention." - -"I have had my cabriolet repainted, and I have hired a negro groom. One -must needs increase his household when his business is increasing. I -have presented my wife with a cook, a _cordon-bleu_; you will have a -chance to judge of her talent, for I want you to come to dinner -to-morrow. There will be a few other people, all very rich. Not that I -care for that; I am not like La Thomassinire, who is always dinning his -fortune and his houses into your ears! It's all the more ridiculous to -one who, like myself, knows about our dear speculator's origin; for to -such a one his pretensions are simply laughable.--Did you notice my -negro below?" - -"No, I didn't notice." - -"He's a well-built fellow, of magnificent color. I prefer a single negro -to a lot of long-legged varlets who ruin a carriage.--By the way, my -wife has a bone to pick with you, my friend; she says that you are -neglecting her." - -"But I assure you----" - -"Oh! you never come to the house now! That is not kind! No more music, -no more singing, no more theatre parties; you have deserted us, -Dalville, and yet you must know that we are your true friends. But let's -talk business a little. I have had your interests in mind; for although -I don't see you, I think of you none the less." - -"You are too kind!" - -"You are a heedless fellow, and you don't think about making money. But -I am not, like La Thomassinire, one of those selfish men who think of -nobody but themselves. I find an opportunity to get a handsome return -for my funds, but I say to myself: 'Why shouldn't I take my dear friend -Dalville into this affair? Why enrich myself alone? A friend's happiness -doubles our own.' And then I am not ambitious, I have no desire to throw -dust in people's eyes and put on airs, like certain acquaintances of -ours. I want to make myself comfortable, that's all. In a word, the -matter that I spoke to you about some time ago can be carried through; I -will guarantee a certain profit; but I must have funds." - -"I can raise two hundred and fifty thousand francs." - -"That's enough; with what I have we can go ahead. In less than a year I -propose that that amount shall bring you in twenty-five thousand. Not so -bad, eh?" - -"I trust to your prudence; I understand very little about business, but -I should not want to risk my fortune." - -"Oh! never fear, my friend; when it comes to prudence, I am a regular -serpent! Besides, what about myself? do you suppose that I mean to risk -my own money?--When will you be able to obtain the cash?" - -"To-morrow." - -"Bring it when you come to dinner." - -"Certainly." - -"That's settled; the receipt will be all ready, for everything must be -done in due form.--My dear fellow, you are growing fat; you look -delightfully well." - -"Do you think so? The fact is that I feel a little tired to-day." - -"Faith, it doesn't show. You're a hearty buck! How old are you? Not more -than twenty-two, surely?" - -"Almost twenty-seven." - -"That is most extraordinary!--But I must leave you; I have so much -business on hand. I must go to see Monin; I have sold his drug shop for -him. I am going to ask him to dinner, and his wife too. They are not -very brilliant, especially poor Monin himself, who allows his wife to -lead him about like a baby; but he's honest, yes, he's probity itself; -and I demand that, yes, I demand that above all things.--Until to-morrow -then, my dear fellow, and don't forget the money." - -"That is understood." - -Destival left Auguste after shaking hands with him again, as if he had a -convulsion. In the reception room the business agent met Bertrand. New -salutations to the ex-corporal, with whom he also shook hands, saying: - -"The excellent and worthy Bertrand! I am so glad to meet you! How's the -health, old fellow? still robust? As well set up as ever, I see! What a -fine thing it is to have been a soldier! But I assure you that that one -lesson you gave me did me a deal of good! I hope that one of these days -you will be willing to give me another, my good fellow, and I shall -always be proud to receive them.--Au revoir, excellent Bertrand!" - -And without giving Bertrand time to say a word in reply, Monsieur -Destival rushed through the door and down the stairs; and shouted at the -top of his voice before he reached the foot of the last flight: - -"Domingo! Hol, Domingo! my negro! open the door for me!" - -A short, thick-set negro, wearing a red jacket, and a little jockey cap -with a ten-inch visor, came forward, walking with difficulty in a pair -of doeskin trousers which Monsieur Destival had worn ten years, and -which he had thought it best to resign to his groom, for whom they were -much too small; assuring him that they would be as much too large before -he had been two years in his service. - -When his negro appeared, Destival looked to the right hand and to the -left, to see if he were observed; but as no one stopped to look at -Domingo, the business agent concluded to enter his cabriolet; and having -assured himself by looking through the little window, that the negro was -behind, Monsieur Destival lashed his horse, and shouted "look out!" even -when nobody was in danger. - -"You won't have any further occasion to scold me, my dear Bertrand," -said Auguste to the ex-corporal, after Monsieur Destival had gone. - -"Why not, lieutenant?" - -"Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust -my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in -a short time I shall be as rich as I was before." - -"You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so -polite?" - -"Yes, my friend." - -"All of it?" - -"Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand -francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and -enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don't expect to do for -some time." - -"That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two -hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and -when it's all you have----" - -"Don't be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival -is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La -Thomassinire, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my -money, I shall only have to give him three months' notice." - -"But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?" - -"For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, -Bertrand?" - -"God forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a -continual fire on everybody we met." - -"In truth, I have no reason to complain of my lot: I enjoy life, I deny -myself nothing, and my fortune will soon be increased. If a coquette -does deceive me now and then, I pay her back in her own coin. But I am -angry with that little Denise; I feel that I should have loved her so -dearly! The idea of her giving her heart away without telling me!" - -"Did she require your permission, lieutenant?" - -"No, but if I had fallen in love with her, if I had formed the hope of -winning her love--You must agree, Bertrand, that it is most unpleasant -for a young man who has some good qualities to think that such a pretty -girl prefers some clodhopper, some lubberly peasant to him!" - -"That clodhopper, that peasant, will offer her his hand, monsieur, and -make her his wife; he will love in her the mother of his children, and -will never leave her. Don't you suppose that those things weigh more in -the scales than the glances and sighs and pretty speeches of the young -man from Paris?" - -"You are right, Bertrand; sometimes I have no common sense. Let us say -no more about Denise. I will go to see her when she's married; but until -then I don't propose to go to Montfermeil again; the girl is too -enticing." - -"Bravo! that is acting like an honorable man, lieutenant." - -Auguste started for his notary's; as he went downstairs he met Madame -Saint-Edmond for the first time since the adventure at the Tournebride. - -At sight of Auguste, Lonie stopped, leaned against the wall, turned her -head away, drew her handkerchief, and omitted nothing calculated to give -the impression that she was about to faint; but Auguste, paying no heed -to his neighbor's expressive pantomime, contented himself with a low -bow, and passed without stopping. - -The notary handed Dalville the funds which he had in his hands belonging -to him. Auguste put two hundred and fifty thousand francs in his wallet, -and left the balance with Bertrand, urging him to be less economical in -his expenditure, because, as their fortune was about to be doubled, he -did not see why they should deny themselves anything. The next -afternoon, at five, Auguste took his wallet and went to Destival's -house, bidding Bertrand enjoy himself while he was away. To obey his -master, the ex-corporal went in search of his friend Schtrack, with whom -he proposed to take a short promenade. - -The business agent had taken larger apartments than those he formerly -occupied. He had mounted his household with more splendor, and although -he could not as yet rival Monsieur de la Thomassinire in magnificence, -it was plain that he was doing all that he could to approach him. As a -general rule, however, the pains that one takes to deceive the eyes do -not have the hoped-for result, and serve only to arouse mockery. One -rarely succeeds in art by departing from one's specialty; and in the -world he who tries to make himself out what he is not, is a -laughing-stock. In vain does the grisette, beneath her big bonnet, -strive to copy the simpers of a lady in society; in vain does the -tailor's apprentice, newly-clad from head to foot, believe that, because -he is dressed in the latest fashion, he has the air and aspect of a -stockbroker. The natural characteristics always show through; one may -impose on the multitude, and amid the multitude pass for what one is -not; but at the slightest examination, - - "The mask falls, the man remains, - The hero vanishes." - -Thus we find in the world a great many people who would be most -estimable and would not arouse criticism, if they did not try to do more -than they are able to do. An under clerk, with a salary of a hundred -louis, must needs give evening parties, balls; the house is turned -topsy-turvy; beds are taken down to make more room, a piano is hired, -and lamps of all kinds; decanters of syrups are prepared, and punch, and -there is a supper. But, despite all the trouble he has taken, the -company, much too numerous for the tiny apartments, cannot find room. -There are not enough chairs; the paper behind the beds is of a different -color and betrays the moving in the morning; the piano is out of tune; -the refreshments, bought all made, are not sweet enough, because the -sugar has been used sparingly in order to make another decanter of -syrup; the lamps refuse to burn, because the host is not familiar with -them; the punch is compounded of poor brandy, because they bought the -cheapest brand; and at supper you will find nothing but stale bread to -eat with the fowl that is handed you. People love to criticise; you -laugh quietly at everything that is bad, entirely oblivious to what is -all right. Now, is it not much better to give, instead of this, an -unpretentious party, to have fewer guests, and to leave the bed in -place; to have one less cold joint, and to serve fresh bread; in short, -to put aside the ambition to have a grand reception, and aim at nothing -more than getting a few friends together? - -At Monsieur Destival's the beds were not taken down because they had a -salon large enough to hold a numerous company; the lamps burned well, -because they were frequently used; and the punch was good, because -Madame Destival knew nothing of that false economy by virtue of which -nothing is ever done well. But Domingo, stationed in the reception room -to announce the guests, and Baptiste, who ran constantly from one room -to another to execute his masters's orders, and who commented aloud on -everything that he was told to do, produced an irresistibly comical -effect, largely because Destival was incessantly calling one or the -other of them by the epithets of "knave" and "rascal." - -When Dalville arrived he found several persons in the salon; he -recognized Monsieur Monin and his better half, the latter of whom did -not wear a shepherdess's hat on this occasion, but a huge turban -beneath which her fat face strikingly resembled a Turk's. Auguste had -hardly entered the salon when Monin inquired concerning the state of his -health. Madame Destival accorded him a most gracious welcome, and her -reproaches for the infrequency of his visits were uttered in such an -amiable tone that they could not fail to make him regret that he had -earned them. - -Before Auguste had looked at the other guests, Monsieur Destival entered -the salon, and at sight of Dalville uttered a joyful cry as if he had -thought him dead; then he ran to him and grasped his hands, saying: - -"Here is our dear friend; it is really he! he has not failed us! How -kind of him! You see, it is a great favor to have him here! He has so -many acquaintances, so many invitations! he can hardly keep track of -them all.--Have you thought about our little investment?" he added in an -undertone. - -"I have the money with me," said Auguste. - -"In that case, let us step into my study and fix it up before dinner, so -that we need think of nothing but enjoying ourselves." - -"Very well." - -"A million pardons, mesdames, for taking our dear Dalville away from -you; I promise to restore him to you in five minutes; otherwise I -imagine that you would hate me mortally." - -As he spoke, Destival led Auguste into his study, where the younger man -produced his wallet. Having counted the notes, the business agent locked -them up in his desk and gave Auguste a receipt for the amount, which -Auguste put in his pocket. - -"That's all right," he said; "I will examine this when I am at home." - -Then the gentlemen returned to the salon, Dalville eager to make the -acquaintance of two or three attractive women of whom he had caught a -glimpse, and Destival as radiant as if he had just discovered a diamond -mine. - -The company was increased by several persons among whom Auguste noticed -three sisters, young and pretty, whose manners and speech and smiles, -however, were never free from affectation; a very merry and talkative -young woman, ready to joke with everybody, but especially with the -gentlemen; a silly little creature of sixteen, very shy and awkward, who -dared not leave her mamma's chair or look at the persons to whom she -spoke. A tall man with spectacles, who ran his nose against the -paintings, engravings, screens and decanters, persisted in handling and -examining everything, shaking his head and emitting an occasional _hum! -hum!_ doubtless fraught with meaning; while a short man, embarrassed by -his huge paunch, his short arms, and his small head, not knowing what to -do with himself, stood first on one leg, then on the other, played with -his watch chain, stuck out his tongue when anybody looked at him, and -scratched his nose when nobody was looking. - -Generally speaking, the female portion of the company seemed more select -than the male portion; but a business agent has to do with all classes, -and it frequently happens that it is not the most fashionably dressed -men through whom the most money is to be made. - -Monin remained almost all the time behind his wife's chair, leaving his -station only to inquire for somebody's health; and, when he had put his -question to some new arrival, he would return with a smile on his face, -open his snuff-box, and offer it to _Bichette_, who, despite her turban, -emulated her husband in the size of her pinch. - -The clock struck six, and Domingo came writhing into the room, and said -in a jargon composed of all known languages: - -"Master, soup served." - -And Monin, who had not noticed the negro in the reception room, and who -supposed that he was a trader from the coast of Guinea, who was invited -to dinner, was about to leave his wife's chair to ask him how his health -was, when Bichette, divining her husband's purpose, caught him by his -coat, saying: - -"Where on earth are you going, Monsieur Monin? Stay where you are! Don't -you see that that's Monsieur Destival's negro?" - -"What! is that a negro, Bichette?" - -"Do you mean to say that you can't see it for yourself?" - -"Yes, of course; but I'll tell you--I thought he was talking German. -'Soup served,' he said." - -"Well, monsieur, is that German, I'd like to know? Still, when a person -makes so much talk about having a negro, he ought to teach him to walk. -Do you suppose I'd have a groom that acted as if he had lead in his -breeches? A sweet creature, their Domingo! He's some wretched savage -who's been soaked in licorice juice to make a negro of him." - -"Dinner is served, and Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire have not -come!" said Madame Destival, snappishly. - -"We are only waiting for them. They are terrible people--never on time! -It's after six." - -"Six ten," said the tall man in spectacles. "I am always with the sun; -hum! hum!" - -"Six seven," said Monin, consulting his watch. - -"You are slow, monsieur; hum! hum!" - -"My husband sets his watch every day by the cannon at the Palais-Royal," -said Madame Monin, with a disdainful glance at the spectacled man; while -the little man with short arms stood thrice on his right leg and twice -on his left, in his struggles to draw his watch from his fob; and, -having finally succeeded in producing a silver time-piece, to which a -gold chain was attached, he gazed a long time at the dial and said: - -"Yes, it must be about that." - -"Faith," said Destival, "if La Thomassinire weren't going to bring his -wife, we wouldn't wait any longer, for it's ridiculous to keep a whole -large party waiting like this; but a pretty woman always has some -additional touch to give her costume, and we must always forgive the -Graces.--Domingo, see that the entres are kept warm. Baptiste, have the -chafing dishes red hot. Come, you knaves, move a little more quickly -when I give an order!" - -Domingo did not move any more quickly, because the doeskin breeches made -it impossible. Baptiste, always in ill humor, pushed the negro roughly, -muttering: - -"Well, you darkie! A pretty sort of assistant to give me! He can't do -anything but break dishes and steal liquor! I wish he'd drink so much -that he'd smash the whole crockery closet! That would teach 'em to give -a brand new red jacket to that miserable black fellow, when they've made -me wear the same shabby coat for three years." - -The half hour struck and the guests' faces lengthened. Auguste talked -with one of his neighbors, who said: - -"Don't you think, monsieur, that it's absurd that one or two people -should keep a whole party waiting, and that decent people should be at -the mercy of a fellow who doesn't choose to be prompt? At my house, -monsieur, we dine at a fixed hour; I never wait two minutes for the -people I invite, and they are always prompt, I assure you, for they know -we should dine without them." - -Auguste agreed that his neighbor was right. Madame Destival lost -patience; monsieur kept running to the dining-room and back, crying: - -"Everything will be cold! The little pts won't be eatable! It's -exceedingly unpleasant!" - -"Yes," said the man with the spectacles, "warmed-over pastry is good for -nothing, hum! hum! because it's good only when it's just out of the -oven, hum!" - -Monin seemed profoundly affected by what was said about the little -pts, and the uneasy gentleman scratched his nose with a piteous -expression. At last, about seven o'clock, there was a violent ring and -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire soon entered the salon. - -Athalie was resplendent; her costume was magnificent; her neck and arms -were covered with diamonds and their dazzling reflection was in perfect -harmony with the piquant expression of her features. At sight of her, -the men uttered involuntary murmurs of admiration; the women said -nothing, but scrutinized her costume, even to the tiniest details, and -their eyes were unable to dissemble a gleam of jealousy, because -everything was unexceptionable and there was nothing to criticise. Now -criticism is a source of the greatest pleasure in society, where people -do not spare even their friends! Fancy what they say of others! - -La Thomassinire, who had made twenty thousand francs that very morning -on a piece of land which he had resold, and who had the Marquis de -Cligneval at his table almost every day, had assumed a more supercilious -air than ever. He puffed himself out until his coat and his cravat were -too tight for him, dragged his feet when he walked, and swayed his body -like a pendulum. As he entered the salon he cast insolent glances upon -all the guests, bowed to nobody, trod upon feet and dresses without -apologizing, and did not answer Monin when he quitted his post behind -Bichette's chair to ask the speculator: - -"How's the state of your health?" - -"How cruel of you to keep us waiting, my dear La Thomassinire!" said -Monsieur Destival, offering his hand to the parvenu, who patronizingly -gave him two fingers to shake, saying: - -"Yes, that is true. But what can I do, when I haven't a moment to -myself? We nearly missed coming. My friend the marquis wanted to take us -into the country; but I thought that it would incommode you if we didn't -come, so I said: 'Let's go.' But it was a close shave, on my word!" - -During this conversation, Monin had remained behind La Thomassinire. -Obtaining no reply, he decided to return to his wife; but Bichette, who -saw everything that took place in every corner of the salon, had noticed -that La Thomassinire did not acknowledge her husband's salutation, and -she glared fiercely at the parvenu, as she said to Monin: - -"Why did you go to speak to that uncivil fellow?" - -"Bichette, I----" - -"Why do you need to inquire for everybody's health?" - -"Because, Bichette----" - -"Are you a friend of those people?" - -"You know perfectly well that we met them at Monsieur Destival's. Will -you have a pinch, Bichette?" - -"Didn't you notice that the insolent wretch, the pitiful creature, who -makes such a ridiculous splurge, turned his back on you without -acknowledging your greeting?" - -"Perhaps he didn't see me, Bichette." - -"Not see you! You were right under his nose! You're a chicken-hearted -creature, Monsieur Monin! Those Thomassinires shall pay me for this. -Meanwhile, let me see you speaking to that man or his wife, and I'll -take away your snuff-box for a week." - -Monin, terrified by that threat, retreated behind the chair and took -three pinches in rapid succession. But Domingo announced again that -dinner was served, and they all repaired to the dining-room. Dalville -offered his hand to the hostess, a provincial dandy escorted the -gorgeous Athalie, the spectacled gentleman went to the three sisters, -saying that he would take charge of the Graces, La Thomassinire went -out alone, considering doubtless that his own presence was honor enough, -Monin walked at a snail's pace with an old dowager, and Madame Monin -alone was left in the salon with Monsieur Bisbis--the little man who -shifted from one leg to the other;--he skipped forward to the stout lady -in the turban, offered her his right hand, then the left, then the right -again, until Madame Monin, out of patience, seized her escort about the -waist, as if she were going to dance a waltz, and pulled him into the -dining-room. - -Dalville occupied one of the places of honor beside the hostess, and on -his other side was the young lady who talked so easily. Athalie was -between the provincial beau and the gentleman with spectacles; her -husband was between an old lady and one of the three sisters. Madame -Monin had her escort for her neighbor, and Monsieur Monin found himself -seated beside the silly school-girl, who dared not raise her eyes, and -to whom he had twice offered snuff when the soup was served. - -The dinner was a magnificent affair: three courses, four entres to -each. Monin had no time to visit his snuff-box; he had not gone beyond -the anchovies, when the first course disappeared. La Thomassinire found -an opportunity to say that the madeira was poor, that the olives were -too salt, that the butter was not so good as that made on his country -place at Fleury, and that two servants were not enough to serve twenty -people. To be sure, he was often obliged to ask twice for a dish, -because Domingo never came quickly enough, and Baptiste got confused and -lost his head running around the table. - -During the second course Baptiste dropped a dish of macaroni on Madame -Monin, and Domingo broke a pile of plates because he tried to run. -Madame Monin shrieked because her dress of Naples silk was spotted, and -Madame Destival tried to pacify her. Monsieur Destival scolded his -servants, and Monin dared not fill his glass again because Bichette was -in a rage. - -Although he drank freely of all the wines, La Thomassinire kept -repeating that he had much better ones in his cellar. Destival made wry -faces at his wife, who was bright enough to pretend to pay no attention -to the parvenu's absurd talk. Athalie seemed to be bored by the insipid -remarks of her neighbors; Madame Monin was apparently attempting the -conquest of Monsieur Bisbis, who fidgeted on his chair, uncertain how to -eat the charlotte russe, which he finally decided to attack with his -fork. Monin longingly eyed the Roman punch, which he feared would never -reach him, and he said twice to Baptiste: - -"I say--er--servant, give me some of that dish they're passing over -there." - -But Baptiste, still in ill humor, walked away, muttering between his -teeth: - -"I've got something else to do. How all these people eat! There won't be -anything left for us!" - -Monin, his appeal being disregarded by Baptiste, decided to apply to -Domingo, to whom he gave his plate, saying: - -"Negro, just ask for a little of that shiny stuff for--for a person." - -Domingo presented the plate to Monsieur Destival, who was serving the -Roman punch. - -"A little shiny stuff," he said, "for little man with big nose." - -Everybody laughed, Madame Monin alone taking it very ill that the negro -should presume so to designate her husband; and she vented her wrath on -a third dish of cream, saying to Monsieur Bisbis: - -"I'd rather be served by four chimney-sweeps than a negro." - -After the coffee and the liqueurs, they left the table in about as -hilarious a mood as when they sat down; that is to say, everyone was -bored, as is usually the case at a formal dinner. But the people invited -for the evening were already coming in crowds; and Destival was -enchanted, because there was hardly room to move, and everyone -exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! what a crowd! how hot it is here!" - -The card tables were set out, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire took his -seat at an cart table, tossing his purse on the table, saying: "I play -for nothing but gold." - -But the young people--that is to say, the young ladies and some few men -who were sensible enough to prefer their conversation to a game of -cards--took refuge in Madame Destival's bedroom. Athalie also went -thither, as did Dalville and other young men. They decided that cards -should be barred out, and, in order to do something, someone proposed -playing games. - -The suggestion was accepted, and they seated themselves in a circle. -Madame Monin eagerly joined them and wanted to begin with "In my hole, -in the common hole, and in my neighbor's hole!" which she described to -the others by pointing her forefinger, with much dexterity, to the right -and left and centre of the assemblage; but, despite the neat way in -which Madame Monin put her finger in her neighbor's hole, the game was -voted down, in favor of crambo, which requires the imposing of forfeits; -although Madame Monin declared that it was too easy, and that her head -was full of rhymes. But she ran short on the second round, because the -others had said everything that she knew; so she looked at Monsieur -Bisbis, and said: - -"Give me one." - -"I'm trying to think of one for myself," whispered Monsieur Bisbis. - -They soon tired of crambo, and a young lady having proposed -blind-man's-buff seated, the gentlemen voted unanimously in favor of -that game. The little school-girl began; she recognized the third person -in whose lap she sat--her young cousin, who had come after dinner. After -him came the turn of the tall man with spectacles, who seated himself -cautiously on the ladies' laps, saying: - -"Hum! hum! I'll bet I can guess. Hum! hum! I know who it is. Parbleu! if -I could use my hands it would be too easy." - -However, he sat down upon the whole party without guessing; luckily -Madame Monin remained and she was readily recognizable. Enchanted to -have been caught, Madame Monin allowed herself to be bandaged, and -hurled herself recklessly at the circle. At the first onslaught her -weight crushed a young dandy, who cried: - -"Name me, madame, name me, I beg you!" - -"One moment, monsieur; you're in a terrible hurry," said Madame Monin, -trying to find something by which to recognize him. - -"Get off me, madame, I can't stand it any longer!" cried the young man, -turning purple. - -"It seems to me, monsieur, that you're not so much to be pitied, having -me on your knees." - -"I am suffocating, madame." - -The buxom dame persisted; but as everybody dreaded to receive her on his -knees, it was proposed to draw forfeits at once, despite the -remonstrances of Madame Monin, who was determined to sit on Monsieur -Bisbis's lap, although he swore that he had nothing to identify him. - -One of the three sisters had the forfeits wrapped in the skirt of her -dress. A young officer put in his hand to draw, and spent a very long -time mixing them up, so that there should be no cheating. Athalie -directed operations. She told the young officer to draw; but he -evidently had some difficulty in getting hold, for he was a long time -deciding to remove his hand from its hiding-place in the folds of the -young lady's dress. At last the forfeit was brought forth; it belonged -to the school-girl, and she was told to tell somebody something in -confidence. She hesitated, uncertain to whom she should turn, or rather -because she was afraid to select her little cousin, at whom she glanced -furtively, with a blush. But her mamma was there, so she chose Monsieur -Monin for her confidant. - -Monin, who had slipped behind his wife's chair, was amazed when the girl -said to him: - -"Will you come with me, monsieur?" - -The ex-druggist did not know what to do, so he leaned over his better -half and whispered: - -"Shall I go with her, Bichette?" - -"Greatly to be pitied, aren't you, for being chosen to receive a young -lady's confidence!" rejoined Madame Monin, smiling at Monsieur Bisbis. - -Whereupon Monin allowed the girl to take his hand and lead him to a -corner of the salon, where she whispered in his ear: - -"It's been a very fine day, monsieur." - -Monin stared at the young lady with a dazed expression. - -"What must I answer?" said he. - -"Nothing," was the reply. - -And the girl returned to her place, while Monin found his way back to -his wife, saying to the people about him: - -"It's a pretty game! I didn't know that I knew how to play it." - -The next forfeit was Athalie's. She was condemned to _sulk_, and all the -men sulked with her; and while sulking, Dalville obtained an -assignation. A very pretty thing, these innocent games! Well-brought-up -young ladies are forbidden to waltz, but they are permitted to give or -receive confidences, to hide with a young man, or to wait in a little -dark closet until the concierge of the convent is relieved; and there -are always kisses to be given and received in corners, secretly, behind -curtains. If I ever have a daughter, I shall allow her to waltz in my -presence, but forbid her to play _innocent_ games. - -The spectacled man was condemned to pay a compliment without using the -letter _a_. After scratching his forehead, he stepped into the middle of -the circle and said with a satisfied air: "_La femme est le -chef-d'oeuvre du monde_." - -The next forfeit was Madame Monin's, who was told to take a trip to -Cythera. She sprang to her feet and offered her hand to Monsieur Bisbis, -saying: - -"Come and travel with me." - -The stout man submitted to be led into a small study, the door of which -Madame Monin closed behind them, and Monsieur Monin, observing the -manoeuvre, said to one of his neighbors: - -"What are they going to do in there?" - -"They're in Cythera." - -"Oh, yes! I see what it is--another confidence; she's going to tell him -that it's a fine day to-day. I know the game now." - -After remaining some time, Bichette and her companion returned from -Cythera; and some ladies noticed that the turban was somewhat out of -place, and that Monsieur Bisbis did not know which leg to stand on--all -of which did not prevent Monin from going to meet his wife and asking: - -"Is it nice, Bichette?" - -"What, monsieur?" - -"At Cythera." - -"Very nice, monsieur." - -This reply was accompanied by a wanton glance at Monsieur Bisbis, who -scratched his nose longer than usual, while Monin approached him with -his snuff-box, saying: - -"Do you take it too?" - -The games were interrupted by the punch, which Domingo passed around -among the guests. He passed the salver to the ladies, who made a great -to-do about taking a glass of punch, which they declared was too strong, -although some of them partook a second time. The men crowded about -Domingo and seized the punch on the wing. Monin ran after the platter, -which had passed him several times; but he had not been able to capture -a glass. At last, after following Domingo throughout his winding course -among the guests, Monin succeeded in stopping him as he was returning to -the dining-room. - -"One minute, negro!" he said, putting out his hand toward the salver. -Domingo halted, muttering: - -"You want drink again?" - -"What's that? again!" cried Monin; "my word! he's a good one, he is! I -haven't had a taste, and I'm very fond of punch." - -As he spoke Monin glanced at the salver: all the glasses were empty. The -poor man was thunderstruck. - -"Me come again right away.--More punch, all hot," said Domingo, as he -left the room; and Monin, for consolation, drew his snuff-box, and -returned to the games, saying to himself: - -"I must try to catch him sooner than I did this time." - -Madame Monin, whom the trip to Cythera had made extremely warm, said to -her husband when he returned to her side: - -"Go get me another glass of punch, Monsieur Monin; the one I had wasn't -half full; I am sure that it's done on purpose so that they can pass it -round oftener without making any more." - -"The negro has no more, Bichette; but he told me he'd come right back -with some hot punch. So I----" - -"All right, that will do. Go away now; I believe this gentleman is -coming to ask me to make the _pont d'amour_." - -But Madame Monin's hope was disappointed; it was not to her that the -young officer condemned to make the _pont d'amour_ addressed himself but -to Athalie, who laughingly assisted him to perform his penance; and -Dalville observed with some vexation that the petite-matresse made the -_pont d'amour_ with others as readily as with him. For consolation he -gave a kiss _ la capucine_ to a young lady whose husband emulated the -Knight of the Rueful Countenance; and the school-girl received her -youthful cousin's confidence while her mamma was arranging for another -forfeit; and the pretty creature who held them in her dress pouted -because the young officer had ceased to draw them; and the spectacled -gentleman had been trying for an hour to draw another forfeit; while for -most of those present the game was simply a pretext to enable everybody -to remain beside the person to whom he or she was most attracted. That -is something which the papas and mammas do not always see, and about -which husbands give themselves little concern; but it is perfectly -apparent to the keen observer, who seeks in a salon something besides an -cart table, or a commonplace conversation with people whom he has -never met before and whom he has no desire to meet again. - -A fresh supply of punch diverted attention from the private -conversations, and from the games, which were beginning to flag. Domingo -was surrounded again and Monin started on the negro's trail; but the -young men who laughingly besieged the salver constantly put aside the -ex-druggist, who did not reach Domingo's side until the glasses were -once more empty. - -Sorely vexed, Monin returned to his wife, who had just finished her -third glass and handed it to her husband to take away. - -"It's rather good, isn't it, monsieur?" she said. - -"I don't know whether it's good or not," growled Monin angrily; "I -haven't succeeded yet in getting a taste of it." - -"Because you're not clever and don't know how to go about it. You should -have seen Monsieur Bisbis, how he pounced on the salver! I thought for a -minute that he was going to take all the glasses. But you're so slow!" - -"I'll tell you, Bichette--it's that negro----" - -"Go away from here, monsieur. They're going to play _la mer agite_ and -I must be in it." - -"What is _agite_, Bichette?" - -Seeing that his wife was paying no attention to him, it occurred to -Monsieur Monin to lie in ambush at the door of the salon; in that way he -hoped to be the first to seize the negro as he passed, and so make sure -of some punch. Highly pleased with his scheme, Monin took his stand like -a sentinel at the entrance to the salon, stuffing his nose with snuff in -order to be more patient. But he waited more than half an hour and -Domingo did not appear. Monin ventured to glance into the dining-room. -He smelt the punch; that sweet-smelling vapor indicated that the mixture -was not all consumed. He crept into the reception room, and, guided by -the odor, reached a small door, which stood ajar, and discovered Domingo -drinking punch, not from a small glass, but from a large porcelain -pitcher. Monin was standing, speechless with surprise, in his corner, -when Baptiste appeared from the servants' quarters with a plate full of -biscuits. He pushed the negro aside, tossed off several glasses in quick -succession, then dipped his biscuits in the punch and ate them -hurriedly, while Domingo, by way of compensation, stuffed macaroons and -nutcakes into his jacket pockets. - -Monin was wondering whether he should go away, or should ask the -servants' leave to take something, when Monsieur Destival, who had been -calling vainly for Domingo and Baptiste in the salon, appeared on the -scene and surprised them. - -"Ah! you knaves! you scoundrels! I have caught you at it!" he cried, -rushing at his servants. Domingo ran from the room, but Baptiste stood -his ground, and retorted, undismayed: - -"Don't yell so loud for a little punch! Don't make such a row! I was -very glad to have a drop of it myself; I've worked hard enough to-day." - -"What does this mean, villain? You presume to argue! You wretch! eating -my biscuit too! rascal! thief!" - -"Thief!" retorted Baptiste, glaring at Monsieur Destival with a furious -expression; "don't you dare to insult me--that wouldn't be good for you! -I must be mighty good-natured to stay in your old shanty, where the -servants don't get anything to eat or drink! And what about my wages for -two years, that I can't get hold of a sou of! to say nothing of the -money I've advanced." - -"All right, Baptiste, hush!" said Monsieur Destival in a lower tone; -"that's enough, I won't say any more." - -"But I tell you that I'm tired of it," rejoined Baptiste, shouting -louder than ever. "Oh, yes! you hire a black man and you don't pay me -any more'n you do the baker and butcher and fruit woman and grocer, -whose abuse I have to listen to every morning! Well! I want my money, -and if you don't like it, I don't care a hang; with all the airs you put -on, I know what's what." - -"Hush, for heaven's sake, Baptiste! What's the meaning of all this -foolish talk? Come, my boy, eat another biscuit, and then go to bed." - -Baptiste's shouting had attracted several persons from the salon. - -"What is it? what's the matter?" they asked one another; and Destival -made haste to reply: - -"It's nothing; my valet is drunk and doesn't know what he's saying." - -"No, I ain't drunk either," cried Baptiste, walking toward the door; -"pay me my wages instead of calling me 'thief.'" - -Destival hastily closed the door on Baptiste's heels and locked it. - -"The poor fellow," he said, "talks like a fool when he's drunk; but I -overlook it, because he's very much attached to me." - -The people who had come thither pretended to believe what Monsieur -Destival said, because it would have been discourteous to do otherwise; -but they exchanged stealthy glances, laughed and whispered together, and -made comments under their breath, while Baptiste, unable to return to -the room, beat a devil's tattoo on the door, shouting in a hoarse voice: - -"My wages! pay me and discharge me; that's just what I'd like! I get -tired of hearing the row your creditors make every day." - -Luckily the closed door muffled Baptiste's voice to some extent; and, in -order that he might be heard even less distinctly, the business agent -shouted louder than he: - -"All right, Baptiste, all right! You'll be sorry for this, but I forgive -you; I know that you're faithful, and that's enough for me." - -Meanwhile Monin had seen his last hope fade away; for it was not to be -presumed that the servants would bring more punch to the salon; so he -returned to his wife. The guests were discussing the scene in the -reception-room, even in the midst of their innocent games; and Madame -Monin exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! if I hadn't been presenting my _little box of amourettes_ at -that moment, I shouldn't have lost a word of what that Baptiste said. -But you were there, Monsieur Monin, and heard everything. What -happened?" - -"I was watching for the negro to get some punch, Bichette, and it was he -who drank it." - -"Who's he?" - -"The black." - -"Who's the black?" - -"The servant in a red jacket." - -"Well?" - -"Well, then he took macaroons--No, I believe it was the other one who -ate biscuits first--I am not perfectly sure." - -"Oh! you tell a story wretchedly, Monsieur Monin! Instead of listening -to what was said, you were engrossed by biscuit and macaroons. For -shame! you are such a glutton! You go into company only to drink and -eat." - -"But, Bichette, when I tell you that I didn't----" - -"Bah! hold your tongue and find my shawl; everyone's going, you see." - -In truth, the time for departure had arrived, and the mammas had already -donned their bonnets and shawls. The younger women took more time to -find their wraps, and some obliging young man was always at hand to -offer to help a pretty girl to find what she wanted. They still had -something to say to one another before separating, and they chose to -take advantage of the confusion that prevailed in the salon at that -moment. - -Dalville had heard nothing of the scene in the reception room, being -occupied in kissing _what was beneath the candlestick_, which he had -taken pains to place over the head of a very attractive young woman; so -that he gave little thought to what was happening elsewhere. And Madame -de la Thomassinire, intent only upon making new victims, had not -listened to the unkind remarks concerning the host and hostess that were -flying about in all directions. - -Soon the salon was nearly empty. The ladies took their leave and Auguste -did likewise, well pleased that he had passed the evening without -playing cart, and to have discovered that one can enjoy oneself -without losing money. When he reached home he went upstairs and rang, -but no one opened the door. As Bertrand usually sat up for his master, -little Tony seldom carried a key. Having rung again with no better -success, Auguste reflected that Bertrand, whom he had told to go out and -enjoy himself, might very well not have returned; so he sent Tony to -inquire of the concierge and he remained on the landing, thinking that a -few days earlier he would readily have found a place to pass the night -without leaving the house. - -His neighbor, who had probably heard him come upstairs and ring, donned -a peignoir and left her room, candle in hand. She went down one flight -and saw her neighbor calmly pacing the floor of the landing. She -descended a few more stairs, coughed slightly, and decided at last to go -down to him. A pretty woman is very seductive in a peignoir, with her -hair loosely secured by a silk handkerchief, from beneath which a few -stray locks escape and fall upon a white breast, which the peignoir -never conceals altogether, because there are always one or two -ill-placed pins, which betray the secrets of beauty, or, perhaps, act as -its confederates. - -"Can't you get in, Monsieur Dalville?" asked Madame Saint-Edmond, in the -soft voice which she could assume so readily when she was not left -behind with a bill to pay. - -Auguste bowed low to his neighbor and replied coldly: - -"As you see, madame." - -"Monsieur Bertrand must have forgotten himself somewhere. Perhaps -something has happened to him." - -"I trust not." - -"That would be a great pity! such a fine fellow, and so fond of you!" - -Lonie heaved a profound sigh and said nothing more. Auguste leaned over -the rail to see if Tony were coming up. Lonie, finding that Auguste -said nothing more, decided to reopen the conversation. - -"Perhaps you would like to sit in my room, monsieur, until you can get -in? I should think that you would be more comfortable than on this -landing." - -"I thank you, madame, but I do not wish to disturb you or to interfere -with your sleep." - -"It won't disturb me, monsieur. As for my sleep, for several days I -haven't slept at all." - -"Is it because you have lost your poodle again, madame?" - -"How unkind! How you make fun of my grief!" - -Lonie heaved a more profound sigh than before, and as she had no -handkerchief, she lifted a corner of her peignoir and put it to her -eyes. That movement discovered some very seductive things; but when one -is weeping, one cannot think of everything, and when one's eyes are -covered, one cannot see what one has disclosed. - -Auguste, distrusting his weakness, continued to lean over the rail, and -did not take his eyes from the concierge's door. - -"Well, Tony, are you coming back to-night?" he cried. - -Lonie walked to where he stood and said in a touching voice: - -"Mon Dieu! what on earth have I done to you, monsieur?" - -"What have you done to me, madame? Why, it seems to me that you know -quite as well as I do." - -"Oh! monsieur, how can an intelligent man trust appearances?" - -"It seems to me, madame, that no intelligence was required to see what I -saw." - -"Why, what did you see, monsieur? May not a woman dine with a man at a -restaurant without having the slightest preference for him? And you -yourself, monsieur--what were you doing with that creature who had the -impertinence to hold a mustard pot under my nose?" - -"Oh! I am more honest than you, madame: I admit that I deceived you." - -"Ah! what an unhappy creature I am!" - -And Lonie had recourse to her usual expedient--she fainted; but she was -careful to fall toward Auguste, who found himself with his neighbor in -his arms. At that moment little Tony came upstairs and said that it was -impossible to understand what Schtrack said, as he was drunk. Auguste -gently laid Lonie on the stairs and told Tony to look after her; then -he went down to interview his concierge, who was half asleep and could -hardly speak. - -"Has Bertrand come in?" demanded Auguste, shaking the old German's arm; -whereupon he raised his head and sent a puff of wine-laden breath into -the young man's face as he hiccoughed: - -"Pertrand! sacreti! Pertrand!" - -"Come, Schtrack, speak out; you were with him, weren't you?" - -"Ya." - -"Where is he?" - -"Haf you not found him?" - -"If I had found him, should I be questioning you? Where is he? where did -you leave him? why didn't he come home with you?" - -"Sacreti! I vas not strong enough to carry Pertrand; he could not valk -no more; but ve haf ein pig lot trunken." - -"So I see; but where shall I find Bertrand?" - -"Ach! you vill see him quite vell; dere is no tanger! He is in a safe -blace--up the street. Go up und up--near the Parrire Montmartre." - -"Is he in a wine-shop?" - -"No; don't I tell you that you vill see him quite vell?" - -Unable to extract any further information from Schtrack, Auguste decided -to go in search of Bertrand; he succeeded in getting the door opened, -and went out in the middle of the night to try to find his faithful -comrade, with no other guide than the very vague information given him -by Schtrack. From Rue Saint-Georges where he lived, he went by way of -Rue Saint-Lazare to Rue des Martyrs, knowing that Montmartre was -Bertrand's usual promenade. - -Desiring to avail himself of the permission Auguste had given him, -Bertrand had invited Schtrack to go for a walk with him. The old German -did not think of refusing; and, leaving his wife in his place, he -polished his boots, took his cane and accompanied friend Bertrand, who -had no sooner passed the porte cochre than he began on the battle of -Wagram, which was certain to take them a very long way. In fact, the -battle of Wagram was still in progress when they arrived at the Buttes -de Montmartre, without once stopping for a drink. Schtrack, who had thus -far ventured upon nothing beyond a _sacreti!_ proposed that they should -go into a wine-shop, which proposition was instantly acted upon. They -found the wine very poor because they were accustomed to Dalville's -cellar, and they left that wine-shop to look for a better one. They -went into another, drank another bottle, decided again that it was poor -stuff and went in search of a third. After four hours of prospecting -they had visited six wine-shops and drunk six bottles. When they reached -the seventh, they began to think that the wine was better, or rather -they were no longer in condition to pass judgment on it. Bertrand began -again on his campaigns; Schtrack smoked four cigars, and it was nearly -midnight when our friends were informed that it was closing time. - -Bertrand paid without looking at the bill, and they left the shop; but -the fresh air put the finishing touch to their intoxication. Bertrand -especially, who was not accustomed to poor wine, soon felt his legs -begin to wobble, and at the corner of Rue des Martyrs and Rue du -Faubourg-Montmartre, he fell, reviling himself as a coward and sluggard -and a wretched drinker. - -Schtrack, who had kept his head better because he was used to wine-shop -wine, emitted a _sacreti!_ when he saw Bertrand fall, and tried to -raise him. He could not succeed. After several minutes, during which -Schtrack exclaimed from time to time: "Come, come, comrade Pertrand, off -we go!" the old German discovered that his companion was already snoring -as if he were in his bed. - -"So, so! he's asleep!" thought Schtrack; "I must not vake him; he pe -vell comfort there to sleep. Put, suppose some carriage might pass und -not see mein comrade!" - -This reflection disturbed Schtrack, who was quite ready to go to sleep -himself; but, looking about, he saw a grocer's shop still open. Thither -he went post haste and asked for a lamp. They gave it to him, after -lighting it at his request. Beacon in hand, Schtrack returned to -Bertrand, who was still sleeping peacefully, stretched out by the wall. -The old concierge took the sleeper's hat, placed it beside his head with -the lamp upon it, and went away, saying to himself: - -"Now, there is no tanger, he can sleep in beace." - -Auguste spied the lamp, but for which he would have passed Bertrand -without seeing him. The young man could not help smiling at Schtrack's -ingenious device. He shook the ex-corporal, who opened his eyes, half -rose, pushed the guardian lamp away with his elbow, and could not -imagine why he was in the street. Auguste explained matters to him. -Bertrand, whom his nap had sobered, was distressed that he had forgotten -himself to the point of falling drunk in the street, and insisted on -throwing himself into the river, to punish himself for drinking so much -wine. Auguste succeeded in pacifying him, and they returned home, the -young man thinking of Lonie's treachery, Athalie's coquetry, Denise's -dissembling, and promising himself to be more prudent in future; -Bertrand recalling the wretched wine at the wine-shops, and swearing -that he would drink no more. - - - - -XIII - -DENISE AND COCO IN PARIS - - -Not more than ten days had passed after Dalville's visit to Montfermeil, -when, on returning from the wine-shop one evening, Pre Calleux, who -probably saw double, or else did not see at all, fell into a ditch newly -dug beside the road; in that ditch was a pile of stones intended for -repairing the road, and the peasant broke his head upon them. The next -day little Coco was an orphan. - -But he still had Denise, who loved him dearly, Mre Fourcy, who had -become attached to him, and lastly, the friendly interest of Auguste. -Among friends who give us proofs of affection, we cease to feel quite -alone on earth. How many unhappy creatures there are, who might well -believe themselves to be orphans although their parents are not dead! - -Denise paid a few small debts which Pre Calleux had left, amounting to -less than a hundred francs; for a poor man can get but little credit. -The cabin remained--the child's only patrimony; but it was in such a -tumbledown condition that it was dangerous to live in it. The thatched -roof was half gone, the cracked walls threatened to fall, and the -materials of which it was built were so poor that no use could be made -of them. So that there was really nothing but the land; but with -Dalville's contribution it would be possible to build a little cottage, -surround it with a garden and cultivate it. That is what Denise said to -her aunt, who replied: - -"Don't be in a hurry, my child. You'd better wait till the gentleman -comes again, and ask him what he thinks." - -But at sixteen one does not like to wait; Denise reflected that it might -be a very long time before the handsome gentleman came to the village -again, and one morning, as she looked at the address which Auguste had -left with her, and to which her eyes very often turned, she exclaimed: - -"Suppose we write to that gentleman, aunt! He gave us his address, you -know, so that we could send word to him if we needed him." - -"You're right, my child," said Mre Fourcy; "your ideas are always good. -You know how to write, so you must write to him, my girl." - -Denise was lost in thought and did not reply. - -"Have you forgotten how to write, my child?" continued Mre Fourcy. - -"Oh! no, aunt; but I can't write well enough to write to a gentleman -from Paris." - -"In that case, my dear, get that old man to write to him, who's just -come here to live, and who writes all the nurses' letters. He handles -his pen fine, I tell you! He'll write a sentence two pages long to tell -you your child's had the colic, or needs a new cap. Or else ask neighbor -Mauflard to do you the favor; he's an old schoolmaster, and he ought to -write like a Barme's grammar!" - -Denise was still silent; but after a moment she said, lowering her eyes: - -"Don't you think, aunt, that it would be better to go to Paris and speak -to the gentleman? Wouldn't it be more polite than writing?" - -"You're right again, my child; and there's a little stage that starts -for Paris at eight o'clock every morning and brings you back at four." - -"And then, aunt, I've been to Paris twice, you know, and nothing ever -happened to me." - -"All right, my child, go ahead; nothing ever happens to anybody unless -they want it to." - -"And I'll take Coco with me, shan't I, aunt?" - -"Yes, my dear; that will please the gentleman. It will be polite to him; -and if I wasn't so busy here, I'd go with you and ask him to give me -some dinner, because I know what's the right thing to do, you see." - -Denise was quite as well pleased that her aunt should not go with her; -but she was overjoyed that she herself was allowed to go, and she ran -off to engage seats for herself and Coco for the next day. The rest of -that day she spent in preparing her dress. Coco jumped for joy when he -learned that he was going in a stage to see his kind friend, and Mre -Fourcy packed two pairs of chickens, two dozen eggs, some fruit and -cake, in a basket, as a present for the young gentleman in Paris. - -Denise was up before dawn. It was early in October; but it was a lovely -day, and reminded the girl of that on which she first met Auguste. Her -toilet was soon made; she wore a new dress and her daintiest cap--the -one in which, on Sundays, she turned the heads of all the young men in -the village, and drove the girls to despair. But would that pretty cap -have the same power in Paris? Denise had no desire to make conquests; -there was but one person whom she wished to please, although she said to -herself a hundred times a day: - -"No, no! I am not in love with him." - -Coco was dressed very neatly. Mre Fourcy gave them the basket, saying: - -"Give him my compliments, and tell him to think of me when he eats the -chickens, and to tell me how he likes that cake!" - -Denise and Coco ran, for fear of missing the stage; at last they were -safely inside, the basket between Denise's legs, and they started for -Paris. - -It was not a long journey; but it seemed endless to Denise; whereas the -child, delighted to be in the stage, wished that they might never -arrive. However, they reached the stage office on Rue Saint-Martin in -due course, and Denise, taking the basket on her arm, took Coco by the -hand, and having inquired the way to Rue Saint-Georges, started in the -direction of the Chausse-d'Antin. - -Denise's beauty and her peasant costume attracted more than one -compliment on the way; but the girl quickened her pace without -replying, although the basket was very heavy and Coco began to be -fatigued by walking on the pavements. - -When one is unfamiliar with a place, one is likely to walk farther than -is necessary. Denise many times mistook one street for another; she -disliked to inquire, because they to whom she applied seemed inclined to -offer her their arms. She was warm and perspiring, and Coco was cross -and kept saying: - -"Where's my kind friend, I'd like to know?" - -They had been walking more than an hour when they found themselves at -last on Rue Saint-Georges. - -"Here we are, Coco," said Denise, joyously; "here's Monsieur Auguste's -house, and you'll soon have a chance to embrace your kind friend! He'll -be glad to see you. Oh, yes! I'm sure he'll give us a warm welcome." - -The child forgot his fatigue. They passed under the porte cochre, and -Denise looked about in embarrassment. She could not control her emotion, -and she halted with the child and her basket between two handsome -stairways, uncertain which way to turn; while Coco began to cry at the -top of his voice: - -"My kind friend, we've brought you some cake and some fruit!" - -"Vat's all this how-d'ye-do?" said Schtrack, opening his door and -glaring at the young woman and the child, who were standing in the -middle of the courtyard. "I say, my girl, haf you come here to sell -geese?" - -Denise blushed, and stammered as she looked at Schtrack: - -"Which way shall I go up, monsieur?" - -"You mustn't go up at all, sacreti! This is not ein boultry market. Go -outside und yell mit te leedle broder." - -Schtrack was about to come forth to turn Denise and the child into the -street, when Bertrand came downstairs, and was thunderstruck to see the -girl. - -"What! is it you, my child?--and little Coco too?" - -"Yes, Monsieur Bertrand, it's us. Oh! I'm so glad to see you! he was -just going to turn us out of the house." - -"What's that? you were going to turn this girl out, Schtrack?" - -"Sacreti! why haf she not told me what she want? Te leedle poy, he bray -like a tonkey in the courtyard: 'Kind freund! kind freund! see the -cakes!'--Did I know his kind freund?" - -"It's my fault, Monsieur Bertrand; I didn't think--I was so confused. -Can't we see Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Yes, indeed," Bertrand replied with some embarrassment. "Oh, yes! you -shall see him. Come upstairs with me, Mamzelle Denise." - -The girl and the child followed Bertrand, who admitted them with some -precaution into Auguste's apartment and took them at once to the small -salon, saying: - -"Stay here and rest, and wait a little while." - -"Has Monsieur Auguste gone out?" - -"No, but he--he has company; he's busy just at this minute." - -"Tell him we're here, Monsieur Bertrand, and I'll bet he'll come right -away. We won't keep him long." - -"Yes, I'll tell him that. But wait; I'll be back in a minute." - -Bertrand left the salon, being careful to close the door behind him. -Denise examined the fine furniture and pictures with which the room was -embellished, and Coco lay on a couch. But the moments passed and nobody -came. The girl's heart sank; she had secretly hoped that Auguste would -be glad to see her, and the lack of haste which he displayed in coming -to her, made her fear that she had flattered herself too much. - -She dared not leave the room, or even open a door. Coco had fallen -asleep; the girl seated herself in a corner, refrained from making the -slightest noise, in order not to wake the child, and gazed ruefully at -the basket containing the gifts she had brought to the fine city -gentleman. - -At last Bertrand returned with a dissatisfied air, and said in an -undertone: - -"You are tired of waiting, aren't you? Thunder and guns! I can -understand that; but it ain't my fault, mamzelle, because my orders -before everything! I don't know anything but my orders." - -"Isn't Monsieur Auguste at home?" - -"Oh, yes! he's at home, but he can't see you yet, because his orders--" - -"But, Monsieur Bertrand, it isn't polite not to come and speak to -people; with us, we don't leave our friends all alone like this." - -"Oh! it's different in Paris, mamzelle. I know what my lieutenant -promised to do to me if I disturbed him when he's--busy; and I can't -disobey orders." - -"Then we'll go away." - -"Wait a little longer; perhaps it won't be very long." - -At that moment they heard sounds in the reception-room, and Mademoiselle -Virginie entered the salon. - -"Here I am!" she cried; "I snapped my fingers at your orders, I did! -That old villain of a Schtrack didn't want to let me come up. 'Monsir -isn't in,' he says. But I came on all the same.--I say! who's this -little farmer's wench? She's not so bad-looking! Is it on her account -that Monsieur Auguste closes his door to his friends?" - -Denise stared at Virginie in amazement, while Bertrand motioned to the -latter to be quiet, saying in an irritated tone: - -"It seems to me, mademoiselle, that when a concierge says that you can't -come up, you should respect his orders." - -"Go to the deuce with your orders! He told me there wasn't anyone here, -and he lied, you see. Bertrand, who on earth is this rustic beauty?" - -"She's a young girl from the country." - -"Pardi! I can see for myself that she don't live on Rue Vivienne. What a -sly fox he is!--What is she here for? Is it her young one asleep on the -couch? The devil! he's quite a big boy already!" - -"This is a most respectable young woman, mademoiselle; she came to bid -Monsieur Dalville good-day, and brought this child, that he thinks a -great deal of. There isn't the slightest harm in that." - -"All right! so much the better, if there's no harm. I say! what an -amusing fellow you are, Bertrand, when you put on that severe -expression! It's a fact that the girl has a very innocent look. I'm sure -that her cap would be mighty becoming to me." - -During this conversation, which was carried on in undertones, Denise -kept her eyes on the floor; she saw that Mademoiselle Virginie looked at -her a great deal, and that redoubled her embarrassment. - -"Why on earth does Monsieur Dalville keep this sweet child waiting?" -said Virginie, assuming an affable air and approaching Denise. - -"Because monsieur is busy and told me not to disturb him." - -"Ah, yes! I understand, I comprehend! _Ask me no more!_" - -Bertrand motioned to her to be silent; but she sat down beside Denise, -paying no attention to the ex-corporal. - -"Have you come far, mademoiselle?" - -"From Montfermeil, madame," replied Denise timidly. The word madame -seemed to flatter Virginie, who threw her head back and tried to assume -a dignified bearing, as she rejoined: - -"Montfermeil? that's in the direction of Sceaux, I believe?" - -"No, madame, it's near Raincy." - -"Ah, yes! to be sure; I was mixed up. Is the little fellow asleep yonder -your brother?" - -"No, madame, he's a poor little orphan, that Monsieur Auguste is taking -care of." - -"The deuce! does Auguste do that kind of thing? That's very fine of him, -and I am glad to hear it; it gives him a higher place in my esteem.--And -you want to see Auguste, do you?" - -"Yes, madame; Coco's father has just died, and I wanted to consult -Monsieur Dalville." - -"What have you got in that basket?" - -"Some little presents from our place--eggs and chickens, and some cake -that my aunt made herself." - -"Oh! I'm awfully fond of village-made cake! Will you let me taste it, my -young village maid?" - -Denise would have preferred to present the cake untouched to Auguste; -but she dared not refuse Mademoiselle Virginie, who instantly opened the -basket and broke off a big piece, which she proceeded to eat, continuing -the conversation meanwhile. - -"I'm very much afraid, my dear, that you've come here for nothing." - -"Why so, madame?" - -"Oh! that ne'er-do-well will let you cool your heels here till to-morrow -morning." - -"Who, madame?" - -"Why, Auguste, to be sure! The cake is fine, and the butter delicious. -It reminds me of my childhood; I used to eat cake like this every night; -I bought it for four sous at the little shop on Boulevard Saint-Denis, -where there's always a line waiting; it's famous for this cake.--To go -back, I was saying, my dear, that Dalville is undoubtedly with some -hussy or other, and that's why we can't speak to him." - -"What! do you think so, madame?" - -"Oh! I'm sure of it! Do you suppose I don't know all about it? -Bertrand's embarrassment, and the concierge's orders. In fact, it's a -most surprising thing that he let you come up." - -"It was Monsieur Bertrand who made him let me in; if it hadn't been for -him, I should have been sent away." - -"For my part, it's all a matter of indifference to me; I look on Auguste -as my brother now. But you are pale, my child! Don't you feel well?" - -"Yes, madame, I'm all right." - -"How lucky you are, my child, to be virtuous, and not to know anything -about the passions! Always retain this innocence.--Bertrand, can't you -see that this cake is choking me? For heaven's sake, give me something -to drink, and this child will take something too." - -"No, thank you, madame." - -"Ah! the little fellow's waking up!" - -Coco opened his eyes and looked about in amazement; then ran to Denise, -saying: - -"Where's my kind friend?" - -"Oh! I guess we shan't see him," said the girl, in a tremulous voice, -looking at the clock, which marked the quarter-past three, then turning -her eyes on Bertrand with an imploring expression, as if to urge him to -call Auguste. - -"He's a pretty little fellow," said Virginie, passing her hand over -Coco's head. "I'd like to have a child like him, because a child gives -one a respectable look." - -A bell rang in the next room. - -"Monsieur is calling me," said Bertrand; and he hurried from the salon. -At the same moment little Tony ran rapidly downstairs to put the horse -in the cabriolet. - -Denise expected every minute to see Auguste come in. Virginie was -playing with Coco. At last Denise recognized Dalville's voice, speaking -earnestly to Bertrand, and in a moment the young man entered the salon. -But he had his hat on his head, his gloves in his hand, and seemed in a -great hurry. The girl ran to meet him, with the child, taking her basket -in her hand. - -"Good-afternoon, Denise! good-afternoon, my boy!" said Auguste, kissing -the child and taking no notice of Virginie. "Have you been waiting for -me? I am very sorry that I can't stay with you now." - -"Monsieur, my aunt sends you her respects," said Denise, "and these -chickens, eggs, pears, and----" - -"Thanks, Denise, thanks! I----" - -"Pray, come, monsieur; I am waiting!" said a woman's voice impatiently -in the reception-room--a voice which strongly resembled Madame de la -Thomassinire's. - -"Adieu, adieu! I will see you again," said Auguste to Denise. - -And, giving her no time to reply, he hastily left the room, closing the -door behind him, and went out of the house with a young woman enveloped -in a great shawl and covered with a thick veil, who shrank out of sight -on the back seat of the cabriolet. - -Denise stood perfectly still, basket in hand; but great tears rolled -from her eyes, and the basket would have dropped, had not Virginie, who -had drawn near, saved it as she caught the girl in her arms. - -"Well, well! what on earth's the matter with you, my dear? On my word! -she's really crying! Mon Dieu! is she going to faint?--Bring me -something, Bertrand!--The idea of being unhappy just for a man, my dear -girl! God bless me! they ain't worth the trouble! If you knew 'em as -well as I do! I admit that Monsieur Auguste wasn't very polite, to -hardly answer you and not even thank you!--Ah! her color's coming back a -little.--It really scared me to see you like that!" - -Denise took out her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and called Coco. - -"Come, my dear, let's go," she said; "we must go back to the village." - -"Ain't my kind friend coming with us?" said Coco, as he took Denise's -hand. - -"Oh, no! he hasn't even time to speak to us. Come, Coco, let's go. We -must be at the stage office at four." - -"I'll show you the way, my dear," said Virginie; "you might lose -yourself in Paris." - -"I was going to offer you my arm, mamzelle," said Bertrand. - -"No, thanks, Monsieur Bertrand, don't put yourself out; it isn't -necessary." - -"Why not, Mamzelle Denise?" - -"We'll find the way all right. As for Monsieur Auguste, tell him we -won't trouble him any more." - -"You're wrong to be put out with him, Mamzelle Denise; if somebody -hadn't been waiting for him----" - -"Yes, to be sure," said Virginie, "it was very polite of him: to not so -much as thank this pretty child for her present! magnificent chickens, -fine pears, and fresh eggs! Fresh eggs are so good! Will you allow me to -put three in my bag for my breakfast to-morrow?" - -"As many as you please, madame," said Denise; "for I see very clearly -that Monsieur Auguste cares very little indeed for what we took so much -pleasure in bringing him." - -"I tell you, my dear, that men ain't worth a pirouette," said Virginie, -putting four eggs into her reticule; then she followed Denise, who left -the room with the child, refusing Bertrand's escort. - -Madame Saint-Edmond was coming upstairs with a young man at the moment -that Denise, with a heavy heart and red eyes, left Dalville's apartment, -leading Coco by the hand. Lonie was furiously angry with Auguste since -he had left her in a swoon on the landing, to go in search of Bertrand. -Having abandoned the hope of renewing her relations with him, she seized -every opportunity to annoy him. That is the way in which a woman who has -never loved always takes her revenge. - -When she saw the peasant girl coming from Dalville's apartment, Madame -Saint-Edmond stopped, looked at her with a sneer, and said to her -companion: - -"Ah! rather a queer rig; but she has come here to be educated, no -doubt." - -"What's that, what does she say?" cried Virginie, who was following -Denise, and had overheard Lonie's last words; but the latter hurried -upstairs. - -"I don't know," said Denise; "I never saw the lady before, so she -couldn't have been speaking to me." - -"Oh! I know her," said Virginie, running up a few stairs and looking -after Lonie. "Oh, yes! I know her. I don't advise her to put on airs. -_We won't go to the forest again without paying for our dinner._" - -But Madame Saint-Edmond had already entered her room and closed her -door. Virginie left the house with Denise, to whom she had taken a -fancy; and she fairly forced her to take her arm for the walk to the -stage office. - -Denise was depressed and replied briefly to the innumerable questions -which Virginie asked her; but she was perfectly well able to carry on a -conversation all alone. When they arrived at the office, the stage was -ready to start. Virginie kissed Denise and said to her: - -"Adieu, my dear! Don't be downcast like this. You're very lucky to live -in the country; it's a thousand times better than this rascally Paris! -You'll find more lovers in your village than you want. I say! is that -the stage? It's a regular little chamber-pot like the one that goes to -Saint-Denis. When I have time, I'll come and see you, and you must teach -me how to make butter. Adieu, my dear girl.--Be careful, driver, and -don't get upset; remember that you have a Love in your little pot." - -Denise and Coco started for home less cheerful than when they set out. -The event often falsifies our hopes, and we find pain where we had -thought to find pleasure. - - - - -XIV - -THE SCHOOL FOR PARVENUS - - -"Poor Denise was very downhearted when she went away," said Bertrand to -Auguste on the day following the girl's trip to Paris. - -"I was very sorry indeed not to be able to talk with her any longer," -Dalville replied; "but it wasn't my fault--that lady was waiting for -me." - -"That lady! That lady might perhaps have waited a few minutes more." - -"Bertrand!" - -"Excuse me, lieutenant; the fact is, I was really distressed to see you -hardly speak to that girl, at whose home we were treated so hospitably. -Just remember the welcome they gave us, and how delighted they were to -see you!" - -"Oh! I haven't forgotten it." - -"You didn't even thank her for her present!" - -"I didn't see it. But we will go to the village soon, and I will make up -for my neglect. I am to dine at Madame de la Thomassinire's to-day, -Bertrand; there will be a lot of people, and a large party in the -evening. Probably I shall not come home until morning. By the way, make -a memorandum to the effect that I have lent a hundred louis to Monsieur -le Marquis de Cligneval, who was very unlucky at cards a day or two ago, -at a house where I happened to be; he is to pay me very soon." - -Bertrand did not reply; but as he went to the cash-box he muttered: - -"More money that we shall never see again! He's forever lending, and no -one ever pays him back!" - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire, whose fortune increased every day, -determined to celebrate his wife's birthday by a grand demonstration. -The invitations had been issued a week in advance. There was every -indication that the banquet would be the most sumptuous that the -speculator had ever given. He expected to have at his table marquises -and chevaliers who deigned to call him their friend; poets who had -promised to mention him in their works; and some old acquaintances whom -he expected to overcome by the magnificence of the festivity. Monsieur -and Madame Destival were in the last category. - -Everybody was in motion in Monsieur de la Thomassinire's palatial -mansion. The upholsterers had decorated the salons, prepared the -chandeliers and candelabra. The servants flew hither and thither -carrying orders; the scullions obeyed the behests of their commander. -Three women were in attendance on madame, who had been at her toilet -since three o'clock, and it was now five. But Athalie was fickle in her -tastes: the thing that pleased her one day displeased her the next day; -she had already cast aside two caps, in which she declared that she was -hideously ugly; she lost her patience, raged, stamped, tore a superb -piece of tulle, pulled a bouquet to pieces, scolded her women, and was -on the verge of hysteria because they brought her a set of blue jewelry -when she wanted violet. At last they succeeded in pacifying her by -assuring her that her hair was arranged to perfection; she deigned to -look at herself in the mirror, scowled at first, then smiled, and said -at last: - -"It is true; I look rather well." - -At half-past five the guests began to arrive. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, who was a little less insolent in his own house than in -other people's houses, went to meet the titled personages who had -condescended to do him the honor of accepting his dinner, and deigned to -bestow a smile upon those whom he had honored with an invitation. - -Monsieur and Madame Destival arrived in due course. Since he had had a -negro, the business agent had adopted the habit of blinking, and -pretended to be very short-sighted. His wife was attired with an -elegance that rivalled Athalie's own; and her intelligent eyes seemed to -assume an even more malicious expression as they rested on the master -and mistress of the house. - -All the guests appeared at last, Auguste among them. It was a brilliant -assemblage: women of fashion, dandies, men with decorations, filled the -salon, where Athalie did the honors, apportioning her courtesies to the -rank or wealth of their recipients. Monsieur de la Thomassinire stalked -proudly through the rooms, saying: - -"This affair will make a great sensation! The marquis has promised to -mention it at court; there's a poet here, who's a newspaper man too, and -he tells me that my name will appear in an article of at least a column! -My name in an article a column long! The deuce! how popular I shall be! -When Destival can give a dinner like mine, I'll agree that he can call -himself somebody. Poor creatures! they are dying of envy, and I'm glad -of it!" - -At half-past six the company repaired to the dining-room, where the -table was laid with forty covers. Monsieur Destival was seated at the -lower end, between a child of six and an old deaf gentleman. He -swallowed the affront, with a glance at his wife; and their eyes -exchanged a meaning look in which they seemed to promise themselves a -sweet revenge. - -The soup had just been removed, when an uproar, evidently occasioned by -people quarrelling, arose in the adjoining room. - -"What does this mean? Lafleur! Jasmin! Who dares to make a disturbance -in my house?" exclaimed Monsieur de la Thomassinire, calling his -servants. "Send away all visitors; I am not at home to anyone; if a gold -ingot should be brought to me, I wouldn't accept it now." - -The servants seemed embarrassed, as if they dared not reply. Meanwhile -the noise continued, and they could distinguish a woman's voice crying: - -"I will go in! I tell you I'm bound to go in!" - -"Have that canaille turned out of doors, Lafleur," said Monsieur de la -Thomassinire angrily. - -At that moment the dining-room door was violently thrown open, and a -woman of some sixty years, short and stout, with a good-humored face, -dressed like an orange-woman, with a round cap on her head, bounced into -the room. - -"Hoity-toity!" she cried; "it'd be a pretty good one if I couldn't get -into my own son's house! What a set of donkeys them fellows be! Excuse -me, messieurs and mesdames. Where be you, Thomas? Why don't you come and -gimme a kiss, my boy? Don't you know your old mother?" - -The changes of scene at the Opra are less rapid than those that took -place in that dining-room upon Mre Thomas's entrance. Monsieur de la -Thomassinire was stupefied; it was as if he had been struck by a -thunderbolt and was unable to move a muscle or utter a word. The -resplendent Athalie turned pale, was evidently confused, and glanced at -Mre Thomas with an expression indicating that she still doubted the -truth of what she heard. On each guest's face could be read the -amazement caused by this unexpected scene, together with a touch of -irony and malicious satisfaction, which fell far short, however, of what -Destival and his wife felt at that moment. - -Mre Thomas, who took no notice of the demeanor of the guests, -recognized her son among the persons seated at the table, and ran to -him, saying: - -"There he is! I know him! That's him--that's my Thomas! Oh! it's him -fast enough--with his little mole under the left eye!--You ain't changed -so much, my boy.--Well, why don't you kiss me? Can't you move hand or -foot?" - -As she spoke, the good woman seized her son's head and kissed him -several times. La Thomassinire made no resistance; he acted like a man -who did not know where he was, while Athalie cried: - -"Mon Dieu! is it possible? Isn't this a trick she's playing on us?" - -"You didn't look to see me, my boy, eh? Ah! I should say not! This is a -surprise, you see; one of your good friends, he writ to me as how it'd -do you good to see your mother, and told me I'd better try to get here -this very day, 'cos it's your wife's birthday." - -At this point the guests looked at one another, trying to divine who it -was who had arranged this surprise for Monsieur de la Thomassinire; and -among those who were not responsible there were some who regretted that -it had not suggested itself to them. As for the master of the feast, he -was still too completely crushed by the blow that had been dealt him, to -attend to what his mother said; and Athalie seemed to be on the point of -swooning. - -"So at that," continued Mre Thomas, "I says to myself, says I: 'Off we -go!' I had a bit of money put by, and that paid for my seat in the -diligence, where we was packed together as tight as herrings, saving -your presence, messieurs and mesdames; and here I be in Paris, where -you've feathered your nest so well!" - -The Marquis de Cligneval, who was seated opposite Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, determined to put an end to the embarrassment of his -host, upon whose purse he drew too freely not to be ready to shut his -eyes to the lowly condition of his parents. So he hastened to intervene, -and observed pleasantly: - -"It is really very amiable on your excellent mother's part to surprise -you like this. She was in such haste that she came in rather a nglig -costume. But what does it matter? you are among your friends. Pray let -her sit beside me; I shall be delighted to make her acquaintance. She -has a most venerable face--a Greek profile. I am very fond of country -people; they have such delightful dispositions." - -La Thomassinire looked at the marquis with an expression which -signified: "You have saved my life!" while Mre Thomas exclaimed: - -"What's that he says--I came in nglig. But you're wrong, my boy; I put -on my Sunday best." - -"Hush! hush, mother, for heaven's sake!" whispered La Thomassinire. "Be -careful; you're speaking to a marquis." - -"A what? What did you say, Thomas?--But I say, where's my darter-in-law? -Show her to me, my boy; wouldn't she like to give her man's mother a -kiss?" - -"Madame de la Thomassinire, pray embrace your mother-in-law," said -Madame Destival, with a mocking glance at Athalie. - -"I can't stand it any longer! I am dying!" murmured Athalie in an -expiring voice; and she fell over upon Auguste, who was seated next her. - -"My wife has fainted!" cried La Thomassinire, overjoyed by an incident -which might divert the attention of the company; and he sprang to his -feet and rushed toward his wife, who was already surrounded by several -people. - -"Oho! is that your wife, that bleating little minx?" exclaimed Mre -Thomas. "She's ate too much, my boy; she's got the indigestion, sure -enough. Just give her a drink of brandy--that'll settle her stomach." - -Someone gave Athalie smelling salts; she was taken into the fresh air; -but she was careful not to recover consciousness. Mre Thomas pushed -away two petites-matresses who were aiding her daughter-in-law, -saying: - -"Look out, my little darlings, you're stifling the child. Bless me! if -you want to bring her to right off, I know what'll do it; two or three -slaps on the backsides--that'll bring a woman to in short order; it -never fails." - -The ladies exchanged glances and moved away from Madame Thomas, saying -to one another: - -"This is shocking! it is getting to be unbearable." - -"She amuses me immensely, my dear." - -"For my part, she makes me blush; whenever she opens her mouth I tremble -for fear that some disgusting remark will come out." - -"She has begun well." - -"This is a hysterical attack," said La Thomassinire; "madame must be -taken to her room. They always last two or three hours, at least." - -"Well, well! that's very nice!" said Mre Thomas. - -The hostess was taken to her room, and she vowed to herself that she -would not leave it so long as Madame Thomas should be in the house. - -However, for most of the guests the dinner was the most essential thing, -and Madame de la Thomassinire had no sooner been taken from the -dining-room than they all resumed their places at the table, with such -remarks as: "It won't amount to anything; it isn't dangerous." All of -which meant: "We have paid enough attention to the hostess, who thought -it best to faint; now let's think of our stomachs, and not neglect any -longer the delicious dishes that have been prepared for us." - -La Thomassinire would gladly have followed his wife; but he realized -that it would be discourteous to leave his guests, with whom he had -already changed his tone. So he returned to his seat, cudgelling his -brain to devise a method of imposing silence on his dear mother. -Destival, meanwhile, fearing that Madame Thomas might be spirited away, -offered her his hand to escort her to her seat by the marquis. Mre -Thomas accepted his hand with a: "Thank 'ee, my man," and planted -herself on a chair beside Monsieur de Cligneval. - -"Now, my spark, I don't need your hand no more," she said to her escort; -"when it comes to forks and teeth, I can go it alone, friend." - -"She is overflowing with wit!" cried the marquis; "really, her repartees -are delicious!" - -La Thomassinire, who was afraid to raise his eyes, tried to hurry the -dinner. But his guests did not support him; they were very comfortable -at table and did full honor to the feast. The marquis stuffed Mre -Thomas; he kept her plate constantly filled, hoping that that would stop -her chatter; but she was a shrewd old girl, who could do two things at -once. While she was eating, she kept repeating: - -"Dieu! how good this is! What a fine _fricot_! I ain't never ate -anything as tasted like this! I say, Thomas, my boy, we don't make such -good fricassees to our little cabaret at the sign of the Learned Ass! Do -you remember, boy?" - -"Who wants some truffles? who hasn't any truffles?" cried Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, trying to drown his mother's voice. But Madame Destival, -who had heard every word, inquired: - -"What do you say, madame? Did Monsieur de la Thomassinire ever keep a -cabaret?" - -"La Thomassinire!" echoed Mre Thomas, emptying her glass. "Who's that, -my heart?" - -"Your son, madame." - -"What! don't you call yourself Thomas no more, my son? So that's what -all them green monkeys stitched with gold, in your outside room, meant -when they said this wa'n't where you lived! What have you dropped your -father's name for, Thomas? Didn't it sound good enough for you? Let me -tell you he was an honest man, who sold wine for six sous a litre -without putting any drugs in it, like your swindlers in Paris!--Excuse -me, friends." - -"Monsieur your son calls himself La Thomassinire now," said the -marquis, "from the name of an estate that he has bought. That is the -custom in Paris; he hasn't changed his name but he has lengthened it a -little; it's pleasanter to the ear." - -"Yes, to be sure," said La Thomassinire, trying to recover his -self-assurance. "When one has made a fortune as _consequential_ as mine, -one is at liberty to forget. Besides, as monsieur le marquis says, it's -done every day." - -"Oh! that makes a difference," rejoined Mre Thomas, "if you've been -a-buying estates. That's worse than the Marquis de Carabas. But for all -that, my boy, you'd ought to sent for me to come to see you sooner; for -I've been just a little bit homesick down to our place; it's a regular -hole, and I couldn't have such a devil of a spree with the two hundred -francs you send me every year." - -"Mon Dieu! how outrageous!" cried a lady wearing a cap adorned by a -bird-of-paradise, pushing her chair away from the table; while the -gentlemen glanced at one another, laughing, and Monsieur de la -Thomassinire stretched his feet under the table trying to find those of -his excellent mother, who sat opposite him, and to whom he vainly made -signals to urge her to be quiet. - -"What struck that party?" said Mre Thomas, staring at the lady in the -cap. "Is she going to faint too? What's she making faces at me for, with -that tail of a kite on her head?" - -"Mother, I implore you!" said La Thomassinire, moving his feet -frantically. - -"Down! down, I say! there's dogs under the table, boy. Here's two or -three on 'em running atween my legs. Tell someone to give 'em something -to eat, so they'll leave us alone. Give me a drink! Who's going to fill -my glass? you, old boy?" - -It was the marquis to whom this question was addressed; he took a -decanter of madeira that stood before him and filled the glass of his -neighbor, who always refused to drink without touching glasses. - -"What's this yellow wine, my boy?" - -"Madeira, madame." - -"Pretty good, eh?" - -"Perfect! it's the best I ever drank." - -"Here's your health then, my buck; and yours, old fox!" - -The last remark was addressed to Madame Thomas's left hand neighbor, an -old chevalier, with his hair curled and powdered in the style in vogue -during the Regency, who seemed extremely ill-pleased to be seated beside -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's mother. He turned his head whenever she -looked at him, and did not answer when she spoke to him. This time -Madame Thomas held her glass over the old fellow's plate, so that it was -impossible for him to avoid replying, and he muttered disdainfully: - -"I don't drink, madame." - -"Ah! you don't drink, don't you, old bean-pole? Well then, you can go -without, that's all. You needn't put on so many airs; you look as -pleasant as a bad clove!--Your health, my son, and yours, messieurs, -mesdames, and the whole company; and yours, too, you green monkey, as -didn't want to let me in." - -This compliment was aimed at Lafleur. Monsieur de la Thomassinire beat -his brow in despair, while the marquis repeated till he was hoarse: - -"Excellent! excellent! The old patriarchal custom--to drink everybody's -health. Noah's children always touched one another's glasses." - -Madame Thomas tossed off the glass of madeira at a swallow; but when she -had drunk it, she made a wry face and glared at the marquis, crying: - -"God! what vile stuff your madeira is! Bah! it tastes like a donkey's -water right in your mouth, my children!" - -All the ladies cried out and hid their faces behind their napkins. The -men laughed; and Madame Thomas, who saw nothing unnatural in what she -had said and thought that they shared her amusement, caused her glass to -be filled with another kind of wine; while her son sank back in his -chair, muttering: - -"I am a ruined man!" - -The more Madame Thomas drank, the more loquacious she became. In vain -did the marquis fill her plate, and Monsieur de la Thomassinire call to -his servants: "Serve monsieur! Remove madame's plate!" the stout old -lady's voice soared above those of all her fashionable neighbors, for -people of fashion are not in the habit of speaking loud. - -The old gentleman with the pigeon's wings, whom Madame Thomas had called -a clove, could not digest that insult; he scowled terribly, tried to -turn his back on his neighbor, and muttered: - -"It's abominable to invite people like myself to compromise their -dignity with such riff-raff! Gad! if they ever catch me here again! I am -terribly distressed that I came." - -For all that, the old chevalier did not go away, but ate and drank for -four, by way of compensation for the annoyance that he felt. - -Mre Thomas wanted some of everything, she called for all the dishes -that she saw, and she would say to the marquis: - -"What's that, my fine little fellow?" - -"_Poulet la Marengo_, madame." - -"My soul! how it's disguised! Never mind, just pass me a wing.--And -what's that black stew over yonder?" - -"A salmi of partridge _aux truffes_." - -"That must be heating; but give me a bit of your _salmigondis aux -truffes_, I'll take the chances.--and that big dish all covered over -with sauce?" - -"That's a _Sultane la Chantilly_." - -"A sultana! The dear boy! does he take us for Turks, I wonder! Just give -me a taste of that too, so that I'll know how those miserable dogs -cook." - -"You'll make yourself ill, Madame Thomas," said La Thomassinire in an -undertone, horrified to see his mother's eyes grow brighter and -brighter, and that she insisted on tasting all the wines as well as all -the dishes. - -"Get out, boy, I've got a stomach like an ostrich! Don't you remember -the bet I made one day with our cousin as kept the eating house? A fine -man, he was! He died three year ago, poor Chah!" - -"Lafleur! Jasmin! Comtois! take these plates away; serve the dessert, I -say!" - -In vain did Monsieur de la Thomassinire shout to his servants--his -mother continued her narrative none the less: - -"You must know, my children, that Chah was one of the biggest eaters in -all Brie; he was a chap with a big head, and he'd put down a turkey, -saving your presence, just as slick as you or me'd swallow a lark. -Bless my soul, if he didn't take a fancy one day to bet me that he'd eat -more'n me of a rabbit stew I'd made for a mason's wedding feast. I'm a -sly fox, so I took his bet; and when we'd got half through, I told him -in confidence that it was cats as I'd stewed up; and at that my jackass -turned up his toes and got rid of his dinner on the floor." - -The ladies refused to listen to any more; they left the table and took -refuge in the salon. Monsieur de la Thomassinire was beside himself; he -turned red, yellow and lead-colored in turn; the perspiration stood on -his brow; he poured wine in his plate and put his fork in his glass. The -young men laughed heartily, Auguste with the rest, for he was of the -opinion that his host well deserved this little lesson. Destival was -radiant; his eyes sparkled with delight as he looked from one person to -another and finally fastened his gaze on La Thomassinire. The Marquis -de Cligneval looked at his host with an expression which signified: -"Gad! I've done what I could; but, as you see, it's impossible to hold -her back." - -"Well! what makes all them pretty females go scooting off at once?" -queried Mre Thomas; "be they all going to the closet together? I say, -it's like the hens down our way: when one goes, the others have to -follow." - -A young poet, who had written some verses for Madame de la -Thomassinire, and who was exceedingly annoyed because Mre Thomas's -arrival, by causing Athalie to swoon and putting the ladies to flight, -had prevented him from reciting his quatrain, which would, so he -thought, create a sensation, said to the buxom dame, as he readjusted -his collar: - -"Madame, it is your fault in some degree that the Graces have fled from -us." - -"What's that you say, my little dapper?" retorted Mre Thomas, planting -both elbows on the table, the better to observe the young man. - -"I say, madame," replied the poet, "that the Graces are easily -frightened, and that----" - -"What's that you're singing about your Graces! Be they birds you're -trying to tame?" - -"Madame, the Graces are the ladies; the Zephyrs and the Loves fly at -their heels; Pleasure and Laughter form their train and strew roses -along their path." - -"Phew! what sort of a stew is that, my boy, made out of roses and -rice."[D] - -[D] _Ris_, meaning _laughter_, has the same pronunciation as _riz_ -(rice). - -"I mean to imply, madame, that there are remarks at which modesty takes -offence, and that, when telling stories, you should touch very lightly -upon certain subjects, for - - "'Le Latin dans les mots brave l'honntet, - Mais l'auditeur Franais veut tre respect! - Du moindre sens impur la libert l'outrage - Si la pudeur des mots n'en adoucit l'image.'"[E] - -[E] The Latin tongue defies decency, but the French listener insists on -being treated with respect. He is offended by the faintest touch of -impurity of sense unless the image is softened by the decency of the -words. - -Mre Thomas roared with laughter, and, turning to her neighbor with the -pigeon's wings, who was dipping a macaroon in champagne, his face still -wearing a scowl, she said: - -"Do you understand that, old fox? That fellow says he's got impure -senses; it ain't decent to make a confession like that at dessert." - -"Ah! madame!" cried the poet, flushing with wrath, "no one ever -dared----" - -"What's up, Biribi? Bah! you're losing your temper, my lad, you're red -as a turkey-cock; I see that; but I'm a good-natured fool, and I ain't -got no more gall 'n a flea. Let's drink together; that's better'n -talking about your fat women--grasses, Graces--and your thin women, what -I don't know nothing about. Some wine, marquis--that nice little wine as -foams. Oh! I know what this is; it's champagne, that's what it is; it -ain't no fraud, like your madeira! Your health, my little duckies; -yours, Thomas. Whatever's the matter with you, my son? You don't say -nothing, and you look as queer as queer; be you going to go off the -hooks, like your wife? We must have a song, children; that's always the -thing at dessert. Come! who's going to be the one to begin? Thomas, you -used to know lots o' songs; I'm going to sing you the one Chah's wife -sung to my wedding: - - "'J'entre en train quand il entre en train, - J'entre en train quand il entre--'" - -You must sing the chorus, children." - -"One moment, one moment, madame," said the marquis; "pray wait for the -coffee and liqueurs." - -"Oh, yes! that's so, my friend; they'll clear my voice." - -"This is getting worse and worse!" said the marquis to his host in an -undertone. - -"Oh! monsieur le marquis, I am in utter despair; I am overwhelmed with -confusion; I am afraid to turn my head!" - -"Why, my dear fellow, I am not in the least offended; a great many -people have mothers who are--who are not precisely noble. That does not -prevent your being a man whom I esteem beyond measure, nor does it make -your dinner any the less delicious. But there are people in society who -are not so sensible as I am, and in whose estimation this may do you an -injury. To say nothing of the fact that our dear mamma is getting tipsy, -and I don't know what she may not sing us before she is through." - -"And to think that I expect more than eighty people to-night for the -ball--the most fashionable and most distinguished people in Paris! Save -me, monsieur le marquis; I lay my purse, my cash-box, my credit, at your -feet!" - -"My dear La Thomassinire, my friendship for you is an sufficient motive -to--However, I believe that I have a note for six thousand francs to -meet to-morrow." - -"You will allow me to attend to that, monsieur le marquis." - -"We must devise some way to make everybody leave the house." - -"Yes, and as soon as possible." - -"Wait--I have an idea--Yes, on my word, it's an excellent idea." - -"Ah! monsieur le marquis! my gratitude----" - -"It may cost you rather dear, but I see no other resource." - -"I am ready to make every possible sacrifice." - -"Very good; let me set to work. Go back to the table as if nothing were -in the wind. Tell your servants to carry out my orders, and await their -effect." - -"Lafleur, Jasmin, Comtois, obey monsieur le marquis rather than myself." - -The marquis left the dining-room, followed by the servants, and La -Thomassinire returned to the table. Coffee and liqueurs were served. -The marquis soon reappeared and resumed his seat beside Madame Thomas, -reassuring his host with a glance. - -Mre Thomas hummed as she drank her coffee. - -"My children," she said, "we must have a dance to-night; I feel twenty -year younger. Thomas, you'll take a turn, I hope? Give me a glass, -marquis; but none of that sugary stuff that sticks in your gullet. Give -me something stiff and strong, my friend; that's the only kind that -makes you feel good." - -Madame Thomas had taken two petits verres of brandy, one of rum and one -of kirsch; she was declaring that they were very refreshing, and seemed -disposed to go on drinking, when a cloud of smoke arose in the courtyard -and found its way into the rooms. The guests looked at each other -uneasily. - -"Seems to me there's a bit of a fog," said Mre Thomas; "it smells like -something burning; be any of you sitting on a foot-warmer?" - -The servants rushed into the room, shouting in dismay: - -"The house is on fire!" - -"Fire!" cried all the guests, springing from their chairs. Mre Thomas -alone remained seated. - -"Well! all you got to do is fling water on it!" she said. - -"My house on fire!" said Monsieur de la Thomassinire, glancing at the -marquis. "How can it have happened? Ah! there was a pile of -straw--somebody must have dropped a match on it. Look, monsieur, see -what a smoke there is in the courtyard!" - -As it was about nine o'clock in the evening, the flame made by a number -of bunches of straw, which the marquis had fired, made the courtyard as -light as day. The cry of _fire_! soon arose on all sides; it reached the -salon, and the ladies who had taken refuge there from the society of -Madame Thomas, rushed out shrieking, and calling their fathers or their -husbands. - -The gentlemen tried to allay their fears, saying: "It's nothing, it -won't amount to anything; but we must go as soon as possible. Get your -bonnets and shawls; make haste, for ladies should never stay where -everything is in confusion. We will go with you." - -Meanwhile the fire which the marquis had kindled, in order to put the -guests to flight, and which the servants did not think of putting out, -because they knew that it was a ruse on their master's part,--the fire -actually attacked the carriage-house and spread from that to the stable. -While the ladies went to get their shawls and the men their hats, and -while the servants ran through the rooms shouting _fire_! the danger had -become real, and no one discovered it until a large part of the -courtyard was already wrapped in flames. - -Thereupon tumult and confusion held full sway; the ladies fled into the -street; one lost her turban, another her cap, and several fainted. -Auguste took Athalie in his arms and carried her to a stone bench in the -next street. Amid the general upheaval, Mre Thomas decided at last to -leave the table; she raised her skirts above her knees and began to run, -crying out: - -"Just look at all them friends of Thomas's! the cowardly skunks are -running away instead of forming a line! and they'd leave me here to -roast just like a chestnut!" - -The results of the marquis's little ruse were one wing of the house -burned, four horses burned, three firemen injured, ten shawls lost, -fifteen hats stolen, six locks of hair scorched, three bracelets lost, -and two combs broken; but Monsieur de la Thomassinire made himself -whole with twenty thousand francs, and at all events his worthy mother -did not exhibit herself to the numerous guests who were invited for the -evening. - - - - -XV - -THAT WHICH WAS FORESEEN - - -On the morrow of the scene at his house, Monsieur de la Thomassinire -and Athalie started for England, where they determined to remain until -Paris had forgotten the scandal caused by the stout countrywoman. As for -the latter, they had sent her back post haste to her village, expressly -forbidding her ever to leave it again, on pain of withdrawal of the -allowance of two hundred francs which her generous son deigned to pay -her. - -The absurd false shame of La Thomassinire, who blushed for his mother -after he became wealthy, and the petty baseness of Athalie, who had -pretended to faint in order to avoid embracing Mre Thomas, made Auguste -quite indifferent to their departure; but their house was the only place -where he saw Monsieur de Cligneval, and Bertrand said more than once: - -"Seems to me, lieutenant, that we don't hear much about that marquis who -owes you a hundred louis." - -"Perhaps I shall hear from him to-day." - -"And the little milkmaid, when are we going to see her again, and thank -her for what she brought you? The chickens were fine! I had to eat them -while you were dining out." - -"I don't think that Denise gives very much thought to us. Hasn't she a -lover? Isn't she to be married?" - -"Is that a reason for not thanking her for her chickens, lieutenant?" - -"Perhaps she came to Paris to invite me to her wedding." - -"I don't know what she came for; but she seemed unhappy when she went -away. She said she wouldn't trouble you any more, and I saw tears in her -eyes. That touched me, I admit; the child is so sweet and pretty, and -anyone can see that her tears ain't make-believe." - -Auguste was apparently reflecting on what the ex-corporal had said, when -there was a violent ring at the door, and Bertrand announced that an old -gentleman whose face denoted intense excitement, wished to see Monsieur -Dalville. Auguste was surprised to recognize Monsieur Monin, whose eyes, -even more staring than usual, seemed to indicate that something of grave -importance had happened. - -"Is it you, Monsieur Monin?" said Auguste, offering a chair to the -ex-druggist, who, despite his excitement, inquired as he seated himself: - -"How's the state of your health?" - -"I ought rather to ask you that, Monsieur Monin. You look as if you were -in some trouble; may I know what it is?" - -"Yes, monsieur; I have less than I had! that's why I've come." - -"What do you say? less than you had? I don't understand." - -"Do you mean to say you don't know it?" - -"Know what, Monsieur Monin?" - -"What I just told you." - -"Not yet; but if you would be good enough to explain----" - -"The fact is, monsieur, it gave me such a blow!" - -"Indeed, you seem to be a little confused." - -"Didn't it have the same effect on you?" - -"I don't know as yet what effect it will have on me, Monsieur Monin, or -how I am interested in what you came to tell me." - -"Oh! Monsieur Dalville, if we could have guessed; if we could have -foreseen! But, bless my soul! we aren't sorcerers; that's what I told -Bichette this morning when she insisted on taking my snuff-box away." - -"I never supposed that you were a sorcerer, Monsieur Monin; but I -confess that at this moment I find you rather incomprehensible." - -"That's because I haven't recovered yet, monsieur." - -"Recovered from what?" - -"And Bichette declares that he's taken you in, too." - -Dalville lost patience, and glanced at Bertrand, who was pacing the -floor, muttering: - -"If I had a squad of men like him to drill, I'd begin by fastening 'em -to horses' tails and driving the horses at a gallop." - -Monin took out his snuff-box, stuffed his nostrils, and continued: - -"I have come to you, Monsieur Dalville, to see if by chance you have -discovered which way he has gone." - -"Who on earth do you mean, Monsieur Monin? For heaven's sake, explain -yourself more fully! You have been talking to me for an hour, and I -haven't understood a word that you've said. What is it that someone has -been doing to you?" - -"Someone has robbed me, monsieur!" - -"Robbed you?" - -"That is to say, carried off twenty-five thousand francs." - -"Who, pray?" - -"Monsieur Destival." - -"Destival!" - -"Yes, monsieur; he's gone away, left France, so I am told. That is what -I had the honor to come to tell you." - -Auguste understood now too well; he was overwhelmed. Bertrand walked up -to Monin, shouting: - -"What's that you say? Damnation! Is it possible that that Monsieur -Destival----" - -"Ah! Monsieur Bertrand! How's the state of your health?" - -"He has gone--with our two hundred and fifty thousand francs!" - -"Just so. You know you taught him to drill." - -"Ah! the double-dyed villain!--We are ruined, lieutenant!" - -"Don't get excited, Bertrand; perhaps this intelligence is false. I -can't believe that Destival----" - -"That's what I told Bichette; I couldn't believe it either." - -"But how do you know? Who told you that Destival has gone?" - -"I'll tell you, monsieur: he sold my shop for me not long ago, and kept -the money to invest; and I gave him six thousand francs more a week ago, -because he said that the more he had, the better investments he could -make. And yet Bichette wasn't very much inclined to leave our money with -him. But Monsieur Bisbis advised her to leave it, so--Do you take -snuff?" - -"I must go at once to Destival's," said Auguste, interrupting Monin in -the middle of his speech. - -"Yes, lieutenant," said Bertrand, "that will be much better than -listening to monsieur. Go, don't lose any time; and meanwhile I'll go -and try to find out something about which way the villain has gone. -Perhaps he ain't far away yet, and if we have to founder ten horses, -we'll catch him!" - -"If you do catch him, Monsieur Bertrand, remember that I'm in for -twenty-five thousand francs," said Monin. But nobody was listening to -him; Auguste was already on the staircase and the corporal lost no time -in following him. Monin, finding that he was left alone with the little -groom, decided to leave Dalville's abode and to return to his own. - -"At the rate they're going," he thought, "there's no doubt that those -gentlemen will succeed in catching our man; so I'll go home and -encourage Bichette." - -Auguste betook himself to the business agent's abode. He inquired for -Destival of the concierge, who replied: - -"Monsieur Destival hasn't been seen for three days, and nobody knows -what's become of him; he didn't say where he was going. The negro and -Baptiste have gone, too; but madame and her maid stayed behind. She's at -home now." - -Auguste went upstairs and was admitted by Julie. The young man noticed -no change in the apartments, where it simply seemed more quiet than -before. He was ushered into the presence of madame, who seemed a little -embarrassed at sight of him. - -"Can it be that the current report is true, madame?" Auguste asked. "I -am told that your husband has gone away, that he has left France!" - -"Alas! it is only too true, monsieur," replied Emilie, sinking into an -easy-chair. - -"What, madame! has he gone, not to return?" - -"I think so, monsieur. He has abandoned me; he is an abominable man!" - -"And do you know what he has taken with him, madame?" - -"No, monsieur; I knew absolutely nothing about his business." - -"Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! It is almost all that I -possessed." - -"Oh! that was shocking on his part!" - -"Say rather that it is robbery, infernal rascality!" cried Auguste, -angered by Madame Destival's indifference. "And you don't know, madame, -where he has gone?" - -"I know nothing at all about it, monsieur; I am overwhelmed, stunned, -like yourself!" - -"Your husband has ruined me, madame." - -"I am terribly distressed, monsieur; but what do you expect me to do?" - -"It seems to me, madame, that this occurrence is likely to involve you -in some unpleasantness." - -"I have no responsibility whatever to Monsieur Destival's creditors, -monsieur; we had each our own property; this house is hired in my name, -and everything in it is mine. Is it my fault that Monsieur Destival has -been unfortunate in his speculations? Is it the first time that such a -thing ever happened? Am I not more to be pitied than anybody else? He -has carried off my marriage portion, monsieur, and the furniture that is -left here is certainly not worth the amount of that.--However, monsieur, -do whatever you choose; proceed against me; turn me into the street if -such is your desire!" - -Auguste made no reply, but left Madame Destival's presence abruptly, -cursing the business agent's rascality. - -Bertrand returned, having failed to discover any traces of the fugitive. -He continued his efforts in that direction for three days, while Auguste -on his side did all that he could; but it seemed certain that Destival -was already outside of France; that was the utmost that he could learn -about him. - -Auguste tried to recover his cheerfulness and to endure the blow -philosophically. Bertrand was very careful not to offer his master any -counsel at that moment, for he realized that the time would be -ill-chosen. But when all hope was abandoned of discovering the tracks of -the swindler who had carried off Dalville's fortune, Bertrand bethought -himself of the Marquis de Cligneval's little debt; and Auguste consented -that the corporal should call upon him. - -Bertrand hastened to the address given him and asked for monsieur le -marquis. - -"He don't live here now," said the concierge. - -"Where does he live?" - -"He's gone to take the waters." - -"What waters, morbleu?" - -"Faith, he didn't tell me, monsieur." - -Bertrand was furious; he returned, cursing, to tell Auguste, who -received the news calmly enough. - -"What! lieutenant, you are robbed of a hundred louis more, and it -doesn't make you angry!" said Bertrand. - -"Faith, my friend, when a fellow is ruined, a hundred louis more or less -aren't worth worrying about." - -"Still, they'd tide over for some time. That cursed marquis! I had a -presentiment of this." - -"I shall find him somewhere." - -"He won't pay you." - -"Bertrand, you must look into the condition of my cash-box and see how -much I have left." - -"That won't take long, lieutenant." - -Bertrand walked sadly toward the desk; then returned and presented with -a sigh a statement of their finances. - -"Eighteen thousand six hundred and forty francs," said Auguste, reading -the total; "Gad! I didn't think that I was still so rich as this." - -"I haven't counted the marquis's hundred louis, nor what several of your -friends owe you." - -"I am inclined to think that that is wise. But I must know what I owe -also; send to my tailor and boot-maker and harness-maker, and pay their -bills. When I was rich I could afford to owe; but when one's money is -gone, one should not think of running into debt." - -"You speak like the great Turenne, lieutenant. All the bills shall be -paid to-morrow." - -After the bills were paid, Auguste possessed sixteen thousand four -hundred francs. - -"Add to that our handsome furniture and the wine in the cellar, and by -leading an orderly, economical life, you can wait to see what will turn -up," Bertrand observed. - -"We must subtract from the total, Bertrand, three hundred francs that I -have promised to pay for a pretty mercer's apprentice, whose furniture a -heartless bailiff proposed to seize; two hundred francs which I am -lending to Virginie, and ten louis for some bracelets that I am going to -buy to-night." - -Bertrand nearly swallowed the pen that he had in his mouth. - -"You can't mean it, lieutenant!" he cried; "before long you won't have -anything left." - -"Look you, my friend, I promised all these things when I was still rich; -shall I break my promises just because a villain has ruined me? You -wouldn't do it yourself. But I swear that these shall be my last -follies. Henceforth I propose to be virtue itself; besides, you must -remember that we shall also have the proceeds of the sale of my two -horses and my cabriolet, for I can no longer indulge in a carriage! I -must cut down my establishment, dismiss Tony, and go on foot.--Does that -make you feel sad, Bertrand?" - -"For your sake, lieutenant!" - -"Oh! very likely I shall be all the better for it, my friend. Exercise -is essential to good health--I've heard you say that a thousand times. -Do you think that people who go on foot aren't just as good as those who -ride in carriages?" - -"Oh! you don't think I'm such a fool as that, lieutenant!" - -"Well then, why regret a thing one can do so well without! With money, -hasn't one always a cab at his command, without having horses and a -groom to keep? Upon my word, I can't understand now why I ever had a -cabriolet." - -"But all those grisettes who come to tell you about their little -troubles, to have you comfort them, and the great ladies whose heads you -turned--don't you think, lieutenant, that your cabriolet had something -to do with their display of affection for you?" - -"That would be an additional reason for not regretting it. Henceforth I -shall know the hearts of the women to whom I make love; I shall be sure -of being loved for myself; and if I triumph over a youthful beauty, if I -carry the day over a rival, I shall have no reason to fear that I owe -the preference accorded me to my fortune and to that alone." - -"You will soon find out, lieutenant, that it was for your advantage that -that villain carried off your money!" - -"Faith! who knows? Tell me, am I wrong to look at the bright side?" - -"No, indeed; there are lots of people who couldn't find a bright side to -such a thing; but still--excuse my fears, monsieur--what you have left -won't last forever, no matter how much we may economize; and what will -you do then, lieutenant? for a man can't live on his cheerfulness -alone." - -"Why, then--we'll see, my dear Bertrand; I have some talents--well, I'll -turn them to account, I'll work." - -"You work, monsieur!" said Bertrand, turning his back, to wipe away a -tear. - -"Why not, my friend?" - -"Because you're not used to it--because it would be too hard for -you--because I wouldn't allow it, in fact,--and--But let's not say any -more about that. You're right; it's better to forget ourselves. Who -knows? perhaps we shall find your thief!" - -"That's the talk, my dear Bertrand; we must always hope; it makes us -none the poorer and it does us good." - -Auguste went out to seek distraction with a mercer's apprentice, and -Bertrand went downstairs to read the life of the great Turenne to -Schtrack. - - - - -XVI - -A SCENE IN SOCIETY - - -The cabriolet was sold, the little groom found another place. When -Madame Saint-Edmond observed that her neighbor was cutting down his -establishment, she no longer deigned to look at him, but passed him -without even bowing to him. Bertrand was indignant at her discourtesy, -but Auguste laughed at it, saying: - -"I am certain now that that woman never loved me, and it is always -pleasant to know whom one is dealing with." - -But Bertrand muttered: - -"Just let her lose her poodle again; and if I find him I'll make him do -a turn of sentry duty that he'll never be relieved from." - -Auguste continued to seek distraction in society, and as distraction is -ordinarily expensive, he spent much more than he should have done, -although he had determined to be virtuous and orderly. He considered -himself very prudent, because, instead of losing fifty louis at an -evening party, he lost only fifty crowns; because, instead of hiring a -box at the theatre, he contented himself with buying seat tickets at the -office; and because he rode in cabs instead of keeping a cabriolet. But -even this outlay was too large for a person who had only a small capital -and no income. Bertrand saw with dismay that their funds would not last -as long as he had hoped; he dared not remonstrate with Auguste, but he -often said to him: - -"Let's go see the pretty milkmaid, monsieur, and that little Coco that -you're so fond of; that will divert you. We can pass a few days at the -village, and amusements don't cost so much there as they do in Paris." - -Auguste constantly postponed visiting Montfermeil. He did not tell -Bertrand the reason that he dreaded to go there; but he was pained to -think that he was no longer able to do all that he had hoped to do for -the child; he supposed that the money which he had left for him had been -used; and, being accustomed to follow nothing but the impulses of his -heart and give money away with a lavish hand, he sighed at the idea of -being obliged to reckon the extent of his benefactions. That pang was -the keenest that the loss of his fortune had as yet caused him. - -After an absence of six weeks, Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinire -returned to Paris. Their mansion became once more the rendezvous of the -people who love good dinners, evening parties and balls; and the old -chevalier of the pigeon's wings was not the last to return thither, -although at their last dinner-party he had sworn that they would never -catch him there again. The marquises and dandies, the women of fashion, -the poets and bankers were very careful not to mention Madame Thomas to -Monsieur de la Thomassinire; and he said to himself, rubbing his hands: - -"It's all forgotten, nobody thinks about it now, it hasn't injured me in -the least. For all that, I did well to pass six weeks in England; that -sufficed to forget it." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire was mistaken; Madame Thomas's visit was not -forgotten; but so long as he was rich and continued to give gorgeous -parties and grand dinners, people would continue to go to his house and -to welcome him warmly. Let him but lose his money, and everybody would -very soon discover what he was--a very stupid, vulgar individual. So -that it was not necessary for him to make the journey to England. To be -sure, he did not say all this to himself. - -Destival's flight caused a sensation. When it was mentioned to La -Thomassinire, he cried: - -"I was certain that that man would turn out ill! He fancied that he was -as well equipped as I; he had the assurance to dream of making a fortune -like mine! As if my talents were given to everybody! He gave wretched -dinners: poor food and poor wine! And he had an idea that he gave -dinners like mine! I have said a hundred times: 'That man will go -under!' and he hasn't failed to do it." - -"His wife was too much of a flirt," said Athalie; "she insisted on -following all the fashions and wearing cashmere shawls; she had taken my -dressmaker." - -"Taken your dressmaker, madame!" cried her husband; "you must agree that -that was utterly absurd! Those people had lost their senses! The idea of -taking your dressmaker! the wife of a miserable little business agent!" - -"But she's still in Paris," said the Marquis de Cligneval, who was -present at this conversation. "I saw her in a buggy a few days ago, more -stylishly dressed than ever." - -"Really?" said the speculator; "you say that she was dressed in style? -It's a fact that she had much more wit than her husband! It seems that -her skirts are entirely clear of his business; she must have taken -measures beforehand, and she did well; certainly no one can blame her." - -The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Dalville, who had not -been at the Thomassinire's since their return from England. - -"Ah! Monsieur Dalville!" said the speculator, hurrying to meet the young -man with an air of great cordiality, while the marquis seized Auguste's -hand and cried: - -"How delighted I am to see you, my amiable friend! Gad! I intended to -come to see you one of these days.--'Nobody ever sees him now,' I said -to myself; 'what in the deuce has become of him?'" - -"It is a fact, monsieur," said Athalie, with a gracious smile to -Auguste, "you have been in no hurry, monsieur, to come to see us since -we returned more than ten days ago; it's very unkind, for you know how -fond of you we are." - -"You are too kind, madame," said Auguste, taking a seat beside the -petite-matresse; "but I have been very much occupied. You have learned -no doubt that Destival----" - -"We were speaking about him a moment ago," said La Thomassinire, "and I -was saying to monsieur le marquis, my good friend, that his performance -did not surprise me in the least! Indeed, I believe that I anticipated -it!" - -"That is true--you did say that to me," the marquis replied; "but I -admit that such things always pass my comprehension. To fail--to run -away with other people's money--why, it's shocking! Let a man go off -with his own all he pleases; but the idea of deceiving people who have -confidence in one's good faith! who place their property in one's hands -to administer! who leave everything to one's honesty! Ah! I could never -forgive that!" - -"Nor I," cried La Thomassinire; "I could never forgive anyone for not -succeeding in business. I will say more--I won't receive such a man in -my house. The minute your credit begins to sink, why, good-evening; -you'd better stay at home! That's all I know! For we must have honesty -first of all, as monsieur le marquis observed; and with rich people a -man is never in any danger." - -Dalville smiled at the warmth with which the two worthies emphasized -their love of honesty, and after a moment he rejoined: - -"Do you know how much of my money Destival has taken away with him?" - -"No," said La Thomassinire; "is it possible that he cheated you too? I -thought that you were too shrewd to allow yourself to be taken in, -Monsieur Dalville!" - -"Oh! in money matters, monsieur, the shrewdest are likely to be the -stupidest. A man doesn't need intelligence to grow rich; that's a truth -of which the world presents us with proofs every day." - -"Monsieur Dalville is forever joking," Athalie said, laughingly; while -La Thomassinire said to the marquis in an undertone: - -"This young man knows nothing whatever about business. I feel sorry for -him." - -"How much did the scoundrel rob you of?" queried the marquis. - -"Two hundred and fifty thousand francs." - -"The deuce!" cried La Thomassinire; "but that's quite a sum of money! -Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! You must have stout loins to -stand such a loss!" - -"Oh well! I stand it as best I can. This is the time to be -philosophical." - -"I understand; that means that you are still very rich." - -"Not at all; on the contrary, I have nothing left. Destival has carried -off my capital, and in a few months I shall have to turn my attention to -earning my living." - -Monsieur de la Thomassinire's face grew long and the marquis's anxious. -Athalie alone seemed to take any interest in Auguste's situation. - -"What!" she exclaimed; "do you really mean, Monsieur Dalville, that that -wretched man has ruined you?" - -"Yes, madame, the fact is only too certain." - -"And you take it as calmly as this?" - -"If I should rage and tear my hair, that would not give me back my -money." - -"Philosophy is a fine thing, that is sure," said the marquis. "It helps -us to take things as they come, it makes us superior to adversity, -and--But it occurs to me that I am invited out to dinner, to eat a -truffled turkey. I promised to be on hand at the overture, and a man of -honor has only his word. Au revoir, my dear friends." - -The marquis rose and was about to leave the room, when Dalville ran -after him and stopped him. - -"I beg your pardon, my dear Monsieur de Cligneval," he said under his -breath, "but you probably have forgotten a little debt of a hundred -louis. If I venture to remind you of it, you will understand that just -at this time I am in need of whatever I possess." - -"My dear friend, what do you say? Pardieu! it had slipped my mind -entirely." - -"You were to repay it that same week, and as it was two months ago, I -thought you had forgotten that trifle." - -"Entirely, my dear friend, entirely; I have no memory except for -important things, and a hundred louis, you will agree, is the merest -bagatelle. Send to my house." - -"They could not give me your address at your former residence." - -"True, I am on the wing. I will send the money to you--that will be the -better way. But they are waiting for me; the turkey is probably served. -It's a party of gentlemen only, and I promised to be prompt. I am very -particular about keeping my word." - -"I can rely, then, upon----" - -"Yes, you shall hear from me to-morrow at the latest. Adieu; pardon me -for leaving you so abruptly, but a truffled turkey admits of no -postponement." - -And Monsieur de Cligneval, who was in truth very particular about -keeping his word when a dinner or luncheon was concerned, shook off his -creditor and escaped from the salon. But as he was by no means anxious -to meet Dalville frequently at his friend La Thomassinire's, monsieur -le marquis, when he reached the reception-room, told a servant to go to -his master and tell him privately that Monsieur de Cligneval had -something to impart to him in confidence. - -The servant did the errand and La Thomassinire hastily left the salon -and joined the marquis, whose obsequious servant he deemed himself very -fortunate to be. - -"What is it, my dear marquis? I am at your service," cried the parvenu. - -"Sh! let us go into your study, my friend. Dalville thinks that I have -gone, and I don't want him to meet me when he goes away." - -They went into Monsieur de la Thomassinire's study, and there the -marquis seemed to hesitate, as if he did not know whether he ought to -speak. - -"I am dreadfully perplexed," he said at last to La Thomassinire, who -was waiting humbly to hear what he had to tell him. - -"Perplexed!--you! Is it possible that a marquis can ever be perplexed? -Nonsense, you are joking!" - -"No, my friend, no. Mon Dieu! because one happens to have been born in -an exalted sphere, because one enjoys some consideration and has some -little power, do you suppose that one is not human just the same, and -subject to all the weaknesses that nature has allotted to us?" - -"Surely not, monsieur le marquis! and----" - -"Bless my soul! we are all very much alike! In the eyes of men of -intelligence what does a little more or a little less nobility amount -to?--For my own part, I give you my word that, if you were a duke, I -should esteem you no more highly!" - -"You are too kind, monsieur le marquis!" - -"No, I am frank, that's all." - -La Thomassinire was wondering how this discussion would take the -marquis to the truffled turkey that awaited him, when Monsieur de -Cligneval resumed: - -"It was about Dalville that I wanted to speak to you in private. That -young man allowed himself to be taken in like an idiot." - -"Like an absolute idiot, monsieur le marquis." - -"And he was so conceited, so self-sufficient! He wouldn't take anybody's -advice; he thought that he knew how to manage his business. It was a -pitiable thing!" - -"It was, as you say, pitiable." - -"The idea of entrusting all his money to Destival! He must have lost his -senses." - -"However that may be, monsieur le marquis, I always come back to my -principle--I never forgive a man for allowing himself to be robbed." - -"And you are quite right. Let him rob others--that is to say, make sport -of others--and I've not a word to say; that is cleverness, -tact!--However, this Dalville is in a most infernal position!" - -"That's what I thought as soon as he told me he had nothing left." - -"If he even had any social rank--a title--any of those things that may -lead to everything." - -"In short, if he were noble." - -"Oh! in that case he might get out of it--but when a man isn't noble -it's essential that he should be rich!" - -"To be sure--that's another of my principles." - -"And it's all a part of the system of equality and philosophy that I was -describing to you just now. I was interested in this Dalville; but my -friendship for you takes precedence of everything; that is why I -conceive it to be my duty not to conceal anything from you." - -"Conceal nothing, I pray, monsieur le marquis!" - -"Do you know what he said to me just now when I was leaving the salon?" - -"No, I haven't any idea." - -"Didn't you overhear a word?" - -"Not a single word." - -"Well, my dear fellow, he was asking me to lend him money." - -"Asking you to lend him money?" - -"Yes, my dear fellow; on my word, that did seem a little bit hasty on -his part, I admit." - -"Hasty! you are very generous, monsieur le marquis! It was much worse -than that." - -"In the first place, I don't know him well enough to----" - -"And even if you did know him very well--whoever heard of lending money -to a man who is ruined, and who has just told you so?--I know him better -than you do, and I wouldn't lend him." - -"In the second place, it's the very worst form to borrow money at a -third person's house." - -"It's shocking form!" - -"As if he couldn't have come to my house like a man--or waited till -another time! But no--he attacks me in your salon! I had to promise to -make him a loan--otherwise he wouldn't have let me go." - -"That is true, I noticed that; and yet you had told him that a truffled -turkey was awaiting you, and it seems to me that such a consideration -should have imposed silence on him." - -"You must realize that if he sets about borrowing money in this way from -everybody he meets at your house, you will be placed in a false -position, and a great many of your acquaintances will be kept away from -here; for I don't know of anything that people dread more in society -than to be asked to lend money." - -"Great heaven!" cried La Thomassinire, pacing the floor excitedly. -"Why, a man like that would be a veritable scourge, worse than the -plague! I believe that I should prefer to see Madame Thomas appear!" - -"I assure you, my friend, that that would do you less harm." - -"Never fear, I will attend to his case. And I won't beat about the bush -either. To-morrow my concierge will receive my orders: we shall never be -at home to Monsieur Dalville. You hear--_never!_" - -"Do just what you think best, my friend. I am very sorry for the young -man, for I liked him much. Still, I felt bound to let you know." - -"Oh! you have done me a very great service, monsieur le marquis! A -service that I shall never forget as long as I live! Think of receiving -under my roof a man who tries to borrow money from my friends! who might -end by trying to borrow from me! Remember that he has only been ruined a -few days, and if he is borrowing already, what will he do after a little -while? Can anyone tell where it will stop?" - -"I have warned you, I have done what honor demanded, and now I will go -and say a word to the turkey I have mentioned. Adieu, my friend." - -"I hope that you will dine with us to-morrow, monsieur le marquis. You -will not meet Dalville in my house, I assure you." - -"In that case, I will join you. You will understand that it is painful -to close one's purse to misfortune; but with the best will in the world, -one can give only what one has. Until to-morrow then, my dear La -Thomassinire." - -"Your very humble servant, monsieur le marquis." - -When the marquis had gone, La Thomassinire considered whether he should -return to the salon. He decided to join Dalville--indeed he considered -it his duty to begin to treat him coolly, so that the young man would -not be tempted to disregard the orders which he proposed to give to his -concierge. - -Dalville had remained with Athalie. That young lady, after -compassionating the young man, and assuring him that she was grieved by -his misfortune, remembered that a new play was to be given at the -Franais that evening, and she exclaimed: - -"I must not fail to be there. Have you hired a box, Monsieur Auguste?" - -"I no longer hire boxes, madame," was the reply; "I purchase my ticket -modestly at the box-office. Sometimes I even stand in the line, and do -not indulge myself with a seat in the resplendent orchestra." - -"Stand in the line!" said Athalie; and her smile became less expansive. -"Oh! how shocking!" - -A minute or two later the young coquette noticed that there were several -spots of mud on Dalville's boots. - -"How is this, monsieur? You, who are always so exquisitely shod--you -must have been splashed to-day! I can hardly believe it is you." - -"Still another result of my penury, madame. When I had a cabriolet, it -was a simple matter for me always to have my boots spotlessly clean; but -when one goes on foot, one must expect to be more open to criticism in -one's dress." - -"What! you no longer have a cabriolet?" - -"No, madame, I have mustered it out of service, as well as my groom, and -I have kept only my faithful Bertrand; for he is a friend rather than a -servant, and one doesn't part with a friend just because one is -unfortunate." - -"What's that? why, what you say is very true," replied Athalie, going to -a mirror to arrange her curls. "Bless my soul! how pale I am to-day! It -frightens me! I am going to have one of my nervous attacks, I feel -sure." - -It was at that moment that Monsieur de la Thomassinire entered the -salon, assuming a more self-important air, a heavier tread than usual, -and with a frown already prepared, lest his visitor should ask him for a -loan. - -"Who on earth was it who desired to see you, monsieur?" queried Athalie, -still looking at herself in the mirror. - -"A person who had some very important information to communicate, -madame, and who preferred not to come in, knowing that I had company; -indeed, it is a nuisance to have company all the time, and I propose to -adopt the plan of not receiving visitors when I am at home." - -"Parbleu! you can do better than that, Monsieur de la Thomassinire," -said Auguste, laughingly. "You should imitate a lady of my acquaintance, -who, when she had not put on her red paint and white paint and blue -paint--in a word, when she had not finished beautifying herself--used to -go to the door herself and say: 'I am not at home.'" - -"Ha! ha! that is very good!" said Athalie; "but I feel rather -uncomfortable, and I believe that I will go and lie down." - -The petite-matresse left the room with a slight nod to Auguste, while -La Thomassinire continued to pace the floor, frowning ominously. - -"Well, Monsieur de la Thomassinire, how's business?" said the young -man, leaning back in his chair, while the parvenu seemed not to know -what to do with himself. - -"Business, monsieur? Oh! you mean speculation." - -"Are you still making money fast?" - -"Yes, monsieur; a man ought to make money, it's a duty, it's what we -were made for." - -"Parbleu! then you must teach me your secret, for I have never known how -to do anything but spend it. But I must mend my ways; I must turn my -attention to making my living, and for that purpose it seems to me that -I cannot apply to a better man than you." - -La Thomassinire, convinced that Auguste was leading up to a request for -a loan, pretended that he had not heard, and said, with a glance at his -wallet: - -"I lack thirty thousand francs of the amount necessary to buy some notes -that have just been offered me--a splendid chance. I know that I can -obtain that amount easily enough, that I have only to open my mouth and -mention my name; but it annoys me, because I can't endure to have -recourse to anyone, even though it is only for an hour." - -Auguste was diverted by this comedy, and said after a while: - -"By the way, Monsieur de la Thomassinire, how is your good mother, the -excellent Madame Thomas, whose unexpected arrival caused you so much -pleasure the last time that I dined with you?" - -The parvenu blushed, bit his lips and stammered: - -"She's--she's very well, monsieur; that is to say, I presume she's very -well; but since I returned from England--why,--why, of course I've had -other things to think about. And--Great heaven! it just occurs to -me--I've three letters to write to London--to noblemen who are expecting -to hear from me--thoughtless creature that I am! I cannot stay with you -any longer, Monsieur Dalville; my business calls me away--and business -before everything." - -With that, La Thomassinire abruptly left the salon, without saluting -Auguste, whom he left there alone. - -"The stupid ass!" said Dalville, as he took his hat; "does he suppose -that I didn't notice the change in his manner as soon as he knew that I -was a ruined man? And Athalie! I thought that she had more feeling! But -what can one expect from a woman to whom dress and pleasure are -everything? And such is this 'society,' where everyone seeks to shine, -whose suffrage is eagerly sought, and in which we pass a great part of -our lives! Are all these people worth the trouble of wasting a regret on -them, I wonder?" - -And Dalville left La Thomassinire's house, vowing that he would never -go there again. - - - - -XVII - -THE FIFTH FLOOR - - -"Lieutenant," said Bertrand to Dalville, one morning, "we have forgotten -something in our reformation, but the approach of rent-day reminds me of -it: it's the matter of lodgings. You must agree, lieutenant, that a -fifteen-hundred franc suite is rather too heavy for our budget, in which -the expense account is always lengthening, while the receipt account is -a blank page." - -"You are right, Bertrand, we must give notice." - -"When I mentioned the subject to Schtrack yesterday, he told me that -there's an Englishman who will take the apartments at any time if we -want to leave them; it seems to me, lieutenant, that it would be the -wisest plan to move right away." - -"Do what you choose, Bertrand." - -"Especially as there's a small bachelor's apartment on the fifth floor, -that might suit us: two rooms and a large dressing-room. It's vacant, -and if it won't be unpleasant for you to stay in this house----" - -"Why should it? Have I any reason to blush because of my changed -fortune? I am the dupe of villains, but I have made no dupes. We will go -up four flights. Hire the bachelor's apartment." - -"Very good, lieutenant. We will be all settled there to-morrow. No -wagons to pay for moving--that's another saving." - -Bertrand was well pleased to stay in the house with his friend Schtrack; -and the next morning, as soon as Dalville had gone out, he and the -concierge carried the furniture from the first floor to the fifth. But -as two small rooms would not contain the furniture that filled six large -ones, he left in the old apartment all that he considered superfluous, -and the new tenant purchased it, the proceeds serving to restock -Bertrand's cash-box at an opportune moment. - -On returning home, Auguste, from long habit, stopped on the first floor. -He rang, and waited in vain for Bertrand to admit him; then he -remembered that he no longer lived there, and went on upstairs; but, in -spite of himself, a sigh escaped him as he left his former apartment -behind; and when he entered his new abode, the cramped space and the -prospect of roofs from all the windows, extorted another sigh from his -breast. We are men before we are philosophers, and the knowledge that we -owe to the arguments of reason does not win an easy victory over our -natural inclinations. - -However, Auguste did his best to smile when Bertrand said to him: - -"We shall be very comfortable here, lieutenant; shan't we? The rooms are -small, but we have everything under our hand. And what's the use of -having so many useless rooms? For, now that we're not rich any more, -almost nobody comes to see us. If we want to exercise, we can go out. -But the air's better here than it is on the first floor. And the view! -Why, we overlook all the houses round." - -"Yes, this is all that we need," Dalville replied; and Bertrand, -observing that his master's smile was a little forced, made haste to -add: - -"I have already noticed, at that window in the roof over there, a very -good-looking young girl." - -"Where? where?" cried Auguste, running to the window. - -"See, close by us, where the window is open. We can look right into her -room, which is very convenient. And there's the girl I saw just now. She -has evidently noticed that she has a new neighbor, and she isn't sorry -to be looked at." - -"She is really very good-looking: a good figure, and a saucy expression, -eh, Bertrand?" - -"So it seems to me, lieutenant." - -"She's working with a frame; she must be a lace-maker." - -"Oh! you can hardly expect to find duchesses living in chambers under -the eaves." - -"Somebody's opening a window just beyond her--do you see--where there -are clothes hanging on a line?" - -"Yes, lieutenant." - -"Oh! what a lovely blonde, Bertrand! Do you see her?" - -"I can't see so well as you, but I should say that she's young, too." - -"She is lovely, I give you my word; much more so, in fact, than the -first one, who is still looking at us. Gad! Bertrand, we shall do -excellently well here, and I like the rooms very much." - -"They're very nice, aren't they, lieutenant?" - -"The view alone is enough for me; I couldn't see all these sweet -creatures from downstairs, could I?" - -"It would have been rather hard." - -"I am delighted to live on the fifth floor." - -"And I'm overjoyed to have you satisfied, lieutenant." - -Bertrand rubbed his hands, because he had restored Auguste's good -spirits by flattering his weakness; and Auguste, whom the sight of all -those roofs had depressed at first, could not tear himself away from his -window, because from it he could look into the rooms of his two charming -neighbors. - -The one with the mischievous eye and free-and-easy manner did not keep -her eyes fixed on her frame, but glanced often at the young dandy who -had taken up his abode under the eaves. Although in less affluent -circumstances, Auguste had made no change in his dress; for the dress of -a man of fashion never changes, whether his income is larger or smaller. -Moreover, Auguste was a very good-looking fellow, with distinguished -manners, and that fact seemed to arouse the young working girl's -curiosity, for she had not always such good company opposite her. - -The young woman soon laid aside her work altogether; she walked about -her room, arranged her bureau drawers, lighted her fire, looked at -herself in the mirror, adjusted her neckerchief and prepared her dinner; -each of her actions being accompanied by a glance at the opposite -window. Auguste, who saw all that went on in her room, kept at his post, -saying from time to time: - -"Upon my word, Bertrand, it's very amusing to live on the fifth floor." - -He looked also at the window where he had seen a pretty blonde; but she -had simply taken in some of the linen that was drying, then closed the -window without glancing at her neighbors. - -Meanwhile, it had grown dark and the dinner hour had arrived. Auguste -left his window and went blithely down the five flights. He returned -home earlier than usual that evening and opened his window, although it -was midwinter. He saw that there was a light in both of his neighbors' -rooms. The lace-maker had little curtains that covered only the lower -sash; and as her window was on a lower level than Dalville's, he could -look over the little curtains into the room, which was brightly lighted, -and see the girl going to and fro between the mirror and the fireplace, -and apparently engrossed by her little cap, and a saucepan that was on -the fire. - -"For heaven's sake, doesn't that girl think about anything but her -cooking?" said Auguste to himself; "this afternoon she was getting her -dinner, and now I suppose she's getting her supper. There seems to be no -lack of appetite under the eaves. True, Bertrand did tell me that the -air was sharper. Ah! now she's going back to her mirror. She is a flirt, -I noticed that this afternoon; her hair is dressed with more care than -it was. Can she be expecting company? Why not? Isn't one at liberty to -enjoy oneself in an attic as well as elsewhere? Are the rich alone -privileged to receive their friends? Their friends! what do I say? One -is much more likely to receive them on the fifth floor; and flatterers -and parasites and parvenus don't disturb one here. It really is most -delightful to room on the fifth floor.--Ah! what do I see?" - -Auguste saw the young lace-maker, who, after adjusting her cap to her -satisfaction, removed her jacket and short skirt, and donned a white -chemise; while the young man, his eyes glued upon her little room, -exclaimed excitedly: - -"Very pretty! very pretty, on my word! I never saw anything better on -the first floor! Ah! this apartment of mine is beyond price!" - -Her toilet completed, the young woman set out her supper on a small -table; she laid two covers. - -"The deuce!" muttered Auguste; "the company that she expects consists of -but one person; the party will be no larger than those in the private -rooms at the Tournebride. But no matter! let us wait and see what -happens." - -A young man in a blouse and otter-skin cap arrived and was received with -a joyful exclamation, to which he replied by a kiss so heartily bestowed -that Dalville fancied that he heard the report; and he scratched his -ear, muttering: - -"The devil! the devil! shall I keep on looking? Why not? I shall at -least know what to expect." - -The supper was on the table; but the gallant in the otter-skin cap had -more love than appetite. He continued to snatch kisses, dallying the -while with the girl, whom he seemed inclined to lead away from the table -rather than toward it. - -"The deuce!" said Auguste, "it's evident that people make love under the -eaves no less than on first floors. This fellow in a jacket seems to -know as much about it as the most skilful boudoir seducer. The deuce! -the deuce!" - -And Auguste finally left the window in a pet, exclaiming: - -"I don't need to see any more; these young women who invite their best -friends to supper ought to have their curtains so arranged as to reach -to the top of the window." - -Auguste walked about his apartment for a moment or two, but he soon made -the circuit of it. Bertrand was in bed and asleep. As he scrutinized his -new abode, Auguste noticed the absence of several articles of furniture -to which he had become accustomed, but which had not been taken up to -the fifth floor, where they had retained only what was absolutely -necessary. Dalville realized that that sacrifice was indispensable; but -his brow darkened, he threw himself into a chair, and unpleasant -thoughts assailed him. It was very late, when, in an effort to dispel -those thoughts, he returned to his window. There was no longer a light -in the young lace-maker's window, and Auguste was not sorry, for he had -seen enough in that direction. He looked toward the window where he had -seen an attractive blonde; and there, although he could see a glimmer of -light, a dilapidated curtain, torn in several places, prevented him from -looking into the room. - -After looking about at the other houses nearby, thinking of _Le Diable -Boiteux_, of which that picture reminded him, Auguste, having no -Asmodeus to assist him to see what was taking place under the roofs, was -about to leave his window. Twelve o'clock had struck long before, the -most profound silence reigned in the street; the place that is -resplendent with light and movement at nine o'clock is often dark and -gloomy a few hours later. - -But, as he cast a last glance at the house opposite, Auguste saw the -window opened, of which the torn curtain had prevented a view of the -interior. A not unnatural curiosity led the young man to continue to -look; and, his light having gone out, he did not turn to relight it, -although it did not occur to him that he was able thus to see without -being seen. - -The room, which he could now see quite plainly, presented a melancholy -appearance: bare walls, a wretched sack of straw in one corner, a table, -and a chair or two--nothing else was to be seen in that poor abode, -where want and misfortune seemed to dwell. The room was dimly lighted by -a flickering lamp. - -An elderly man was alone in the room; his dress, although shabby, was -not that of a workman; his hair was white and his face looked worn and -haggard; everything about his person and in his manner denoted an -ominous and desperate agitation. - -Auguste's heart swelled with pity as he gazed at that old man; curiosity -gave place at once to profound interest, and it was a secret -apprehension that led him to follow his every movement. - -After opening the window, the old man went to the back of the room, -walking with care and apparently listening. He opened softly the door of -a small dressing-room, in which Auguste caught sight of a bed. Doubtless -the bed had an occupant, for the old man stopped, and stood for some -moments gazing at the person who was sleeping there; then he wiped away -with his hand the tears that flowed from his eyes. - -After a few moments he stepped forward, taking care to make no noise, -and imprinted a kiss on the brow of the person in the bed; he seemed -unable to tear himself away and to give over his silent contemplation. -He fell on his knees and raised his hands as if praying to God for the -person from whom it was so hard for him to part. Then he rose and sank -into a chair, as if overwhelmed by grief. At that moment Auguste could -distinguish nothing clearly; his eyes were filled with tears, which -rolled unnoticed down his cheeks. - -But suddenly the old man, as if he had ceased to listen to aught save -his despair, sprang to his feet and ran to the window, cast a last -glance about him, and climbed out. His foot was already on the edge when -a cry of horror arose.--"Stop! stop!" Those were the only words that -Auguste was able to articulate. His own body was half out of the window; -he wished to save the unfortunate man, but was afraid to leave his post -lest he should accomplish his deadly purpose before he could go -downstairs and up again. - -Auguste's cry startled the poor fellow; he stopped and turned his head -toward the little room, thinking that the tones that had gone to his -heart had come from there. His strength abandoned him, the gloomy frenzy -which impelled him gave place to weakness, to the prostration which -always succeeds paroxysms of nervous excitement. He sank into a chair, a -woman's name issued from his mouth, and his tears flowed afresh. - -"I can go down," thought Auguste; "I have time enough now to go to him." - -Running hurriedly to his desk, Auguste seized his wallet, then rushed -downstairs four at a time. He woke Schtrack, who opened the door for -him; then ran across the street and knocked at the door of the old man's -house. The shower of blows led the concierge to think that the house was -on fire, and that some obliging passer-by had stopped to inform him. He -rose hastily, ran to the door in his shirt, and exclaimed, still half -asleep: - -"Which chimney? Where's it coming out? Has it got much headway?--Wife! -wife!--Where's the firemen?" - -"Don't get excited; there's nothing wrong," said Auguste; "but I -absolutely must speak to the old man who lives on the fifth floor. -Here." - -And Auguste put a hundred-sou piece in the concierge's hand and hurried -upstairs, leaving that worthy rubbing his eyes, as he stared at the coin -in his hand, and finally went out into the street to make sure that -there was no smoke to be seen anywhere. - -When Auguste reached the top floor, the lamplight shining under the -ill-fitting door guided his steps. - -"Who's there?" asked the old man, surprised that anyone should call at -his room so late. - -"Open, in heaven's name!" Auguste replied; "it's a friend, it is one who -wishes to dry your tears." - -The word "friend" seemed to confound the unfortunate man. However, he -made up his mind at last to open the door, and gazed in surprise at the -young man, whose features were entirely unknown to him, and who came at -one o'clock in the morning to offer his services. But Auguste's face was -gentle and kindly, and his eyes expressed the tenderest interest in the -old man, who allowed him to enter his bare room. - -"What do you want, monsieur?" he asked in a faltering tone. - -"To comfort you--to save you from despair." - -"But, monsieur, who told you----" - -"I saw you just now. You were on the point of carrying out a ghastly -plan." - -"Ah! so it was your voice, monsieur!--Poor Anna! I thought it was -yours!--But she was asleep; she is sleeping still. Oh! monsieur, I -implore you, never let her know. And yet what am I to do here on earth, -penniless, without food? She is killing herself to support me! She -deprives herself of everything for my sake!" - -The unhappy wretch, abandoning himself to his grief, did not notice that -he was raising his voice. - -"Hush!" said Auguste; "you'll wake her. Let us not talk so loud. Tell me -your troubles; I tell you again, I propose to put an end to them." - -Auguste's tone and his pleasant voice inspired confidence in the unhappy -father; he sat down beside the young man, as far as possible from the -small dressing-room, and began his story in an undertone. - -"I was not born in poverty, monsieur, and perhaps that is my misfortune. -My family was highly considered; my name----" - -"I do not ask it, monsieur; I do not need to know your name, to make me -wish to be of use to you; I wish to know your misfortunes only." - -The old man's amazement redoubled. With another glance at Auguste, he -began once more: - -"I received a superficial education; but I was to have twenty thousand -francs a year, and I was assured that I knew quite enough. I was left my -own master altogether too early in life. I was passionately fond of -pleasure; I was especially addicted to that charming sex which--of which -I must say no evil, since it is my Anna's. But I abandoned myself -blindly to my passions, and I squandered my fortune with mistresses who -deceived me, and with false friends who helped me ruin myself." - -Here Auguste could not restrain a sigh, but he motioned to the old man -to go on. - -"Sometimes I determined to reform, but I was never able to listen to the -counsel of reason. When I was thirty-nine, I had spent all my properly -and I was entirely unused to work. - -"Thereupon a generous woman, who loved me for myself alone, determined -to throw in her lot with mine. She possessed a competence; she married -me and gave me my Anna. I might have been happy, but I had become so -accustomed to fashionable life that I had a craving for spending money. -I longed to supply my wife with the beautiful things that I saw on other -women; it angered me to see women who were not her equals wearing -cashmere shawls. In vain did she tell me that my love alone was enough -for her. I persuaded myself that she was concealing her wishes from me, -and that she suffered all sorts of privations. Endeavoring to add to our -means, I did the wildest things: I gambled, I mortgaged our property, -and I reduced to want the woman who had entrusted her destiny to me. -Thereupon, realizing the error of my ways, I tried to find employment, -but I was no longer young, and I could not succeed in obtaining it. -Regret tore my heart, and blanched my hair prematurely; I look to you -like a very old man, and I am not yet sixty. My wife did not reproach -me; she died commending our daughter, then eight years old, to my care. -I tried to utilize what little talent I had, but it was very little, and -as I grew older I rarely found anything to do. Meanwhile my Anna was -growing, and she began very early to work to support her unhappy father. -If you knew, monsieur, all that I owe her! How many nights she has -worked, in order to add to her earnings! Never any rest, never any -pleasure for her; and yet, not a word of complaint; it is she who -comforts me when she sees that I am more than ordinarily depressed, when -I reproach myself for my misconduct. Oh! I do not try to conceal my -wrong-doing, monsieur. It was my folly alone that led me to lose my own -fortune and squander that of my wife. My daughter might be happy, and -yet for ten years past, only toil and tears have been her lot! And I -alone am the cause! Do you still think that I am deserving of your -pity?" - -"Yes, monsieur," said Auguste, pressing the stranger's hand. "But what -impelled you to such a desperate resolution to-night?" - -"Despite my failings, monsieur, I have always been careful of my honor; -I have thrown away my fortune, but at least I have no reason to reproach -myself for failing to keep my engagements. Two years ago I met a man -whom I had known in my prosperous days; he came to me and called me his -friend as of old. I told him my troubles; he placed his purse at my -disposal and lent me twelve hundred francs. 'You may take your own time -about paying me,' he said. Alas! a long illness prevented me from -earning anything; however, my creditor made no demand on me, but the -excellent man, who is in business now, was unfortunate himself and lost -heavily by several failures. Two months ago he came to ask me if I could -repay him, but it was impossible. He did not reproach me, and he did not -come again; but I learned yesterday that a heartless creditor of his had -caused his imprisonment for a bill of one thousand francs. That news -made me desperate. If I had paid my debt, that honest man would still be -at liberty! Alas! I have brought misfortune upon everybody who has taken -an interest in me! My Anna deprives herself of everything for her -father's sake.--Ah! monsieur, ought I still to cling to an existence -which is a weary burden to me?" - -Auguste took out his wallet and took from it three one thousand-franc -notes, which he placed in the old man's hand, saying: - -"Pay the twelve hundred francs that you owe, and with what is left buy a -small shop for your daughter. I am sure that happier days are in store -for you." - -The old man could not determine whether he was the dupe of a dream. What -had happened to him seemed so extraordinary, that he dared not give way -to his delight. He looked first at Dalville, then at the bank-notes -which he had put in his hand, and could only falter: - -"Great God! is it possible? Such unforeseen good-fortune! Excellent -young man!--Pardon me, monsieur! Why, you are an angel sent to us from -heaven!" - -"No, I am no angel," said Auguste, with a smile; "on the contrary, I -have all the failings of mortals; but I am happy to be able to assist -two unfortunate fellow-creatures so easily." - -"But, monsieur, this is a considerable sum----" - -"It is not enough to pay for the lesson you have given me." - -"How so?" - -"Adieu, monsieur, it's very late; get some rest now; you need it, and I -trust that it will be of the sweetest." - -"What! you are going to leave us already? Oh! please let me tell my -daughter how much I owe you. Allow her too to thank our benefactor. Ah! -you don't know my Anna--as lovely as she is good. The sight of her will -bring home to you all that you have done for me by giving me the means -to make the dear child happy!" - -The old man walked toward the dressing-room, but Auguste stopped him, -saying in an undertone: - -"Don't wake her, I beg you. I will see her another time; don't disturb -her sleep." - -"As you insist, monsieur, I obey you; but tell me your name, I pray; let -me know to whom I am indebted." - -"I will tell you to-morrow." - -"My name is Dorfeuil, monsieur; I am most anxious that you should know -to whom you have restored life and honor." - -Auguste escaped from the old man's thanks and finally left that abode -whither he had carried joy and repose. He went down the five flights in -high spirits, and better pleased with himself than he had ever been. - -"There are two people whom I have rescued from despair," he said to -himself; "and all I have to do is to imagine that Destival carried off -another three thousand francs." - -Returning to his fifth floor apartment, Auguste went to bed and did not -wake until the morning had far advanced. - -"It seems to me, lieutenant, that you slept rather well in your new -lodgings?" said Bertrand as he entered Auguste's room. - -"I really believe that I never slept so well on the first floor." - -But the ex-corporal was amazed to see that his master did not once go to -the window, and at the end of the day he expressed his surprise. - -"Don't you like our view any more, lieutenant?" - -"No, my friend, I have reflected, and I think that it's a risky thing to -look into other people's rooms." - -"But I should say that you saw some very pretty little things, didn't -you, lieutenant?" - -"I saw some very sad things, too. All things considered, I think that -it's better not to pay any attention to what goes on in our neighbors' -houses." - -Auguste had another reason for not going to his window; he did not want -to be seen by the old man, who would have recognized him, and whom he -did not propose to visit again. He knew that poor Dorfeuil's daughter -was lovely; he distrusted his own weakness and preferred not to run the -risk of spoiling his kindly action. - - - - -XVIII - -THE GRISETTES AT THE VILLAGE.--THE EVENING PARTY AND THE GHOST - - -"We won't go to see Monsieur Auguste again," Denise declared on her -return to the village; and when her aunt asked her if the fine gentleman -in Paris had given them a warm welcome, the girl could not keep back the -tears as she murmured: - -"We waited at his house more than three hours, and he only spoke to us -for a minute!" - -"What! he didn't thank you for your chickens, my dear child, or say -anything about my cake?" - -"Oh! yes, aunt." - -"What more do you want, my child? In Paris, you see, people are always -in such a hurry that they don't have time to talk; it ain't as it is -with us." - -Denise did not tell her aunt that Monsieur Dalville did not so much as -thank her for her present, for that would have made Mre Fourcy angry, -and the girl still hoped that the young man would come to see them; he -was so pleasant when he came to the village that she would soon forget -his coolness in the city. - -"And what about that money?" asked Mre Fourcy; "what did he say about -that, my child?" - -"Nothing, aunt--that is to say, we are to do what we please with it." - -"Then we must have the house rebuilt and the garden sowed; that will be -Coco's own property." - -"Yes, aunt." - -Denise allowed her aunt to have her way; she no longer had any heart for -anything, her melancholy seemed to increase every day, and the child's -endearments were powerless to divert her. She sought relief from her -sorrows in toil; but in the midst of her rustic duties, which were -formerly her delight, Denise would pause, heave a sigh, and stand -sometimes for many minutes, lost in thought. - -When Mre Fourcy surprised her in one of these fits of melancholy, she -would run to her and ask: - -"What on earth is the matter with you, girl?" - -"Nothing, aunt," Denise would reply, trying hard to smile. - -"But you was standing there without moving, and you didn't say a word." - -"Because I was thinking, aunt." - -"What about, my child?" - -"I don't remember." - -"You're sick, that's what's the matter with you!" - -"I'm sure I don't know, aunt." - -"Pardi! I can see it plain enough. You're growing thin, and you're pale -as a ghost, and you don't eat anything. You must get married, my dear." - -"Oh, no! I don't want to, aunt!" - -"Then you must take medicine, for, I tell you, you need to take -something." - -Mre Fourcy could think of nothing save a husband or medicine capable of -restoring Denise's bloom; but the girl declared that it would return -with the warm weather, because she hoped that the return of the spring -would bring Auguste back to the village. - -The winter days were very long, especially to the village girl, who no -longer took any pleasure in the evening reunions, who listened without -interest to the jokes of the young men, and who had no one for whom she -cared to beautify herself. Although one may find enjoyment in musing -beneath an oak tree's shade, although the sight of green grass and -verdant shrubbery may allay the pangs of love, the interior of a -farm-house, and the quacking of geese and ducks must be intolerable to a -heart that craves silence and solitude. Denise, obliged to conceal her -unhappiness from her aunt, remained in her room and watched the Paris -road. - -One day when a sharp frost had hardened the ground, although the sun -still made the gnarled and leafless trees attractive to the eye, Denise, -who was at her chamber window, heard talking and laughing on the path -leading to their house. The voices were evidently not those of -villagers, and, in fact, two ladies dressed like Parisians appeared on -the tree-lined path, looking about them, evidently with no very clear -idea where they were going, and stopping every minute to laugh, and to -rest by the hedge. - -Denise recognized one of them as the young woman whom she had met at -Auguste's rooms in Paris, and who had walked with her to the stage -office, manifesting the deepest interest in her. The sight of a person -who knew Dalville, who had come perhaps with a message from him, caused -the girl keen pleasure, and she at once left her room, to go out and -accost the strangers. - -Denise was not mistaken: Virginie, to whose mind the pretty village -maiden she had met at Auguste's apartment recurred now and again, had -spoken of her to one of her friends. This friend was a tall brunette of -some thirty years, with a fine figure, but with a bold expression that -would have intimidated a dragoon. A dressmaker by trade, but -passionately fond of the theatre, she neglected her thread and needle to -enact tragic princesses and heroines of melodrama in private theatres. -Despite her determined manner, sentiment was Mademoiselle Czarine's -weakness; she always had a passion on the carpet, and would have gone on -the stage for good and all, had she been able to overcome an unfortunate -lisp. For the rest, Mademoiselle Czarine was a good-natured soul and -incapable of trying to seduce a friend's lover. - -A fine winter's day suggested to Virginie the idea of a trip to -Montfermeil. At the first mention of the country, Czarine had -exclaimed: - -"I'll go with you, my dear; I feel the need of dithtraction to-day. -Thodore hath been playing trickth on me. Let'th go and thee your little -peathant; we'll drink milk, and perhapth that will pathify my mind." - -"Let's go," Virginie assented; "I don't know the exact address, but I -know it's Montfermeil, and my tongue ain't in my pocket." - -"Oh! we'll thoon find the plathe. Do you thuppothe that I, who could -find Thodore in any corner in Parith, won't very thoon make a thorough -thearch of a village?" - -"I'll introduce you as a relative of mine; for we must have some -excuse." - -"Don't you be alarmed. Haven't I acted Themiramith? Don't I carry -mythelf like a queen?" - -"I know you've played Semiramis, but there are times when no one would -suspect it." - -"Let'th be off and take the thage." - -"All right. I'm sure that the little girl will be glad to see me. My -dear, you are going to see a case of perfect innocence." - -"Tho much the better; I don't like anything but innothenthe, now I know -that rathcal Thodore is falth to me." - -"Great heaven! are you going to talk about your Thodore all the way? -that will be amusing!--By the way, there's one difficulty--I haven't a -sou." - -"Oh! I've got enough for both. Wait till I count. I've got a hundred and -fifteen thouth." - -"With that sum we can go to the Mississippi. Put on your Sunday hat and -your home-raised cashmere; and off we go." - -Mademoiselle Czarine put on her bird-of-paradise hat, which the sun had -faded to a pale yellow, and the shawl, once of amaranthine hue, in which -the flowers had become so blended with the background that it was -difficult to distinguish them. But when one indulges frequently in grand -passions, one sometimes makes sacrifices, and Mademoiselle Czarine -preferred one glance from the man of her choice to the diamonds of a -Russian prince; therein she differed essentially from Mademoiselle -Virginie. - -The young women took their seats in the stage; there were no other -passengers except two old peasants, at whom they made faces all the way, -because they detected an unpleasant odor about them. At last they -arrived at Montfermeil, and, Virginie having inquired where Denise -lived, they were directed to the path where the girl discovered them. - -"My dear love," said Czarine, "I don't thee the ruthtic roof that -thelterth your young friend, and I am beginning to be doothid hungry." - -"Wait, it must be close by." - -"What a lovely morning! If that ungrateful Thodore had only come with -uth!" - -"Yes, to eat up your hundred and fifteen sous in one meal! Dieu! what a -fool you are to go wild like this over a man who ruins you! Let's go on -a little farther." - -"My dear, it'th too much for me; it'th no uthe for me to thay: 'I mutht -forget him!'" - -"I'll sing it for you, if you want; perhaps that will have more effect -on you." - -"Ah! he hath thuch lovely whithkerth. It wath hith whithkerth that -fathinated me firtht." - -"You ought to have had them made into a cravat." - -"You're alwayth joking. How lucky you are, Virginie! you don't know what -a violent pathion ith." - -"The deuce I don't! I've had more of 'em than you have!--Oh! see that -pretty little house, and the farm--That must certainly be the place." - -"I don't believe your village girl livth in thuch a nithe houthe." - -"Why not, pray? If you had seen the plump chickens she brought Auguste, -you wouldn't be surprised." - -The appearance of Denise put an end to their uncertainty. The girl ran -to meet Virginie, kissed her, and made a respectful curtsy to Czarine, -who cried: - -"What! ith thith your young village girl? How pretty she ith! The -deuthe! what a pretty fathe! Ah! I'm very glad now that Thodore didn't -come!" - -Virginie trod on Czarine's foot, as a hint to her to be quiet, and said -to Denise: - -"I haven't forgotten you, you see, my dear; I have come to see you -without ceremony, and brought my cousin with me. We don't put you out of -the way, do we?" - -"Oh, no, madame! on the contrary, I am very glad. It's very kind of you -to come. My aunt will be delighted to see you--and madame too." - -"Will you let me kith you, my child?" said Czarine. - -"Yes, madame, with pleasure. But come--come into the house. You may not -have dined yet?" - -"Well, hardly, my dear; all I've had ith a little piece of thauthage -when I got up." - -"Yes," said Virginie, treading on Czarine's foot again, "my cousin and -I have begun to realize that fresh air sharpens the appetite. But we're -going to the inn----" - -"Oh! I hope that you'll stay with us, madame. It would be very unkind of -you to refuse." - -"Dieu! how pretty the ith! the hath Thodore's nothe." - -"We accept, my dear Denise, so long as it won't put you out. Besides, -the merest trifles from people one likes always give more pleasure--than -the dainty dishes one mightn't find somewhere else----" - -Denise's only reply was to run ahead to tell her aunt, and Virginie said -to her friend: - -"For heaven's sake, be careful what you say, and remember to behave -decently. What with your Thodore, whom you lug into the conversation at -every turn----" - -"And you lothe yourthelf in your thentences and can't find your way out -of them!" - -"No matter--long sentences are what you want with peasants; they don't -understand 'em, but they think they're fine." - -"Well, I'll thay Thodore ith my huthband and that he'th in the army." - -As they talked, the ladies reached the farmyard, where the geese, ducks, -dog and goat greeted them with a little impromptu concert. - -"Oh! how I love the country!" cried Virginie, running forward to kiss -Coco, while Czarine did her utmost to keep her shawl out of the dog's -mouth. Meanwhile, Mre Fourcy came out to receive the travellers whom -her niece had announced as fashionable ladies from Paris, of Monsieur -Auguste's acquaintance, and to whom the good woman conceived that she -owed the greatest respect. - -"This is my aunt, madame," said Denise to Virginie; and the latter -saluted the old woman with the patronizing air of a woman of fashion, -saying: - -"I am very glad to make the acquaintance of your venerable aunt. Dieu! -what an antique cast of countenance! I am very fond of elderly people. -Let me embrace you, madame." - -Having embraced Mre Fourcy, Virginie called Czarine: - -"Cousin, come here and let me present you to our excellent aunt." - -"One moment, pleathe," said Czarine, "until I get rid of thith -mitherable dog of herth, that hath grabbed my cathmere. Oh! I know what -the matter ith--day before yethterday I wrapped up a leg of mutton in -it----" - -Virginie coughed to drown Czarine's words, and the latter at last -escaped from the dog and bestowed a regal salutation on Mre Fourcy. - -"This is my cousin," said Virginie, presenting her friend to Denise's -aunt. "I told her about your lovely niece, and she could not resist the -desire to make her acquaintance and yours, venerable aunt; we left our -hotels and climbed into the wretched chamber vessel called a stage, -where we had no other company than a couple of old clowns who smelt of -rancid butter. But when we are going to see people we like and esteem, -we take a standing jump over all such little annoyances, don't we, -cousin?" - -"Yeth, my dear," Czarine replied, walking like Semiramis. - -"It's very kind of you, madame," said Mre Fourcy, "and we appreciate -your courtesy. But you must have something to eat." - -"We have already dined _ la fourchette_, but we don't like to decline." - -"For my part, I could eat all day long in the country," said Czarine. - -The ladies entered the house, and while the table was being laid, -Czarine petted Coco. - -"What a hanthome boy! what a fine profile!" she exclaimed. "He'll look -like Thodore. Ith he yourth, my beauty?" - -This question was addressed to Denise, who blushed as she replied: - -"What did you say, madame?" - -"You're infernally stupid!" cried Virginie; "the idea of asking this -child such a question, as if she was old enough to--Why, she hasn't -begun to think of such things." - -"Look you, my dear, I don't know her ekthact age. Bethideth, I've got a -thithter who wath a mother at thirteen." - -"Is she a Creole, then?" - -"Yeth, a Creole from the Pont-aux-Choux." - -Luckily Mre Fourcy was in the cellar at that moment, so that she did -not hear the colloquy between the two ladies. Denise longed to learn -something about Auguste, but she dared not take the liberty to ask -Virginie; she was afraid that that young woman would divine her profound -interest in him, and the poor child would have been terribly abashed to -have those fine ladies of Paris, both of whom she believed to be friends -of Auguste, know her heart's secret. To that sweet child love was all in -all; she was very far from suspecting that to her two visitors it was a -very small matter. - -While Denise was preparing the repast, Virginie insisted upon helping -Mre Fourcy to set the table, which the old woman would not allow; and -during the contest between the peasant and the Parisian, a bottle -slipped from under the arm of the former and fell at Czarine's feet, -where it broke and spattered her dress. - -"O Dieu! my merino is all thpotted!" she cried; "what am I going to do? -I haven't got another." - -"You can wear your velvet," said Virginie, motioning to her to be -careful what she said. Czarine, engrossed by her dress, paid no heed -but continued to complain. - -"It'th jutht the dreth that ith motht becoming to me; I wore it when I -captivated Thodore." - -"That's her husband, who's in the army--he's a general.--Come, cousin, -you have made enough fuss over your dress. You have plenty of others, I -should say." - -"I thertainly did have all thothe I put up the thpout----" - -"Up the spout, Mre Fourcy, means cutting them up into towels. You see, -we are all so changeable in Paris--we have to have a new dress every -week; we throw our money out of the window! A wicked place that Paris -is! Happy the people who live in villages! Ah! the country! trees and -animals and rye bread--that's what I call happiness! I hope to end by -buying a little chteau or a cottage--it's all one to me, so long as -it's in the country. As for Denise, whom I love as if I was her mother, -if there's one thing I'd advise her to do, it's to stay here and not go -to Paris again. However, I fancy she don't care much about it; and the -way Monsieur Dalville received her the last time--why, it made me -frantic! And to think that the poor child had brought him fresh eggs and -such a fine cake!" - -Denise, returning with a huge soup-kettle full to the brim, overheard -Virginie's last words and halted behind Czarine, motioning to Virginie -to say nothing to her aunt. Virginie, being accustomed to dissemble, -understood the girl's signs and continued, trying to repair her blunder: - -"After all, the young man is very excusable, for you see, Madame Fourcy, -there are people in Paris who don't like cake; it isn't as it is in the -village, where it takes the place of salad. And then, Auguste is a -little thoughtless; but his heart's in the right place! yes, he has a -very kind heart! I know him better than anybody. Besides, at this time -above all others, I shouldn't think of speaking ill of him; and although -he's ruined----" - -"Ruined!" cried Denise; and in her emotion the girl dropped the kettle, -whose contents completed the disfigurement of Czarine's gown. - -"Great God! but I'm unlucky to-day!" she cried, as she gazed at her -garment; "how do you expect me to go back to Parith, and play -_Andromaque_ on Monday, in thith dreth?" - -Mre Fourcy lost herself in apologies; but Denise paid no heed to the -accident she had caused; she ran to Virginie, exclaiming: - -"Ruined! Monsieur Auguste ruined! Oh! mon Dieu! madame, how did it -happen, pray?" - -"I'll tell you directly, my dear love." - -Virginie, first of all, seated herself at the table; Czarine did the -same and forgot the accidents that had happened to her dress as she -helped herself to double portions. Mre Fourcy stood respectfully before -the young women, and poor Denise, with her eyes fixed on Virginie's, -waited impatiently until she should choose to tell her what had happened -to Auguste. - -"Pray be seated, venerable aunt," said Virginie to Mre Fourcy, who -believed that she was entertaining ladies from the court. - -"Indeed, madame, I shall not think of it!" - -"I thall refuthe to eat if you continue to thtand," said Czarine, as -she ate her third egg. - -"I know too well what I owe you, madame." - -"You don't owe us anything at all, Mre Fourcy; on the contrary, we -ought to be waiting on you." - -"Oh, madame! the idea!" - -"Respect the wrinkled--that's my motto. Sit down, I say!" - -"How well madame would play the mother of Coriolanuth!" - -"Let's drop Coriolanus, cousin, and give Madame Fourcy a chair." - -As she spoke, Virginie rose from the table, seized Mre Fourcy's arms -and led her to a chair. As the peasant woman continued to resist, -Virginie pushed her backward and ended by taking her by the shoulders -and forcing her to the floor beside the chair. The good woman fell -almost under the table, while Virginie, thinking that she was seated, -resumed her own place. But when she found that she could not see her, -she said: - -"I am afraid that I have given you rather a low chair, but, at all -events, you'll be more comfortable than if you were standing." - -"That'th a very nithe theat you've got!" said Czarine, as she assisted -Mre Fourcy to rise. "Why, did you fall? Thee what cometh of holding -back! Did you hurt yourself?" - -"You're very kind, madame--just a little bit, on the hip." - -"That can't help doing you good; it thtirth up the blood. Take a theat, -pray." - -Mre Fourcy did not wait to be urged any more; and when tranquillity was -restored, Denise said once more: - -"And Monsieur Auguste, madame?" - -"Oh, yes! to be sure! I haven't told you how he came to be ruined. The -first reason why I haven't is that I don't know anything about it; but -still, it's easy enough to guess: the fellow acted like a goose, -gambling, spending a lot, and paying his mistresses. I've said to him -twenty times: 'Auguste, you're driving too hard!' Yes, I've told him so -very often, but I always used the familiar thou, because I knew him when -he was such a little fellow!" - -"I should have said the young gentleman was about your age," said Mre -Fourcy. - -"So he is, very near; but we were brought up together--we had the same -nurse--so that I'm deeply attached to him; and although he lives on the -fifth floor now, that won't prevent my going to breakfast with him, as I -told Bertrand yesterday, when he told me that the funds were low." - -"But Monsieur Auguste must be very unhappy, it must make him very sad to -be ruined," sighed Denise. - -"He, my dear girl! not a bit of it! Oh! you don't know him; he's just as -wild and heedless as ever. Bertrand said so yesterday. Poor Bertrand! I -saw a tear in his eye while he was telling me about his master's -follies! He's a faithful servant, that fellow, a real friend! Give me -something to drink, Semiramis, for, I notice that, while I am talking, -you do nothing but fill your own glass. Semiramis is the name of an -estate belonging to my cousin; she has estates in all the suburbs of -Paris." - -"I say, Denise," cried Mre Fourcy, "if that gentleman's lost his money, -hadn't we ought to give back what he left for Coco? What a pity the -cottage is all built!" - -"What's given is given, Madame Fourcy," said Virginie; "that's a -principle I've never departed from. It's a mistake to act on the theory -of returning what you've received." - -"Ah! if I had all I've given to Thodore!" - -"He's a husband of my cousin. She's given him the measles twice, and you -can understand that she wouldn't be overjoyed to have them returned. -Give me something to drink, Semiramis." - -Denise took no further part in the conversation; she was pensive and -entirely engrossed by what she had learned on the subject of the young -gentleman from Paris. The two grisettes, finding themselves very -comfortable at the table, jabbered to their hearts' content. Mre Fourcy -opened her eyes and ears, not always able to understand the pretty -stories that those ladies told her; but as they did not give her a -chance to put in a word, there was nothing for her to do but to stare in -amazement. - -They had been at table a long time, Mre Fourcy seated between them, -doing nothing but turn her head from side to side. Denise had left the -room, unobserved; the poor child's heart was heavy; thinking that -Auguste was in distress, she longed to let her tears flow and wished to -conceal them from the Parisians. Coco, who was playing in the yard, saw -her pass. The boy saw that she was unhappy, so he dropped his toys, ran -to her and said: - -"What's the matter, my little Denise?" - -"You don't know, Coco, that your kind friend, who has given you so many -things, is poor now, and unhappy perhaps." - -"We must carry him some more eggs and cake, my little Denise; he'll like -to have them, if he's poor. When I lived in the old hut with grandma, I -used to be so happy when you brought me some white bread! I didn't use -to have it very often then." - -Denise kissed Coco; what the child said had given rise to a secret hope -in her heart. She wiped her eyes and returned to the living-room, where -the party had been increased by the arrival of a villager, formerly the -school-teacher, who had come to pay Mre Fourcy a visit, and at sight of -the two young ladies from Paris, had come near knocking over a wardrobe, -in order to make a more graceful bow; while Virginie winked at Czarine, -who hid her face in her napkin to avoid laughing in the face of the -newcomer, whose features were an exact reproduction of the absurd masks -sold in Carnival time. - -"Good-day, neighbor Mauflard," said Mre Fourcy to the -ex-school-teacher. - -"Good-day, neighbor Fourcy." - -"How goes it, neighbor Mauflard?" - -"Very well, neighbor Fourcy. Faith, I didn't have anything to do, so I -says to myself: 'I'll just go and see neighbor Fourcy.'" - -"That's right good of you, neighbor." - -"But if you've got company, I don't want to be in the way." - -"Do stay, Monsieur Mauflard," said Virginie; "we should be terribly -distressed to frighten you away." - -"I don't believe that monthieur ith afraid of the fair thex." - -The neighbor replied with a second bow, so low that he could have picked -a coin from the floor with his teeth; then he took a chair and seated -himself. - -"You'll take a drink, neighbor Mauflard, won't you?" - -"With pleasure, Mre Fourcy." - -A glass was filled for neighbor Mauflard, and this he emptied after -bowing to the whole company; then he settled back in his chair, -murmuring: - -"That's good, very good--always the same." - -"Who is neighbor Mauflard?" Virginie asked Aunt Fourcy in a whisper. - -"Oh! he's a very fine man. He used to keep a school in the village; but -not long ago he retired, as he didn't have but two scholars." - -"I'm thorry for that; I'd have thent Hecuba to him." - -"What does she mean by Hecuba?" - -"That's my cousin's daughter--a charming child; she isn't three yet, and -she bites at everything." - -"Oh! that'th tho; the'd bite at marble!" - -"Neighbor Mauflard is one of the most knowing men hereabout." - -"Anyone can see that by looking at him. But he don't say anything. Have -another glass, Monsieur Mauflard?" - -The neighbor's only reply was a prolonged snore; according to his -custom, he had already fallen asleep. - -"Why, he's asleep!" said Virginie. - -"Oh, yes, that's his way; as soon as he comes in, he sits down and shuts -his eyes." - -"That certainly makes him a very pleasant companion!" - -"He'th like that villain of a Thodore, who alwayth uthed to go to -thleep ath thoon ath he had thaid thome blackguardly thing to me." - -"She means her husband, who must always have his siesta. He brought that -habit from Spain, with chocolate." - -"I say, Denise," cried Mre Fourcy; "I know why neighbor Mauflard came -here to-day; didn't we say at Claudine's last night that we'd have the -party here to-night?" - -"Oh! dear, yes!" Denise replied dejectedly; "that was a very unfortunate -idea of yours." - -"A village party!" said Czarine, leaving the table; "oh! what fun that -will be! I've often heard of them, but I never thaw one." - -"Nor I," said Virginie; "and yet I've seen a great many things. I say! -if we should pass the night here, we could attend the party. What do you -say, cousin?" - -"I thay that cabs won't cotht any more to-morrow morning than to-night." - -"It isn't a question of cabs. I know that we didn't bring our own -carriage, so as not to tire our horses; but we must find out whether it -will inconvenience our venerable aunt to put us up to-night." - -"Oh! we've got room, madame." - -"It will be very kind of you to stay," said Denise, hoping to have more -talk of Auguste with Virginie. - -"But the ladies will have to be satisfied with rather a hard bed." - -"We shall be very comfortable." - -"I'm not hard to pleathe; I've thlept on thraw more than onth." - -Virginie nudged Czarine and added hastily: - -"Oh, yes! in the country--as a joke--just for sport." - -"Yeth, and I rather like it; it ith great fun--it prickth." - -"Oh! I don't propose that you shall be pricked," said Mre Fourcy; "I'll -fix up a bed for you in the little back chamber." - -"Don't put yourself out in the least, dear aunt, I beg; the pleasure of -staying with you, of seeing the spectacle of a village party, is all we -want," said Virginie. But the old woman turned a deaf ear and went to -prepare a chamber for her guests, while Denise lighted a great lamp to -illuminate the living-room; for it was growing dark, and the party would -soon begin. - -During these preparations Virginie whispered to her friend: - -"These good people take us for princesses." - -"Well, it theemth to me that I cut a pretty good figure." - -"Yes, but don't make stupid remarks at the party. For my part, I like it -here very much; I would willingly spend a fortnight here." - -"It thertainly wouldn't cotht much to live here." - -"But if all the men are as agreeable as neighbor Mauflard, they must be -a lively set of fellows." - -Night came, and the regular party-goers, who had arranged to meet at -Mre Fourcy's on that evening, began to arrive. One old woman brought -her spinning-wheel, another her knitting; many brought nothing, because -they were to tell stories, which are of no small importance at a village -party. The men brought bottles and pitchers, and every one was provided -with his own supper. - -Virginie and Czarine, seated in a corner of the main room, where it was -not very light, despite the lamp, scrutinized the villagers and made -comments which luckily they did not hear. - -"Oh! what funny creatures!" said Virginie. "Don't they look countrified! -I'd like to show them stars on the ceiling!" - -"Oh! thethe village folkth are more knowing than they look." - -"I'll bet that I play a trick on 'em and fool 'em all." - -"Virginie, you mutht behave yourthelf, you know." - -"That's all right, Semiramis, I know how to behave." - -"Look at that tall young fellow over there--he'th a handthome man. He -hath Thodore'th legth." - -"He looks like a terrible fool!" - -"I don't care for that--he ithn't a bit bad-looking." - -When they first entered the room, the villagers did not notice the two -Parisian ladies; but when they did see them, they gathered in groups and -began to whisper together. Czarine walked toward them and said with an -amiable air: - -"We don't wish to embarrath you, worthy villagerth; we have come to take -part in your games." - -"We're very fond of country life," said Virginie; "and before buying a -farm, we want to know what people do on farms." - -Mre Fourcy's arrival gave the villagers all the information they -desired. - -"They're great ladies from Paris," she told them. "They have a beautiful -house, but they ain't a bit proud; they decided to pass the night here, -so's to be at the party. You'll see how polite they are." - -The peasants bowed low to the great ladies; some young gallants of the -village, in order to win favor with the strangers at once, began to push -one another and exchange fisticuffs, and yelled with delight when one of -them fell to the floor. - -"Our youngsters are beginning their fooling," said the old men; and -Virginie remarked to her friend: - -"If they begin like this, I wonder where they'll end!" - -Amid the uproar, Monsieur Mauflard continued to snore in his chair; and -one of the village wits exclaimed: - -"Look--Pre Mauflard's asleep. I say! we must put up a game on Pre -Mauflard. What do you say?" - -"Count me in on that," said Czarine, seating herself beside the tall, -gawky youth whom she considered handsome, and who lowered his eyes and -flushed to the ears when the lady from Paris looked at him. - -"What shall we do to Pre Mauflard?" asked a peasant. - -"Take his hat." - -"Oh! that ain't funny enough." - -"Steal his handkerchief." - -"Or his snuff-box." - -"Oh! he'll guess right off that it was us who took that. That ain't a -good trick." - -"Do you want a good trick?" asked Czarine; "if you do, jutht quietly -take off his breecheth." - -All the villagers gazed at one another in amazement, for the trick -proposed by the lovely Parisian seemed rather strong to them; and -Virginie trod on her friend's foot and whispered: - -"Will you keep quiet? What are you thinking about? As if anyone ever did -such things as that here!--My friends," Virginie continued, addressing -the villagers, "my cousin said that because she assumed that Pre -Mauflard wears drawers." - -"Oh, yes! but he don't!" said a stout woman, laughingly. Whereupon all -the peasants cried: - -"Oho! Fanchon knows all about it! How do you know that, eh, Fanchon? -Well, on my word! it seems that Fanchon--So you know that, do you, -Fanchon?" - -Fanchon laughed on, and the noise finally woke Pre Mauflard, who rubbed -his eyes and asked what the matter was. - -But Denise's aunt restored order by arranging the whole party in a -circle. The seats of honor by the fireplace were offered to the two -ladies. Czarine, who had seated herself beside the tall lout, said that -she was very comfortable and that the heat made her ill. Virginie sat -between two old men. Denise took Coco in her lap; she alone had no share -in the pleasures of the occasion, and her heart as well as her thoughts -bore her far from the village. - -An old woman began a tale of robbers; another told a ghost story; and as -neither of them interested Czarine, while the simple folk tremblingly -huddled together, she played games with the tall youth, and chucked him -under the chin, saying: - -"How much he looks like Thodore!" - -An old peasant took the floor and announced that he proposed to sing the -lament composed on the extraordinary death of Etienne de Garlande, -formerly lord of Livry, who espoused the cause of Amaury de Montfort -against Louis le Gros; the lament had only seventy-two stanzas. - -As each stanza, sung to a most doleful tune in the measure of -_Malbrouck_, lasted nearly five minutes, Virginie rose at the second, -took a candle, whispered to Mre Fourcy that she was going to bed, and -vanished without diverting the peasants' attention from the dirge. - -But Czarine, who was not at all anxious to listen to the seventy-two -stanzas, interrupted the peasant in the middle of the fourth, saying: - -"My dear friend, your thory ith very pretty, but it will end by putting -everybody to thleep like neighbor Mauflard, who hath been thnoring for -an hour. If you thay tho, I'll give you a then from a tragedy. Do you -know what tragedy ith, my friendth?" - -"No, madame," said the villagers. - -"And comedy--have you ever been to one?" - -"No, madame." - -"Oh! I know what it is," said one of the young blades; "I've been in -Paris. It's a place where you see men and women behind a curtain that -goes up; and then there's lamps, and they say silly things and wave -their arms about, and you can't understand nothing at all; but it's -almighty fine." - -"That'th the very thing, my dear boy; you know all about it. Tho you'll -be able to explain to the company what they can't grathp right away. I'm -going to give you a thene from _Andromaque_. Come with me, my fine -fellow, you're going to be Pyrrhuth." - -Czarine took the tall youth by the arm, placed a wooden bench at the -rear of the room, unfolded her shawl and draped it round her body, and -removed one of her garters, which she knotted about the young peasant's -brow; he allowed himself to be thus decorated, not daring to stir. The -peasants, their eyes fixed on Czarine, waited impatiently to see what -she was going to do. After removing her hat and arranging her hair on -top of her head, Czarine ordered the tall youth to stand on one end of -the bench and took her own place on the other end, saying: - -"Now we're going to begin. But firtht I think I ought to tell you a -little about the thubject of the play. Lithen: Andromaque ith a queen -whothe huthband hath been killed; Pyrrhuth here wanth to marry her, and -the won't. That'th the whole of it--now you underthtand; don't you?" - -"Yes, yes," said the peasants; "anyway Jean-Franois'll explain the -rest." - -"All right. I'll begin; and you, Pyrrhuth, do me the favor not to keep -your eyeth on your big toe all the time, for Pyrrhuth ought not to look -like a zany." - -The gawky youth, in order to obey the lovely lady, at whom he dared not -glance, raised his eyes and thereafter did not take them from the -ceiling. - -Czarine assumed a noble pose and began: - - "And what more wouldtht thou I thould thay to him? - Author of all my i11th, thinktht thou he knowth them not? - My lord, thee to what low ethtate thou dotht reduth me. - I have theen my father dead, and our abode on fire; - I have theen the liveth of my whole family in peril, - And my blood-thtained huthband dragged amid the dutht." - -"Poor soul! think of her seeing all that!" said the peasant women. "Is -that all true, Jean-Franois?" - -"Yes, yes! of course it's true! Don't she tell you she saw it?" - -"My children," said Czarine, "if you interrupt me, I than't be -inthpired any more; a little thilence, if you pleathe." - - "I breathe again, I therve; - I have done more, thometimeth I have ta'en comfort - Becauthe my fate hath exiled me here and not elthwhere; - Becauthe, happy in my mithery, the thon of tho many kingth, - Thinthe he mutht therve, hath fallen beneath your thway; - I have thought that hith prithon would become hith refuge; - Of yore the conquered Priam wath by Achilleth thpared; - I from hith thon e'en greater kindneth did antithipate. - Forgive me, Hector dear----" - -"Friend Pyrrhuth, pray attend to bithneth. Are you looking for thpiderth -on the theiling?" - -The tall youth looked toward the door, and Czarine resumed: - - "Forgive me, Hector dear----" - -"Thilenth, my children," she said, pausing again; "I beg the perthon who -ith thnoring tho loud to do me the favor to go." - -Czarine was about to continue her declamation when there came another -prolonged groan. All the villagers looked at one another, saying: - -"Who on earth is making such a noise as that?" - -"It ain't me." - -"Nor me." - -"Nor it ain't Pre Mauflard neither." - -Another groan woke the echoes of the living-room. Terror was depicted on -every face, and the peasants crowded closer together. - -"Great God! what can that be?" they exclaimed. - -"You are frightened at nothing at all," said Czarine; "it'th thome -brute prowling round the yard." - -"Oh! that ain't no brute's voice, I tell you! it's more like some dead -man's soul." - -"I say! perhaps it's Jacques Ledru, as died a week ago!" - -"Ain't it more like to be the ghost of Mre Lucas, who was so ugly when -she was living? Perhaps she's bent on tormenting us still." - -To set their minds at rest, Czarine was on the point of resuming her -tirade, when the gawky youth, whose eyes were fixed on the door, uttered -a horrible yell and fell from the bench, thereby causing Andromaque to -fall upon him. - -"What is it? what's the matter?" cried the terrified peasants in chorus. - -The tall youth, who had not the strength to speak, pointed to the door; -then hid his face in his hands. All the villagers looked at the place at -which he pointed: the door was thrown open, disclosing in the doorway a -white phantom of extraordinary size, whose eyes flashed fire. - -At that horrible sight, all the women uttered heart-rending shrieks and -tumbled over one another in their haste to get away from the door. Most -of the men did the same, shouting: "Let's get out of this!" But, as they -could not escape by the door, where the phantom stood on guard, they -pushed one another toward the end of the room; and in the hurly-burly, -chairs and benches were overturned, as well as the table that held the -lamp, which fell to the floor and was extinguished. The sudden darkness -added to the general alarm; those who had not seen the lamp fall thought -that the phantom had caused that terrifying obscurity by his mere -presence; the shrieks redoubled; it was impossible to see, they fell -over one another, and everyone thought that it was the devil falling -upon him. To add still more to their terror the phantom uttered -blood-curdling grunts and piteous groans. - -The confusion lasted several minutes, the peasants shrieking in terror -and offering up prayers. Mademoiselle Czarine alone was not heard to -bewail her fate, although she too had fallen, with the tall youth. The -latter had the courage to look toward the door, where he saw the -gleaming-eyed phantom. - -"It's still there!" he said under his breath; "it don't go away!" - -Whereupon Mademoiselle Czarine was heard to say in a stifled voice: - -"Don't thtir, my children, and above all thingth, don't light any -candleth, or the devil will come and carry uth off!" - -Suddenly the barking of a dog was heard in the yard; it was soon -followed by yells from the phantom, who was struggling with the beast -and calling the peasants to its assistance. - -"Mre Fourcy, call off your dog, for heaven's sake! What an ugly beast! -he's biting my legs! Come and drive him away, Czarine!" - -That voice, which was recognized as belonging to Virginie, put an end to -the terror of the peasants, who began to suspect that they had been -fooled by the young ladies from Paris; to put them entirely at ease, the -dog pulled off the sheet in which Virginie had enveloped herself, and -took in his jaws a lantern which she had placed on her head, wrapping -the sheet about it and allowing the light to shine through two small -holes. - -The dog raced about the room with the lantern, and the light disclosed a -ridiculous tableau. The men and women were inextricably commingled, and, -even without mischievous intention, the proprieties had not been -altogether respected, because, when one is frightened, one conceals -oneself as best one can. The position of Czarine and the tall youth was -the most equivocal; but the light of the lantern lighted the room but -dimly, and there were many things which there was no time to see. They -began by setting free Pre Mauflard, who had a table, two benches and -three nurses upon him; then the lamp was relighted and they could -recognize one another. Amid the tumult Denise had remained quietly in a -corner with Coco; but, on hearing Virginie's shrieks, she flew to her -assistance and helped her to rid herself of the sheet in which she was -entangled. - -"Why! was it you playing ghost?" inquired the young girl. - -"Yes, my dear, I thought I'd act a scene from a fairy pantomime for you; -and if it hadn't been for your infernal dog, who jumped at--at the base -of my back, while I was giving a groan, I'd have frightened you a great -deal worse!" - -"Oh! what a pity!" said Czarine, with a languishing glance at the gawky -youth, "it was so nithe! I'm very fond of fairy thenes." - -"Your fairy scene is to blame for my being all bruised up," said Pre -Mauflard. - -The peasants, offended because they had been made game of, refused to -prolong the festivity, and left Mre Fourcy's house, saying: - -"What do fine ladies like them amount to anyway! one wants to see Pre -Mauflard's drawers, and the other dresses up as a ghost; they act as if -they was pretty gay girls!" - -When the neighbors had gone, no one thought of anything but retiring. -Virginie and her friend went to their chamber and to bed, and soon fell -asleep, one nursing her bites, the other lisping that the tall young man -had many of Thodore's attributes. Mre Fourcy and Coco went to sleep -also. Denise alone could obtain no rest; she thought constantly of -Auguste, of the change in his fortunes, and of what she could do for him -to prove her friendship. But she no longer felt any inclination to ask -the advice of the ladies from Paris, because all the foolish antics in -which she had seen them indulge had somewhat lessened her esteem for -them. She felt that she must be guided by her heart alone; she was sure -that it would never give her any advice for which she would need to -blush. - -The next morning, after breakfast, the ladies, being already sadly bored -in the country, where they desired at first to pass a fortnight, bade -Mre Fourcy and Denise adieu and took their places in the Paris coach. - -"Ah! my dear," said Virginie, "how I long to be in Paris! it seems to me -that it's six months since I saw Rue Montmartre and the Ambigu-Comique." - -"What do you think of me, who haven't theen Thodore for twenty-four -hourth!" - -"Say what you will, there's no place but Paris for fun and dress and the -theatre and punch!" - -"Ah! if I had to live in the country, I thould die there!" - - - - -XIX - -A MAN IN A THOUSAND - - -After his visit to the old man on the fifth floor, Auguste had made a -vow to be prudent and to profit by the lesson which the unfortunate -Dorfeuil had unconsciously given him. But an old proverb says: "Drive -away the natural, and it returns at a gallop;" and Auguste's nature -still impelled him to do foolish things. Moreover, being unable -thenceforth, by reason of an instinctive delicacy for which he cannot be -blamed, to seek diversion at his window, he was driven to seek it -elsewhere. From his more prosperous days Auguste had retained the habit -of playing the grand seigneur, of reckoning the cost of nothing, of -following only his first impulse. He was as generous to the unfortunate -as to his mistresses: to confer pleasure on others is such a gratifying -habit that it is very hard to abandon it. There are people, however, who -have never known that gratification. - -Upon examining his cash-box, Bertrand had discovered the enormous -deficit consequent upon Auguste's visit to the old man. Unable to -understand how his master could have spent so much money in so short a -time, Bertrand concluded that they had been robbed, and made an infernal -row. He proposed to go down and cudgel Schtrack and his wife, to teach -them to allow thieves to enter the house; but Auguste detained him, -saying: - -"Don't get excited, my dear fellow, we haven't been robbed." - -"Why, monsieur, we had about ten thousand francs left three days ago; -now I can find only seven--and you say we haven't been robbed!" - -"No, Bertrand; it was I who took the money." - -"Oh! excuse me, lieutenant; if you have got it, that's different." - -"I don't say that I have it; I tell you that I had a use for it." - -"A thousand crowns in three days! you're doing well, lieutenant. I don't -quite see why we came up to the fifth floor, for you didn't spend any -more on the first." - -"I met an old friend, Bertrand,--he was in destitution." - -"We may very well be there, too, and it won't be long either, if we go -on at this rate. Excuse me, lieutenant, I know how generous you are, I -know your kind heart; but still you must remember that you haven't -twenty thousand francs a year any more; and when you can't have anything -but a piece of beef for dinner, it don't seem to me that it's the time -to give other people partridges." - -"Don't be angry, Bertrand; I am going to be prudent--yes, miserly." - -"Miserly! nonsense, lieutenant! you'll never have that fault! In fact, I -don't believe it would help us now." - -"I am not without prospects; I am promised a place in a government -office." - -"Really?" - -"With a salary of six thousand francs." - -"Impossible!" - -"Quite possible, on the contrary; but you see everything in dark -colors." - -"It is you who see everything in rose color, monsieur." - -"If that place should fail me, it is probable that I shall go into a -banking-house, as bookkeeper." - -"Did you ever keep books, monsieur?" - -"No; but what difference does that make? Do you suppose that one has to -study for a place like that, as one would study mechanics? With a neat -handwriting, familiarity with rates of exchange and mathematics, and a -little intelligence, you can fill any sort of clerkship. I know that -there are people who study two or three years to learn how to copy a -letter, and others who consider themselves Archimedeses, Newtons or -Galileos, because they pass their lives doing sums." - -"It seems to me, monsieur, that when a man has a place, he ought to -work." - -"Very well, I will work, Bertrand; that won't trouble me any. I have -done nothing, because I had nothing to do; but the moment I have -employment, you will see how ardently I will go at my work. Ah! I wish I -were there now!" - -"So do I, monsieur; in the first place, because you would be earning -money, and in the second place, because, when a man is busy, he does -fewer foolish things. Who is it who is going to get these places for -you?" - -"For the first one, a lovely woman, who has a cousin who's very intimate -with the minister's secretary. Oh! I tell you, Bertrand, these -women--they're the only ones to obtain things; and, say what you will, -their acquaintance isn't always a burden; when they take a person under -their protection, they go about it with such zeal, such ardor, that they -can't fail." - -"And the other place, lieutenant--is it a woman who is going to obtain -that for you, too?" - -"No, it's a young man, with whom I have dined quite often--an excellent -fellow, and most obliging. His uncle is partner in a bank; he has -promised to speak to him about me, and the first vacant place will be -given me." - -"That would come in very handily, monsieur." - -"But you must see that, in order to make yourself agreeable to those -whose support you require, there is always more or less money to be -spent: with the charming young woman, it's theatre parties and little -presents; with the young man, luncheons and dinners to be given him; for -it isn't fashionable to help people unless you believe them to be in -comfortable circumstances." - -"I understand: one must be ruined altogether before one has any -resources." - -"That is called sowing that you may reap." - -"You've been sowing a good long time, monsieur." - -"I tell you that within a fortnight I shall have employment." - -"When that day comes I'll go for a walk with Schtrack." - -"Give me some money, Bertrand." - -"Money, monsieur?" - -"Yes, Eugne is going to dine with me to-day; he's the young man whose -uncle is a banker. To-night I am going to call on the charmer whose -cousin is to say a good word for me. There will be cards, no doubt, and -if I have the look of being hard up and of being afraid to lose a few -francs, people won't condescend to look at me." - -"Ah, yes, I understand; you want money, so that you can sow." - -"Yes, my friend." - -After filling his purse, Auguste went to meet the friend with whom he -had an appointment, and whom he was to entertain at dinner, together -with several others who might possibly be useful to him. Dalville took -his guests to one of the very best restaurants; he would have felt -ashamed to dine at a place where they would have been as comfortable -and as well served at less expense, but which was not so highly -considered in fashionable society. During dinner they thought of nothing -but laughing and joking, and Auguste was very careful not to mention his -desire for employment; that would have seemed to indicate that he was in -straitened circumstances, which would produce an ill effect. Not until -the dessert, while they were drinking their champagne, did Eugne say to -Auguste: - -"Are you still wanting something to do?" - -"Why, yes; I am tired to death of idleness; I am sick of a life of -pleasure." - -"That's a good idea; work--it will be a little change for you, and it -helps to reform wayward youth. My uncle will think so. I'll speak to him -about you when I see him." - -Auguste dared not say that he would like to have him make a point of -seeing his uncle. The young men, having had an excellent dinner, left -Auguste, making all sorts of proffers of service, and renewing their -assurances of devotion; and he betook himself to the lovely woman who -had promised to assist him and who was to have mentioned him to her -cousin. - -Ladies are beyond question better advocates than men; it certainly is -easier for them to succeed, for they obtain with a smile what has been -denied again and again to obscure merit, to shamefaced poverty. This -fact does credit to our gallantry at least, if not to our justice, and -it is in human nature to submit to be seduced by beauty. - -Madame Valmont was greatly interested in Auguste, who accompanied her -excellently on the piano, and sang nocturnes in her salon with excellent -taste. She had kept her word by inviting her cousin that evening, in -order to introduce Auguste to him. The cousin was a man of fashion, who -was received in the best society; addicted to making promises freely and -forgetting on the morrow what he had promised the night before; but -desirous of playing the patron even when he did not patronize, and -deeming himself a mortal of superior mould before whom everyone should -bow. - -Having listened to Auguste's rendition of a nocturne, he informed his -cousin that he sang divinely and that he would be delighted to do -something for him. When he said this, the cousin expected very humble -acknowledgments from Auguste; but our friend was not the man to bend the -knee in order to obtain favors from anyone. The man who is conscious of -his own worth never stoops to humble himself before his fellowmen, and -to lavish obsequious flattery on those whose merit consists solely in -their rank and wealth--very slender merit indeed in the eyes of those -whose deserts are genuine, but very great in the eyes of the multitude, -who prostrate themselves before fine clothes, decorations and the -glitter of gold pieces, and would dance under a monkey's window if the -monkey would toss money to them. _Numerus stultorum est infinitus._ - -Auguste, who was not of the right temperament to dance for a monkey, did -not lavish compliments on the cousin with the air of beseeching his -patronage; and the cousin, who was accustomed to be lauded and fawned -upon by the poor devils who desired his countenance, was amazed that the -young gentleman who had been commended to his attention, did not fulfil -his devoirs by paying homage to him. So that he began to consider that -Dalville was not such a good singer after all; and to put the finishing -touch to his disgust, Auguste, who had bet on him when he took his seat -at the cart table, presumed to criticise his style of play and to try -to prove to him that he lost a game by his stupidity. The cousin was -exasperated, and he left his cousin's house, declaring that the young -man whom she had taken under her protection was incapable of filling the -most trivial office in the service of the government. - -"Well!" said Auguste to Madame Valmont, at the end of the evening, "when -may I call upon the minister's secretary?" - -"Really, I don't know what to say. My cousin did not seem very well -disposed when he went away. But what a strange man you are! Instead of -trying to make a favorable impression on him, you expressed an opinion -contrary to his several times, you said nothing agreeable to him, and -you annoyed him at the card table." - -"Oh, yes, madame, I understand: I am not worthy of an office because I -did not cringe and crawl, and because I presumed to demonstrate to that -gentleman that he did wrong to play his second queen." - -"I don't say that, my dear Auguste. However, it was a mere spasm of -ill-temper; I will see my cousin again and speak to him, and I still -have hopes." - -"No, madame, don't take any more trouble. I am touched by your interest -in me, but I would rather be unemployed than pose as the humble servant -of idiocy and self-conceit." - -Auguste went home, raging against the vanity, arrogance and pettiness of -mankind. Bertrand, who was impatiently awaiting his return, called out -as soon as he appeared: - -"Well! what about that government office, monsieur?" - -"My friend," said Auguste, squeezing Bertrand's hand, "we will eat black -bread, we will drink water, but I will not be the lackey of men whom I -despise; I will not burn incense to insolent pride and stupidity! I -will not debase myself before my fellowmen!" - -"No, ten thousand squadrons! You mustn't do that, lieutenant. I see the -place has gone to the devil, eh?" - -"I must needs do homage to a fellow who assumed the most patronizing -airs; agree with everything he said, even when it lacked common sense; -and even say that he played well when, by his own stupid play, he caused -me to lose thirty francs that I had bet!" - -"Thirty francs at one crack! That was rather a big stake, lieutenant." - -"What would you have? I was determined to test my luck." - -"But black bread and water make a wretched meal." - -"I still have some hope. Eugne is going to speak to his uncle, and -perhaps I shall have better luck in that direction." - -Several weeks passed, and Auguste finally met his friend, who said to -him: - -"I have spoken to my uncle; you can go to see him--I believe that he has -a vacant place." - -The next morning Auguste called upon the gentleman referred to. He -entered the office and in due time reached the sanctum of Eugene's -uncle, who was seated at his desk writing, and, without looking up, -motioned to Auguste to wait. - -Auguste, receiving no invitation to be seated, began by taking a chair -and stretched out his legs, already looking with disfavor upon the -gentleman who was not courteous enough to offer him a seat. - -Five minutes passed and still the banker wrote on. Auguste, losing -patience, said at last: - -"Monsieur, I came here to apply for employment; Eugne must have told -you----" - -"One moment--I will be at your service directly, monsieur; I am very -busy." - -Five minutes more passed, and Auguste said to himself: - -"The devil! I chose my time very badly. Is the man going to write like -this for an hour? His business must be very important!" - -But, after five minutes more, another person entered the office and went -up to the gentleman who was writing. - -"Good-morning, my dear fellow," he said. "Ah! you are engaged? Very -well! I'll come again." - -The gentleman at once laid aside his pen, rose, and detained the new -arrival, saying: - -"Why, is it you, my friend? Don't go, deuce take it! No one ever sees -you now! I dined yesterday with someone who talked to me about you. -Well, have you sold that cargo of Martinique coffee, the price of which -I predicted would fall?" - -The newcomer was about to reply when Auguste, rising, walked between him -and the banker, and having put on his hat, said to the latter: - -"Monsieur, you have kept me waiting for half an hour, unable to give me -a minute, and you have the impertinence to enter into conversation in my -presence with this gentleman who has just arrived! I have only this much -to say to you--that you're a knave and a rascal! If you can find time to -answer that, here's my address, and I shall expect to hear from you." - -With that Auguste stalked from the room, leaving the _busy_ gentleman -utterly bewildered by the compliment paid to him, and unable to find a -word to say in reply. - -Again Bertrand was awaiting his master's return; but when Auguste -appeared, the other divined the result of his quest. The young man's -eyes shone with anger. - -"Black bread and water, eh, monsieur?" asked Bertrand. - -"Yes, my friend, yes. Ah! these men! Upon my word, I have good grounds -for becoming a misanthrope. I have never known the world so well as -since I lost my money. Parvenus who think that they may presume to go -any length because they are millionaires! Men of intellect who think of -nobody but themselves, and who, provided that they are coddled and -amused, show the most absolute indifference to everything else! People -with the most polished manners who cheat you out of your money! -Conceited asses who want to be flattered, fools who flatter them, -parasites who suck your blood, swindlers who ruin you, and men who turn -their backs on you when you're unlucky! Those are what I see now. And -they are just what have always been seen, so 'tis said. Men are the same -everywhere; they were no different before the Flood, and the study of -history is simply the study of the passions which have ruled the actions -of the human race for ages." - -"In all this, my lieutenant, you forget the women, who----" - -"Ah! let us say no ill of them, my friend, they are a hundred times -better than we. Do we not find enjoyment even with those whom we -deceive? That is one pleasant memory, at all events, of which misfortune -cannot deprive us." - -"That reminds me, monsieur, that Mademoiselle Virginie came to see you -to-day." - -"Poor Virginie! she doesn't know as yet of the change in my fortunes. -Well! what did she say, Bertrand?" - -"She said, first of all, that it wouldn't be well for an asthmatic -subject to come up so high; then she asked me whether you had come up so -many flights so that you could go down in a parachute; but when I told -her how you had been swindled, why, I must do her the justice to say -that she seemed deeply moved; she shed some tears and asked me for a -glass of kirsch to pull her together. She's coming to breakfast with you -some morning." - -"I shall be very glad to see her; she, at all events, won't avoid me -when she meets me." - -"And those good people at Montfermeil--pretty Denise--do you think, -monsieur, that they wouldn't be glad to see you again?" - -"I am afraid that the cold welcome I gave Denise when she came to -Paris----" - -"She won't remember, monsieur, when she finds out that you're -unfortunate. And that child you're so fond of--that you think is such a -fine little fellow--why not go to see him?" - -"Why? You seem to forget, Bertrand, that I can no longer do anything for -him! I promised to educate him, to take charge of his future--and all my -plans are destroyed!" - -"But I should say, monsieur, that you have already done a great deal for -the little fellow; instead of coming to Paris, he will remain in the -village, and he won't be any worse off for that." - -Auguste could not make up his mind to appear in the guise of a ruined -man to the good people who had seen him scattering gold in profusion; a -false shame deterred him from going again to the village, and he who had -just been declaiming against the passions of men showed that he was not -himself exempt from pride and vanity. - -Auguste left Bertrand and went out in search of distraction and to -dispel the black mood to which his reflections gave birth. Bertrand, -left alone, reflected that all hopes of employment had vanished, and -said to himself: - -"What are we going to do when we haven't anything left, which won't be -long? Shall I let him live on black bread and water? Sacrebleu! no, that -shall never be! I am not capable of filling a clerk's place--besides, he -wouldn't want me to leave him--but can't I work without his suspecting -it?" - -Bertrand thought a few moments, scratched his head, then exclaimed -joyfully: "Why the devil didn't I think of it sooner?" Then he went -slowly downstairs and hunted up his friend Schtrack. - -"You make breeches, old fellow, don't you?" said Bertrand to the -concierge; "in fact, you're a tailor----" - -"Ja." - -"Do you always have plenty of work?" - -"Ja, I haf more than I can do." - -"That's because you don't often work. Are you willing to give me some?" - -"Preeches?" - -"Whatever you choose, so long as I have work to do. I shall make a mess -of it at first, but you can show me and I'll do better soon. You see, -I'm anxious to work, I'm no more of a fool than you are, and it seems to -me that I can do whatever you do. So you'll give me some work, will -you?" - -"Sacreti! Monsieur Pertrand, do you mean it?" - -"Why, yes; I want to do something; I am tired of sitting all day with my -arms folded; so I'll fold my legs, that will be a change. Is it agreed?" - -"Ja, Monsieur Pertrand." - -"That's good; but not a word of this before my master, or I'll begin my -apprenticeship by sewing up your tongue." - -"I won't say ein wort." - -That same evening, as soon as Dalville had gone out, Bertrand went down -to the concierge's quarters, and, seating himself in a small room behind -the lodge, went to work with great zeal. At first the ex-corporal had -much ado to use a needle, and he frequently thrust it into his finger; -but when Schtrack said: "You've hurt yourself, mein friend!" Bertrand -rejoined: "Don't you suppose a bayonet hurt more than that?" - -Bertrand passed a large part of the day at work and sometimes he worked -very late. By dint of application, he began to make himself useful; he -earned very little, but he hoped to become more skilful in time. - -Auguste had no suspicion of anything; he was rarely at home and never -inquired what Bertrand was doing. But, when he looked at his faithful -companion, he noticed that his eyes were very red and that he had a -tired look. - -"You're not sick, are you, my friend?" he asked. - -"I, monsieur--I was never so well." - -"You have a tired look, and your eyes seem weak." - -"Oh! that's because I read a great deal at night." - -"I didn't know that you were so fond of reading." - -"That depends on the book, monsieur; I'm reading the life of the great -Turenne." - -"You must know it by heart." - -"I never get tired of it, monsieur." - -Auguste asked no more questions. Some time after, one night when he -could not sleep because, with all his philosophy, his reflections were -beginning to be less cheerful, Auguste got out of bed and determined to -try reading himself. He went to Bertrand's room to get a light, and was -amazed to find that his companion was absent. Bertrand's bed was not -disturbed, so that he had not retired; and yet it was late when Auguste -came home, and Bertrand was apparently waiting for him to come in -before going to bed. - -That midnight absence disturbed Auguste. He had no idea that his -faithful follower would go about to wine-shops with Schtrack, in their -present condition, and as he wished to find out at what time Bertrand -left the house, he went downstairs, having decided to rouse Schtrack if -necessary; he was determined to learn what had become of Bertrand. - -It was three o'clock in the morning and everybody in the house was -asleep, but Auguste saw a light in the concierge's lodge; the door was -ajar and the light came from the room at the rear. Auguste went in and -discovered Bertrand seated on a table beside the sleeping Schtrack, -working resolutely on a piece of cloth in which his tired eyes could -hardly follow the threads which were his guide. - -At sight of his master, Bertrand stopped, crestfallen. Auguste was so -moved that he stood for some moments unable to speak. At last he cried: - -"What! you, working, Bertrand? Have you turned tailor?" - -"Why not, monsieur? I handled a musket a long while, and now I am -handling a needle; they say that an honest man honors whatever he -touches." - -"And you pass your nights working! you are ruining your eyesight in -order to work a little more!" - -"This is a mere chance, monsieur; there was a piece of work to be done -in a hurry to-night, and I thought--But it's the first time, I swear!" - -"Oh! don't try to deceive me any more! It's for me that you sit up all -night and deprive yourself of rest. It's to spin out our funds a little -longer that you are ruining your health. And I--I pass my days in -idleness; I squander in an hour or two what you work like a dog as many -nights to earn." - -"No, monsieur, no, I work because I like it, because it amuses me; and -if I should try to be less of a burden to you, would there be any harm -in that? Haven't you been doing everything for me for a long time? and -do you propose to forbid your old comrade to do something for you?" - -Auguste could not reply, but he opened his arms to Bertrand and pressed -him to his heart; then he forced his faithful servant to go upstairs -with him and go to bed. - -The next day, at daybreak, Auguste sent for an upholsterer. - -"What idea have you got in your head now, monsieur?" queried Bertrand. - -"I mean to sell our furniture, turn everything we own into cash, and -then leave Paris and seek in some other land a means of turning to -account such talents as I have. You will go with me, won't you, -Bertrand?" - -"Anywhere, monsieur, anywhere you choose. But why this sudden decision? -Couldn't you do it without leaving Paris?" - -"No, my friend; in this city, where I have lived the life of a man of -wealth, it would be hard for me, I know, to turn my trifling talents to -account. Forgive this last exhibition of weakness." - -"Before we resort to this step, is there no longer any hope of your -finding employment?" - -"Hope is the very thing that is using up what little means I have left. -Besides, here in Paris I am not able to resist my taste for dissipation. -Perhaps I shall be wiser in some other country. So we must make our -preparations to start. If this experiment isn't successful at all events -it's proper to make it." - -"But, lieutenant----" - -"No objections, Bertrand. Your conduct suggested mine, and my mind is -made up. We leave Paris to-morrow." - -Bertrand saw that it was indeed useless for him to try to combat his -master's plan; he realized too that it was the only course that remained -for them to take, for he could not long support his master with the -twenty sous that he earned by tailoring. So that he set about making -preparations for departure. - -Auguste, who liked to carry out his plans promptly when he had -determined upon them, effected a sale of his furniture during the day, -and the proceeds, added to what cash he had left, made about six -thousand francs. - -"I should like to know," he said to Bertrand, "if, with this amount of -money, we can't go to the ends of the world in search of fortune?" - -"It is certain, lieutenant, that there are a great many people who began -with much less." - -When everything was ready, Auguste, who proposed to go first to Italy, -engaged seats in the Lyon diligence. Bertrand went to say good-bye to -Schtrack. - -"Farewell, old fellow," he said; "we're going round the world; if I come -back, I'll have another drink with you." - -"Sacreti! Good-bye, Monsieur Pertrand." - - - - -XX - -POOR DENISE - - -Auguste and Bertrand had been gone several hours, and Schtrack was -standing in the doorway trying to catch another glimpse of them, when a -young village maiden, carrying a large bag of money in one hand, rushed -into the courtyard and asked for Monsieur Dalville. - -"Monsieur Dalville?" repeated Schtrack, taking his pipe from his mouth; -"he isn't here any more, mamzelle." - -"Not here! What do you mean, monsieur? This is certainly where he lived. -I came here once before. You remember the time, don't you--when you -wouldn't let me go upstairs?" - -"Ah, ja! You had a little poy mit you then." - -"Yes, monsieur. But where does Monsieur Dalville live now? Do you know, -monsieur? It is absolutely necessary that I should see him and speak to -him! Oh! if I only could have got this money sooner--what I owe him! But -tell me, monsieur,--must I go somewhere else?" - -"My little mamzelle, I don't think you will find Monsieur Dalville very -easy." - -"Why not, monsieur? I am ready to go anywhere--no matter where." - -"I tell you it's too late. How do you expect to find the address of a -man who's going round the world?" - -"What's that?--Monsieur Auguste----" - -"He started off this very day mit my friend Pertrand." - -"Gone!" - -"Ach ja! He got ruined here, so he's going to try to make a fortune -somewhere else." - -"He has gone away! You don't know where he is?" - -"Yes, I do--don't I tell you he's gone round the world?" - -"Oh! how unlucky! I have come too late!" - -With that Denise lost consciousness and fell; but Schtrack caught her in -his arms, and after laying his pipe on the post, carried her into the -house. He took her into his lodge. When she swooned, the girl dropped -the bag that she carried; it burst, and the five-franc pieces rolled -about the courtyard. Schtrack, sorely embarrassed because he happened to -be alone for the moment, ran from Denise to the money and from the money -to his pipe, crying: - -"Sacreti! this girl has to go and faint just when my wife ain't in! -Well, well! my pipe's gone out, and the money's rolling all about! -Sacreti!" - -Luckily for the old German and for Denise, another lady entered the -house at this juncture. It was Mademoiselle Virginie, who had come to -invite herself to breakfast with Auguste, and who, when she saw the -five-franc pieces scattered about the courtyard, exclaimed in surprise: - -"Mon Dieu! what magnificence! They throw money out o'window here! I seem -to have come just in time." - -"Don't touch! don't touch!" cried Schtrack from his lodge; "it belongs -to this girl who won't open her eyes." - -"Well, old Dutchman, am I touching your money? What an uncivil old -villain it is! What do you take me for, Monsieur Helvetian?--What girl -can he be talking about?" - -And as she spoke, Virginie walked toward the lodge, and she uttered a -cry of surprise when she saw the young girl from Montfermeil, whom -Schtrack was drenching with vinegar. - -"It's Denise! it's my poor Denise!" she said, pushing Schtrack aside and -taking charge of the young woman. - -"Poor Denise! She ain't so poor, for I tell you that bag of crowns is -hers," said Schtrack, returning to the courtyard to recover his pipe and -pick up the money. - -Virginie's efforts were soon successful in restoring Denise to -consciousness. When she opened her eyes they rested on Virginie, and she -exclaimed, sobbing bitterly: - -"Oh! he has gone away, madame!" - -"Who, pray, my dear love?" - -"Monsieur Auguste." - -"Auguste gone away! nonsense! he'll come back, of course, won't he?" - -"Oh, no, madame! I shall never see him again. He's gone a long way." - -"I say, Dutchman, is it true that Auguste has left Paris?" - -"Ja! ja! he's gone round the world with Pertrand." - -"Round the world! Great God! And I came to ask him to invite me to -breakfast! Come, my little Denise, don't cry like that!--Poor child! she -makes me feel sad.--So you loved Auguste, did you, my dear child?" - -"Oh, yes, madame!" - -"There! I knew it! she loved him! I suspected as much.--And he swore -that he loved you too, of course; for these villains of men, they swear -to that as if they were just saying good-morning." - -"No, madame, Auguste didn't love me, I'm very sure of that!" - -"Then it's very kind of you to weep for him." - -"Oh! I can't help it." - -"I know well enough that love is stronger than we are. I know all about -that! I have been through it. There are men that one can't help -persisting in loving.--And you came to Paris to see him?" - -"Yes, madame, and to give him this money. When you came to see me three -weeks ago, you told us that Monsieur Auguste was ruined. I didn't know -anything about it before." - -"Yes, yes, I remember; and I played ghost; and if it hadn't been for -your dog nipping the calf of my leg, I'd have had the whole village in -the air." - -"Last summer Monsieur Auguste gave me a thousand crowns for little Coco; -but he was rich then; to-day, as he isn't rich any more, it seemed to me -that I ought to give back that money. We had used it for building a -cottage and laying out a garden; but I made my aunt understand that we -mustn't tell Monsieur Auguste that we had used the money at all. My -aunt's kindhearted too. Besides, it was no more than our duty. As I -succeeded in getting the last of the money yesterday, I started to bring -it to him right away. I came alone so as not to be delayed, and after -all I got here too late! He has gone, and he isn't coming back again!" - -Denise began to cry again, while Schtrack returned with the money and -handed it to her, saying: - -"There ain't a single one missing; count 'em, mamzelle." - -"Alas! what shall I do with it now? This money was for him," said -Denise. - -"You had better take it home again, my child; a person can never have -too much of it," Virginie replied, while Schtrack, still holding the -bag, repeated: - -"Count 'em, mamzelle, if you blease." - -"Don't you see that she don't want to count it, you pig-headed old -fool?" said Virginie. "We all know that the Dutchman is honest." - -"Never mind, count just the same, mamzelle, if you blease." - -Virginie decided to count the money, because Schtrack would not -otherwise have left them in peace. Meanwhile Denise said to the -concierge: - -"Did Monsieur Auguste look very sad when he went away, monsieur?" - -"Sad? no, mamzelle, he was fery glad to go, judging from what he said." - -"I'll bet he's gone to pick up a legacy," said Virginie, "and that's why -he went off so sudden. Didn't he tell you so, Dutchman?" - -"No, he haf not said anything of a legacy, but he sold[F] all his -furniture." - -[F] Schtrack is supposed to pronounce the word _vendu_--sold--like -_fendu_--split or broken;--hence the misunderstanding. - -"What's that? He smashed all his furniture? Had he gone mad, then?" - -"I tell you he sold everything, to get money." - -"Oh! sold his furniture! Why don't you say what you mean--with your -Zurich French!" - -"You see how badly off he must have been," said Denise, "to sell -everything he had!" - -"That don't prove anything, my dear girl; in the first place, as he was -leaving Paris, he didn't need any furniture; and then there are people -who prefer to live in furnished lodgings. For my part, I've sold my -furniture four or five times, and yet I stay in Paris; you see that -every day.--But after all, in which direction has the fellow gone? -Didn't he tell you, monsieur le concierge?" - -"Yes; he's gone round the world." - -"The deuce! that's a definite address! Think of writing: 'To Monsieur -So-and-So, going round the world!'--And he's taken Bertrand with him, -has he?" - -"Yes, I'm fery sorry for it, because Pertrand was just beginning to work -fery gut." - -"Bertrand, work? at what, pray?" - -"At making preeches, bantaloons; it was me who taught him." - -"My dear man, I think you must be dreaming now. Bertrand, the old -soldier, Auguste's faithful servant, make breeches?" - -"Like a horse." - -"You're crazy!" - -"No, no, I ain't; Pertrand, he did work. He passed every night working, -and my wife told me he did it to help his master, who was throwing away -all his money." - -Virginie was speechless, but Denise exclaimed: - -"I understand only too well. Dear old Bertrand! I knew he was a fine -fellow! He worked to help Auguste, who didn't know anything about it, -probably." - -"Oh, no! he was going to sew up my tongue if I said a word." - -"Well, madame, if Monsieur Auguste hadn't been without means, would -Bertrand have worked at tailoring--worked all night?" - -"Faith, my dear girl, I don't understand it at all. The last time I saw -Auguste he treated me to punch, and yet he must have moved up to the -fifth floor even then. To be sure, he had such a kind heart, he was so -generous!--Well, well! there she is crying again! My dear Denise, you'll -make your eyes as red as a rabbit's; and that won't bring Auguste back. -Poor child! how she loves him! Those ne'er-do-wells must have some kind -of magic power, to inspire such passions. Don't get excited, -Denise--he'll come back, he hasn't gone away forever. You'll see him -again, I'm sure of it; and when he knows how much you love him, I -propose that he shall love you and cherish you; I'll tell him what grief -and torture he has caused you; I'll tell him how good, how gentle and -sweet you are. Come, don't cry any more. Kiss me, Denise; Auguste will -love you, for you well deserve it." - -Virginie was deeply moved; Denise's suffering had melted her; for the -first time in a very long while, genuine tears fell from her eyes as she -threw her arms about the village girl. - -Nothing pacifies the wretched so quickly as to find that someone else -shares their distress. Denise listened to Virginie's entreaties; she -exerted herself to summon her courage; she wiped her eyes, rose, and -said with a long-drawn sigh: - -"I'll go back to the village then." - -"Yes, my dear girl, that's the wisest thing you can do." - -"But suppose he should come back, madame?" - -"Well, I'll let you know, I'll come and tell you; I promise to do my -utmost to learn something about him." - -"Ah! how good you are, madame!" - -"Why, no--the trouble is that you're a slip of a girl who ought to be -kept under glass." - -"Monsieur le concierge," said Denise, "if you hear anything about -Monsieur Auguste, don't forget to ask where he is, and find out where a -person can write to him." - -"Ja, mamzelle." - -"Don't you be afraid, little Denise: I'll come often and ask Dutchy if -he knows anything. He's a good fellow, though he does smoke all the -time, is Monsieur--What's your name?" - -"Schtrack." - -"Schtrack! Oh! what a name! Schtrack! I believe that that means -blackguardism in German. Never mind--au revoir, Monsieur Schtrack. Come, -my love, I'll walk to the diligence office with you." - -Denise left Auguste's late abode, and, with her arm through Virginie's, -returned to the diligence office, carrying the bag of money which she -had no choice but to take back to the village. Virginie offered to take -the trip with her, but the girl declined her offer with thanks, and, -after urging her to try to find out something concerning the man whom -she had hoped to find in Paris, she entered the stage and rode sadly -back to Montfermeil, saying to herself: - -"Alas! I am not lucky in my trips to Paris." - - - -XXI - -THE TRAVELLERS' FIRST ADVENTURE - - -Auguste and Bertrand had taken the Lyon diligence. The young man was -inside, and his companion on the box,--in order to enjoy the fresh air, -so he told Auguste, but in reality as an economical measure. - -It was the first time that Auguste had ever found himself in a public -conveyance; accustomed as he was to drive in a light cabriolet, drawn by -spirited horses, and to follow naught save his own desires and stop -whereever he chose, it was not without a feeling of disgust that he -found himself compelled to travel with people whom he did not know, to -be pushed by this one, elbowed by that one, and forced to listen to -conversations which had no interest for him. - -At his left was a stout party of some fifty years, with a cotton cap on -his head, surmounted by a red handkerchief, and over it all a -helmet-shaped cap trimmed with fur, with vizors before and behind. At -his right was an old woman, whose face luckily was concealed beneath a -shabby black satin bonnet, over which was thrown a green veil that no -one was tempted to raise. - -The vehicle had barely started when the man on Auguste's left began to -perform like neighbor Mauflard, and the lady on the right followed his -example. But in his sleep the stout gentleman dug his elbow into -Auguste's ribs, and the old lady dropped her head on his shoulder. -Finding his hands full with repelling the elbow of the one and avoiding -the other's head, he said to himself: "It's great fun to travel by -diligence! Oh! my pretty cabriolet, which Bbelle drew so swiftly -through the dust, where art thou? Alas! if I had been more prudent, I -should still possess thee; for if I had not begun to anticipate my -income, I should not have encroached on my capital; if I had not done -that, I should not have dreamed of disturbing my funds, which were -safely invested; and I should have found that twenty thousand francs -absolutely assured was better than thirty thousand due solely to -speculation.--Pray remove your head, madame, if you please.--In that -case, I shouldn't have put my property in the hands of that knave of a -Destival, who consequently would not have run away with it; and then I -should still be as rich as ever. I should have been able to do good with -my money; and I would have gone to Montfermeil again and kept my promise -to that pretty boy; I would not have made love to Denise, as she loves -some man in the village who is probably married to her before now; but -I would have seen her married, and would have reminded her in jest of -that fall from her donkey in the woods; perhaps--Oh! for heaven's sake, -monsieur, keep your arms still--you are breaking my ribs!" - -Auguste's opposite neighbors were two gentlemen and a lady. The latter, -who sat between the two men, was directly opposite Auguste; but as she -wore a very large hood, and as she kept her head lowered, he could not -see her face. - -"Probably she isn't pretty," said our traveller to himself, "or she -would have raised her head before this." - -The lady's dress was very simple--a travelling costume. The two men -beside her were travelling salesmen, one in wines, the other in linens; -they had begun a conversation which seemed likely not to end before they -reached Lyon. - -Auguste was dazed by their constant chattering about casks, _veltes_, -_jouys_, Rouen silks, good years and failures; and, disgusted by the -proximity of the sleepers, he was regretting that he was not with -Bertrand, and longing for the first halt, when the lady in the hood -moved her foot and touched Auguste's. A "pardon, monsieur" was instantly -pronounced in a very pleasant voice. This incident roused Auguste from -his despondency, inspiring the wish to see the face of his vis--vis; -and as his legs were in close proximity to hers, he moved them slightly -and said a few words as to the lack of space in diligences;--an excuse -for beginning a conversation. The lady replied with a "Yes, monsieur," -but did not raise her head; whereupon our young man's curiosity became -all the keener. She did not seem disposed to talk, but she did move her -knees, which touched those of her vis--vis. Auguste was conscious of a -desire to press one of those knees between his own, but was deterred by -this thought: "Suppose she should prove to be ugly! How I should regret -having made her acquaintance!" - -Notwithstanding, the young man ventured to press one knee gently; she -did not withdraw it, but she did not raise her head; and Auguste, -secretly enjoying the knee-play, said to himself: "Perhaps it's as well -that I can't see her features, for I can at all events imagine that she -is charming, adorable. With that idea in my mind, the mere rustling of -her dress causes me a pleasant sensation, and it helps me to forget the -tedium of the journey. Ah! madame, if you are ugly, do not look up, I -pray, for you would thereby put an end to a too delicious illusion." - -As they descended a hill, a violent jolt nearly overturned the -diligence. The stout man and the old lady woke with a jump. At the same -moment the hooded lady uttered a shriek of alarm and raised her head. -Auguste saw a pretty face of twenty to twenty-five years, fresh and -blooming, regular features, expressive eyes--in short, a charming -ensemble which delighted him and caused him to press more tenderly the -knee that was between his. - -But she had already dropped her head again. The scare was at an end, the -commercial travellers resumed their conversation, Auguste's neighbors -closed their eyes once more, and he, enraptured by what he had seen, -moved constantly nearer to his vis--vis, who allowed him to place his -feet on hers. - -"She is lovely," thought Auguste, "but her actions are very strange. If -she allows me to press her knees like this, it must be that she likes -it, or that she doesn't dare to take offence. In the first case, she is -a woman who is not inclined to avoid adventures; in the second case, she -is an innocent young thing, who has never travelled by diligence -before. I will satisfy myself that the second conjecture is the true -one; we should always look at the best side." - -The diligence stopped at Corbeil. The two salesmen hastily left the -vehicle; the stout man extricated himself from his corner with -difficulty; the old woman of the green veil dropped into the arms of the -man who held the door open, and Auguste, having alighted, offered his -hand to the young lady in the hood. But she replied with a faint sigh: - -"Thanks, monsieur, I am not going to get out." - -"She isn't going to get out!" repeated Auguste to himself, as he stood -by the door. "Poor thing! she isn't coming to the inn to dine, which -ordinarily indicates obligatory economy." - -"Coming to dinner, lieutenant?" inquired Bertrand, who had climbed down -from his seat on the box, and was awaiting Auguste at the inn door. - -"Yes, yes, here I am." - -"Have you left anything in the diligence?" - -"No, but I would have liked----" - -"Do you hear that? they say that the passengers must hurry." - -Bertrand came forward to see what was keeping his master by the -diligence; he spied the young lady and muttered: - -"Morbleu! another! I might have known that there was a petticoat at the -bottom of it! Remember, lieutenant--we left Paris in order to be good, -to reform." - -"You are right, my friend," said Auguste; and he turned regretfully away -from the vehicle and followed Bertrand to the inn. - -The travellers' dinner was soon at an end; urged on by the driver, they -all returned to their places, the old lady carrying her dessert. -Auguste gazed with renewed interest at the young woman, who probably had -dined on a modest loaf, and he placed his knees against hers once more -with greater respect than before, because the idea of misfortunes puts -thoughts of pleasure to silence. - -The old woman requested Auguste to break some nuts which she had brought -from the table, the stout man offered him snuff, the commercial -travellers entered into conversation with him, everyone trying to become -better acquainted with his fellow-passengers. The little lady in the -hood alone held her peace. But darkness began to fall. Auguste longed -for it; his neighbors dozed, the salesmen did likewise, and he moved his -knees forward, trying by that means to establish an understanding with -his vis--vis, and saying to himself: - -"If she is unfortunate, I must try to comfort her. Moreover, I squeezed -her knees this morning, and should I act as if I thought her less -attractive just because she hasn't the means to dine at inns? That would -be worthy of Monsieur de la Thomassinire." - -As he did not wish to give his vis--vis such an opinion of him, the -young man tenderly pressed the limb which she abandoned to him, and -ventured to take a hand, which she did not withdraw. Night does not -always bring gloomy thoughts, and Auguste looked forward to obtaining a -kiss from the little lady, who seemed of so yielding a humor. But his -two neighbors embarrassed him; at the slightest motion on his part -toward leaning forward, the old lady and the stout man fell across his -back, and he could not return to his place until he had thrust them back -into their corners. The two salesmen, too, in their slumber, leaned -against the young woman who separated them, and their heads frequently -came in contact with her hood. - -"Riding in a diligence is not all pleasure," said Auguste in an -undertone. - -"Oh, no! it isn't all pleasure, monsieur," replied the young woman. - -But, in order to enjoy greater pleasure, the young man leaned forward -again and bestowed a loving kiss on one of the salesmen, whose face was -at that moment in front of the hood. The salesman woke, trying to guess -the source of that mark of affection, and Auguste was amazed to find -that the young woman's chin was less soft than her hand. - -The salesman could see nobody save his neighbor who was likely to have -kissed him while he slept; and although he was unaccustomed to inspire -passions, he was convinced that he had kindled a flame in the heart of -the young woman by his side. As he did not choose to be behindhand with -her, the young man, who had hitherto had no thought for anything but his -samples, and the duties imposed on his wares, began to think of -something different, and to play with his hands on the young woman's -knees. She made no resistance, while the two men, who seemed to be -playing the _pied de boeuf_, seized each other's hand and pressed it -with a vigor which surprised them both. - -The first rays of dawn surprised the travellers in this situation. -Auguste laughed heartily, the salesman testily withdrew his hand and the -young woman her knee; but she glanced furtively at Auguste, and he -promised himself compensation for the blunders of the night. - -In the morning they arrived at Auxerre; again the young woman remained -in the diligence. Toward evening they halted at Avallon, where they were -to dine. The young woman alighted, but she did not enter the inn; having -purchased a loaf of bread and some other things, she sat down a short -distance from the inn. Auguste, who had followed her with his eyes, -allowed Bertrand to go in alone, saying that he was not hungry as yet, -and joined his fair fellow-traveller, with whom he entered into -conversation. - -"Are you leaving Paris, madame?" - -"Yes, monsieur"--with a sigh. - -"Have you lived there long?" - -"I was born there, monsieur." - -"And you are turning your back on your native place?" - -"I have no choice, monsieur"--with another sigh. - -"Are you going to live in Lyon, madame?" - -"I don't know, monsieur." - -"Ah! you have no settled plan?" - -"I am so unfortunate, monsieur!" - -"You arouse my profound interest, madame; but we can talk more -comfortably elsewhere than on this road. If you will take my arm, -madame, we might take a walk about the place until it is time to start." - -"With pleasure, monsieur." - -The lady took Auguste's arm, and they walked away from the inn, talking. - -"If I were not afraid of being too inquisitive, madame, I would ask what -makes you leave Paris." - -"Oh! I am very willing to tell you, monsieur. I am the child of -respectable tradespeople; they married me when very young to a man whom -I did not love; but I felt bound to obey, in order to gratify my -parents." - -"That was very good of you, madame." - -"There was a very agreeable gentleman who had courted me before I was -married; I didn't love him either, but I listened to him to gratify -him." - -"I understand, madame." - -"My husband didn't make me happy; he was never willing that I should go -out, and I stayed at home because that gratified him. But sometimes I -had visitors, among others the gentleman who used to court me." - -"And that didn't gratify your husband?" - -"Apparently not, monsieur; for not long ago, happening to find him with -me, he turned me out of doors. I undertook to be angry, and he beat me, -monsieur; and said he'd do it again whenever he chose." - -"He is a man who has a most brutal way of procuring himself pleasure." - -"As I didn't care to be beaten again, I left my husband, and started for -Lyon, having barely enough to pay for my passage." - -"I suppose then, madame, that you have friends in Lyon?" - -"Oh! it was that gentleman who used to come to see me--he said that he -was going there. However, I am no more anxious to go to Lyon than -anywhere else. I wanted to get away from my husband, who made me so -unhappy." - -Meanwhile the fellow-travellers had reached a small restaurant. Auguste, -remembering that his companion had not dined, proposed that they should -go in and regale themselves, and she assented--to gratify him. - -They entered the restaurant. Auguste asked for a private room, because -one does not need witnesses to console a young wife whose husband has -beaten her. He ordered as toothsome a repast as the place could afford, -because he forgot as usual that he was no longer rich, and readily fell -into his former habits. The Avallon restaurateur was put to his mettle -to provide a dainty refection for the strangers who had honored his -establishment. The dinner was served; Auguste urged the young woman to -partake, and she, although she said that she complied only to gratify -him, ate everything and did not need to be urged to drink freely of a -native wine which the host declared to be of the vintage of the year of -the comet. - -Dining together, they became more and more friendly. At first Auguste -seated himself opposite the young lady; but he reflected that they were -much nearer than that in the diligence, and that it was, to say the -least, unusual for two persons to keep at a respectful distance, -tte--tte in a private dining-room, when they have pressed each -other's knees before witnesses. So he took his seat beside the young -lady, who sighed from time to time, but did not repulse the young man, -who seemed most anxious to console her. He tenderly squeezed a very soft -hand, expressing great surprise that a husband could be so brutal as to -hurt such a charming woman. - -"Men are cruel," said the young woman, who continued to keep her eyes on -the floor. - -"They are tyrants," rejoined Auguste, pressing her plump hand to his -lips. - -"They cause all our misery!" added the young woman, as she allowed her -companion to kiss her. - -"Ah! they cause something very different!" cried Auguste, throwing his -arms about her. - -"They do! they do!" whispered the young woman, apparently no longer -conscious what they do or what she did; but after several meagre -repasts, it was no wonder that the wine of the comet year caused her to -lose her head. - -On recovering his wits, Auguste said: - -"By the way--the diligence?" - -"Oh! that's so--the diligence!" echoed the young woman, heaving a sigh, -presumably from habit. - -"I am inclined to think, my dear love, that it is high time to return to -it." - -"Very well! let us return, my friend." - -As you see, the wine of the comet had established most friendly -relations between the travellers. But as a general rule, affairs that -are negotiated in diligences are speedily consummated. - -Auguste summoned the keeper of the restaurant and paid for the dinner. -The young lady replaced her hood, which was no longer on her head, I -know not why. Then they left the private room and walked back, -arm-in-arm, toward the inn where they had left the diligence. - -As they walked Auguste talked with his companion, who seemed to him to -have a very sweet disposition, but whose wit did not respond to the idea -suggested by her decidedly expressive countenance. There are women whose -wit is all in their eyes, and with them one must content oneself with -pantomime. - -As they approached the inn Auguste espied Bertrand, striding back and -forth in front of the establishment, looking to right and left with -gestures of impatience, and swearing energetically from time to time. -When he caught sight of Auguste, he ran to meet him and made a horrible -wry face at the young woman who was hanging on his master's arm. - -"Here you are at last, monsieur! Sacrebleu! I thought that you'd left me -here to chase the swallows!" - -"Don't get excited, Bertrand, I am here. I am not lost, you see. Well, -when do we start?" - -"Start! start for where, monsieur?" - -"Why, for Lyon, of course!" - -"And is that why you let the diligence go--that you made me wait and -call you and look everywhere for you?" - -"What's that? the diligence has gone?" - -"Morbleu, yes! more than an hour ago; but the time evidently didn't seem -long to you!" - -"The diligence has gone!" repeated Auguste, dropping his companion's -arm; but she, evidently setting great store by its support, instantly -took it again, saying: - -"That's very amusing! isn't it, my dear friend?" - -"It no longer seems so amusing to me," said Auguste; while Bertrand -walked away, and muttered with an oath, stamping the ground: - -"Her dear friend! Ten thousand bayonets! this is a very pretty mess!" - -"But couldn't they have waited a little while for us, Bertrand?" asked -Auguste. - -"They waited two minutes, monsieur, and that's a long time for a -diligence." - -"And you didn't go?" - -"Do you suppose that I would go without you? Ain't I attached to you, -and to nobody else? What's the sense of my being at Lyon if you ain't -there?" - -"You did well, Bertrand. And our valises?" - -"Oh! they're here. As I had a shrewd idea that there was something new, -I wouldn't let them go without us." - -"Bless my soul, my friend, we must make the best of this accident. After -all, it matters not whether we go to Lyon or somewhere else; and whether -we arrive there to-morrow or a week hence." - -"Mon Dieu! my dear friend, it's a matter of indifference to me too," -said the young woman. - -Bertrand frowned and motioned to his master that he wanted to speak to -him in private. Auguste succeeded in making the young woman understand -that she must let go his arm for a moment, and he joined the -ex-corporal, who said to him with a stern expression: - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, but who is this woman who sticks to your arm -as if you had glue on your sleeve?" - -"She's a young woman who was with us in the diligence." - -"And why didn't she stay there?" - -"Because I took her to walk with me." - -"Who is the woman?" - -"A very entertaining person." - -"She didn't tell you what she is doing, did she?" - -"To be sure: she's going to Lyon, in order not to stay in Paris." - -"The deuce! if that's her only motive, I can understand that she doesn't -care whether she goes there or somewhere else. But why is she leaving -Paris? A young woman don't travel alone like this, just for the pleasure -of travelling." - -"Oh! she had a very urgent reason--her husband beat her." - -"Perhaps he was justified, monsieur." - -"Oh! Bertrand!" - -"Why does she call you her dear friend so soon?" - -"Because--because----" - -"Oh, yes! because--I understand perfectly. But after all, monsieur, what -do you expect to do with this woman?" - -"I don't quite know; but you must see that I can't desert her here after -being the cause of her losing the diligence." - -"I should say rather that she made you lose it by telling you fairy -tales, and arousing your pity by adventures that never happened, I'll -wager. Besides, monsieur, a woman who takes up with the first man that -comes along can't be anything but an adventuress. I'll bet that you -don't even know her name?" - -"Faith, no. But what does the name matter? Can't a person assume any -name at pleasure? Whether this young woman has told me the truth or not, -I won't leave her penniless far from the place to which she is going." - -"Oho! she hasn't any money, eh?" - -"Why, she had nothing for dinner but bread." - -"This is a very excellent find that you've made! So, monsieur, when you -left Paris, in order to be prudent and economize, here you are with a -woman on your hands barely sixty leagues from Paris!" - -"Bah! what can you expect? Is it my fault? Come, Bertrand, don't scold; -hereafter I'll reflect a little more; meanwhile let us abandon ourselves -to our destiny." - -Auguste returned to the young woman and Bertrand followed him, saying to -himself: - -"I am very much afraid he's incorrigible." - -The young woman promptly resumed possession of Auguste's arm. - -"My dear friend," he said to her, "as the diligence has gone off without -us, we need not hurry now." - -"Oh, not at all." - -"We can even pass a day or two here." - -"I should like to if it would gratify you." - -"Then we will consider how we will continue our journey--whether by some -chance conveyance, by stage--or even on foot, so that we can admire the -country in case it is worthy of admiration." - -"Whatever will gratify you, my friend." - -"You see, Bertrand," said Auguste in an undertone, "this little woman is -good-nature itself, she seeks only to gratify me." - -"She doesn't gratify me in the very least, monsieur." - -"Because you don't choose to be gratified.--By the way, as we are to -stay here," continued Auguste, "we will take rooms at this inn. -Bertrand, see that rooms are prepared for us." - -"Yes, monsieur;--and for madame, too?" - -"That goes without saying.--By the way, as we are under the necessity of -economizing, one room will be enough for madame and myself. Isn't that -so, my dear love?" - -"Mon Dieu! yes, if that will gratify you." - -"By the way, my dear love, you haven't yet told me your name." - -"My name is Adle--or Madame Florimont, as you please." - -"Rather as you please." - -"Call me Adle--I shall like that." - -"Adle it is." - -"Madame Florimont!" muttered Bertrand with a shrug; "that's a stage -name--she got that in the wings of some theatre." - -"My name is Auguste, my dear Adle; for it is right that you should know -who I am." - -"Oh! mon Dieu! it's all one to me!" - -"I see that you think more of the person than of the title, and that you -judge people by their faces; if that method never deceives you, I -congratulate you. But it is still light and the weather is fine; the -best thing for us to do before supper, I think, is to take a walk. Will -you come with us, Bertrand?" - -"No, lieutenant, I have no desire to walk." - -Auguste walked away with the emotional Adle. They traversed the pretty -little town of Avallon in every direction. Auguste commented upon what -he saw and the young woman invariably agreed with him; so that he -finally decided that a woman who can only assent to everything that is -said without making any observations on her own account, is rather -monotonous company. But Madame Florimont had very pretty eyes, and it -was not long since she had first fixed them upon Auguste; so that, when -he had discoursed for some time without obtaining anything but -insignificant replies, he played with Adle with his eyes, whereupon she -said in pantomime the sweetest things imaginable. - -Only in front of the shops did the young woman make any remarks of her -own motion. She stopped to gaze at a shawl and heaved a profound sigh. - -"Would you like it?" Auguste asked. - -"Oh! it would give me great pleasure." - -"Very well, let's buy it." - -Giving way to his former habit, the young man bought the shawl for -Madame Florimont, who at once threw it over her shoulders, having rolled -up the little neckerchief which she wore about her neck, and placed it -under her arm. A little farther on she stopped and sighed again as she -eyed a pretty cap. At Auguste's instance she tried it on; and as it was -wonderfully becoming under the great hood, the cap was purchased. Next, -it was in front of a jeweller's establishment that the young woman -stopped and sighed: she wanted a little ring which would remind her of -the day she met Auguste! He considered that desire too flattering not to -be satisfied. But after that he took his companion back to the inn, not -allowing her to stop anywhere, lest she should sigh again. - -The young woman was very pretty in the shawl and cap. But when Bertrand -saw her in that guise, he took Auguste aside once more and said: - -"Monsieur, she wasn't dressed like that this afternoon." - -"You will certainly agree, Bertrand, that she looks much better -to-night?" - -"But, monsieur, what are you thinking about?" - -"I am thinking about supper, for I am very hungry;--and you, my dear -friend?" - -"I too shall be glad to have supper." - -Bertrand said nothing more; but he went into a corner and beat his head -against the wall. In due time the supper was brought; Auguste went to -the table with Adle, and urged Bertrand to sit with them, explaining to -the young woman that he was his factotum, his cashier, and not his -servant. - -Bertrand made a wry face at the word cashier; but he decided at last to -seat himself respectfully at the other end of the table. To put him in -good humor, Auguste ordered several bottles of good wine. The ruse was -successful. By dint of drinking, Bertrand recovered his spirits and no -longer looked askance at the young woman. - -But when, after supper, he saw Auguste retire with Madame Florimont to a -room in which there was only one bed, he muttered: - -"You will certainly be taken for the lady's husband, monsieur." - -"Faith, Bertrand, it will look very much like it to-night." - -"But afterward?" - -"Oh! the most important thing to my mind at this moment, my friend, is -to get to bed. Do the same. Good-night; to-morrow it will be light." - -"Yes," said Bertrand, filling his glass once more, "to-morrow it will be -light, and we shall still have this hussy on our hands! It would have -been just as well to stay in Paris and let me make breeches with -Schtrack." - -And Bertrand fell asleep finishing the bottle. - - - - -XXII - -BERTRAND'S STRATAGEM - - -A night's sleep suffices to banish the fumes of wine and to restore -calmness to our minds; a night of love often suffices to banish many -illusions and to restore calmness to our senses. After the night at the -inn with Madame Florimont, both Auguste and Bertrand reflected more -coolly concerning their position: the latter had not for a moment failed -to realize the fresh embarrassment in which Auguste had involved -himself; and Auguste, who perhaps was already weary of playing pantomime -with his young fellow-traveller, felt that he had made a fool of -himself. But how was he to rid himself courteously of a lady who -constantly said to him: - -"I will go wherever you please, my friend." - -After breakfast, Auguste asked if they could obtain a conveyance to take -them to Lyon. To travel by post would be too expensive for people who -wished to be economical, although no one would ever have suspected -Auguste of such a wish, as he always insisted upon being entertained _en -grand seigneur_. - -A leather dealer, who owned a large two-seated cabriolet, offered to -take the travellers with him. To be sure, he would take four days for -the trip, because his business compelled him to stop at several places; -but they were in no hurry, so they made a bargain with the leather -dealer, who packed our three travellers in his vehicle. - -Auguste and the emotional Adle took their places on the back seat, -Bertrand beside the tradesman on the front seat, and they started, drawn -by a single horse, large enough for two, but with no apparent -disposition to take the bit in his teeth. - -Bertrand chatted with the driver, a tall fellow of twenty-eight or -thirty years, who passed a large part of his life on his wagon, was -better acquainted with taverns than with his own house, where he spent -less than three months of the year, and declared that not a maid servant -within a radius of thirty leagues had been unkind to him. - -Auguste looked at the landscape and tried to make Madame Florimont talk. - -"What do you think of this view?" - -"Why, it's very ugly." - -"What? That wooded slope, the valley on the left, with the stream -flowing through it, and yonder pretty village in the background--you -call that ugly?" - -"Oh, no! it's very pretty." - -"Would you like to travel?" - -"I don't know, my friend." - -"Have you never been away from Paris?" - -"Oh, yes! I've been to Saint-Cloud and Passy." - -"Would you like to go to Italy?" - -"If it would gratify you." - -"But what about the gentleman who's expecting you at Lyon?" - -"Oh! I don't know whether he's waiting for me!" - -"I may be compelled by circumstances to leave you." - -"Oh! but I won't leave you, my friend." - -"But suppose I should return to Paris?" - -"I would go there." - -"But what about your husband, who beat you?" - -"Oh! I wouldn't tell him that I had returned." - -"I see that I shan't be able to get rid of this woman!" said Auguste to -himself. "Infernal diligence! That great hood, those knees against mine, -that night on the road--all those things go to one's head. You imagine -that you have made a glorious conquest; you fancy yourself in love, and -for twenty-four hours you are! But after that! Mon Dieu! what a mess I -have got into!" - -Bertrand, who had overheard a part of the conversation between Adle and -Auguste, leaned over to the latter and said in his ear: - -"I beg pardon, lieutenant, but this woman seems to me as stupid as a -pot." - -"So she seems to me, Bertrand." - -"Are we going round the world with a doll like that?" - -"I'm afraid so, my friend. She has determined never to leave me." - -"I promise you that I will make her change her mind." - -Bertrand said no more. They drove for some time in silence. From time to -time the leather dealer cast a furtive, lady-killer's glance at Madame -Florimont, and said to Bertrand whenever they passed through a hamlet or -village: - -"I once knew a pretty woman here. I had an intrigue here. I set people's -tongues to wagging here." - -"It seems that you're a sad rake." - -"Oh, yes! I'm well known in this region." - -At nightfall they stopped at a small place where they were to pass the -night. They alighted at a wretched inn; the leather dealer went out to -attend to some business, and after supper Auguste, thinking that the -most sensible course to pursue with the emotional Adle was to go to -bed, withdrew with her, leaving Bertrand with his pipe at a table. - -The tradesman returned in due time and Bertrand invited him to drink; he -was not the man to decline such an invitation. He was almost as -accomplished a drinker as Schtrack; after the second bottle they became -confidential and Bertrand said to his companion: - -"You look to me like a good fellow." - -"You're very kind!" - -"You might do us a great favor, my lieutenant and me." - -"If it won't cost me anything, I'm your man." - -"It not only won't cost you anything, but I'll give you fifty crowns -bonus." - -"Say it quick, then!" - -"Judging from all that you've told me, you're not a foe of the fair -sex?" - -"On the contrary, I am their dearest friend." - -"What do you think of that young woman who's travelling with us?" - -"Why----" - -"Come, speak frankly." - -"Faith, I think she's very fine! she's got a pair of eyes that she knows -how to work mighty well!" - -"So she takes your eye, does she?" - -"To be sure, she would if she was free; but you understand I can't think -of----" - -"Well, listen to me; the very greatest service you could do us would be -to rob us of that beauty." - -"You're joking, aren't you?" - -"No; this is how it is: my master is a reckless fellow; he is travelling -to learn how to be prudent, and you can understand that the way to do -that isn't to travel with a little woman who, as you say, works her eyes -so well that she makes him long for her. But I must have common sense -for him: now the best thing that I can see to do is to separate him -from this highway heroine, who, I am sure, pretends to be devoted to him -only because she thinks he's rich." - -"So she didn't come from Paris with you?" - -"Oh, no! it was a fine chance encounter we had in the Lyon diligence. It -would have done a hundred times better to upset us than to contain that -princess! But you, who are always on the road--she won't be in your way -in your wagon; besides, I fancied that I saw you looking her over like a -connoisseur." - -"I don't say no; but how do you expect----" - -"You're a fine man, an attractive-looking fellow!" - -"I certainly am not very ill-looking," said the tradesman, complacently -viewing himself in a fragment of looking-glass on the chimney-piece. - -"To-morrow, on the road," said Bertrand, "I will take pains to refer to -the fact that we are hard up, while you, on the contrary, must jingle -your coins. When we reach the place where we are to sleep, my lieutenant -will pretend to be sick and say that he can't continue his journey. The -next morning he will stay in bed; then you must seize the opportunity -for a tte--tte, make your declaration, and propose to the young woman -to take her off before we wake up. She'll accept--I'd bet my moustaches -if I still had 'em." - -"Agreed, my fine fellow--and the fifty crowns?" - -"I'll pay them to you when I see you ready to start. You can go to Lyon; -we won't go there, so as not to run into you." - -"Shake; I'll abduct your charmer; and, as you say, she probably won't -resist, because, although your companion's good-looking enough, he -hasn't this figure, this build--in fact, this fascinating air; ain't -that so?" - -"I should say so! you remind me of a drum-major." - -The bargain being made, Bertrand and the tradesman, after drinking a -glass to the success of their scheme, went to bed. - -The next day they resumed their journey. Auguste seemed more bored than -ever by Madame Florimont's company; he dared not tell Bertrand so; but -the ex-corporal observed the young man's ill-concealed yawns and stifled -sighs while the emotional Adle continued to tell him that it would be -her delight to stay with him always. After some time Auguste gave way to -the drowsiness that overpowered him. He fell asleep on the back seat of -the vehicle, beside the young woman, who said not another word. -Bertrand, pretending to think that she too was asleep, said to the -driver in an undertone: - -"Poor fellow! if only sleep might put an end to his anxieties and pay -his debts!" - -"Is he in debt, do you say?" - -"That is why we left Paris; and I am very much afraid that we shall be -pursued by creditors at Lyon." - -"That's a pity! A business like mine is the thing! it always goes right -on. Leather will never go out of fashion--it's like bread." - -"It is precisely the same thing. So you are well off, are you?" - -"Why, I am very comfortable." - -Bertrand noticed that Madame Florimont raised her hood in order to see -the tradesman better; whereupon he said nothing more, but looked off -into the country so as not to interfere with his neighbor's ogling of -the young woman, which she received with a smile, probably to gratify -him. - -They reached the place where they were to pass the night. Bertrand had -not as yet mentioned his project to Auguste, but chance seemed to favor -him. On leaving the wagon, the young man was attacked by a violent -sick-headache, and immediately upon entering the inn went to his room to -lie down, telling Madame Florimont to order whatever she pleased. - -Bertrand made an excuse for leaving the tradesman alone with their -travelling companion; he went out to walk and did not return until very -late. The tradesman was alone, admiring himself in a mirror. - -"Well?" queried Bertrand. - -"You can pay me the fifty crowns." - -"Do you mean it?" - -"It's all arranged: at daybreak to-morrow I abduct your charmer; she is -to tell your companion that he can lie abed as we don't start till ten -o'clock." - -"Morbleu! a victory wouldn't give me more pleasure! My poor master! I -would like so much to see him become more reasonable! to see him get -over his nonsense! I'll treat to a bottle--two bottles over and above -the bargain." - -"I accept." - -"So she didn't make any very great resistance?" - -"I should say not! I had taken her fancy; besides, she told me that her -sense of delicacy wouldn't allow her to travel with a man who is in -debt." - -In his delight, Bertrand ordered several more corks drawn; he paid the -tradesman his fifty crowns on the spot, and he did not go to bed, so -that he might, unseen, witness Madame Florimont's departure. She rose at -daybreak, without waking Auguste, and drove off with the leather dealer. - -"A pleasant journey!" exclaimed Bertrand as he looked after the wagon. -When it was out of sight he ran to Auguste's room and woke him, crying: - -"Victory, lieutenant! I have driven the enemy from the citadel!" - -"What's the matter?" inquired Auguste, rubbing his eyes. - -"The matter is that I have relieved you of your emotional -travelling-companion, who went off this morning with our leather man." - -"Is it possible, Bertrand?" - -"Why, yes, monsieur; she's gone, I tell you. You are not inclined to run -after her, I trust?" - -"God forbid!--So she has ceased to love me?" - -"As if that adventuress ever loved you! She goes with the first comer -who looks to be rich! And yet that's the woman, monsieur, that you had -on your hands! You fall in love in a diligence, and crac! you scrape -acquaintance, and--Look you, lieutenant, I'm no lady-killer myself, but -it seems to me that a man ought to say these two things to himself in a -public conveyance: 'If this woman is respectable, she won't listen to -me; if she isn't, it isn't worth while to speak to her.'" - -"You are right, a hundred times right! But this folly shall be my last." - -"Do you know that counting everything--conveyance, presents and board -bills--your intrigue has cost us at least five hundred francs? A pretty -beginning for a man who is going to try to make a fortune!" - -"Oh! you'll see, Bertrand, after this, that I'll be so good----" - -"God grant it! But to avoid meeting that lady again, my advice is that -we don't go to Lyon." - -"Agreed; let's push on to Italy at once. Beneath the beautiful sky that -saw the birth of Virgil and Tibullus, in the fatherland of all the -arts--there will I, impelled by a noble emulation, turn my talents to -account and try to acquire additional ones. Perhaps fortune will smile -on my efforts! Music, painting, offer resources which I must not blush -to employ! We will spend very little and I will try to earn a great -deal; for, in all lands, the higher prices one charges, the more merit -is attributed to one. And then, when I have saved a neat little sum, we -will return to France to enjoy the fruit of my labors." - -"That's the talk, lieutenant; and, more fortunate than the great -Turenne, who was killed on the battlefield, we will enjoy the blessings -of peace after the war." - - - - -XXIII - -THE WEDDING PARTY - - -The travellers allowed the leather dealer plenty of time, in order not -to overtake Madame Florimont. The proprietor of a small _carriole_ -offered to drive them whereever they chose to go, representing himself -as a public carrier, and assuring them that his vehicle was in condition -to take them to Naples, which journey it had made at least fifteen -times. - -Although the _carriole_ bore no resemblance to the _berline_ of an -ordinary carrier, our travellers made the best of it; but before -entering, Bertrand satisfied himself that there were no women inside. A -dress terrified him; he would not even have left his master alone with a -nurse. - -The vehicle contained no other passengers save an honest peasant of some -fifty years, whom Bertrand scrutinized a long while, to make sure that -he was not a woman disguised, while Auguste took his seat, laughing at -his companion's fears. - -"Are you going to Italy too, my good man?" Auguste asked the peasant. - -"Oh, nenni, monsieur," was the reply; "I ain't going so far as that; I'm -only just going to my sister's, who lives a short three leagues out of -Lyon; she's marrying her youngest son Eustache, my nephew." - -"Oho! so you're going to a wedding? That's delightful! A wedding's great -fun." - -"Oh, yes, monsieur; for we be all great jokers to our place! and sly -dogs!" - -"One can see that by looking at you." - -"And the way we drink--it's a regular benediction!" - -"That's very good," said Bertrand; "so you have good wines, do you?" - -"Oh, famous! My sister's got her own vineyard; she's one of the biggest -farmers in the place; and see! when a woman marries off her son, why she -makes the corks fly, you know. The wedding'll last at least a week. If -you think you'd enjoy it, messieurs, you'd better come with me; you'll -be made welcome, and you'll see some good fellows. My sister'll be glad -to see you, and so will Cadet, for he likes folks from the city. You're -Parisians, ain't you, messieurs?" - -"As you say, Monsieur----" - -"Rondin, at your service. Well! do you accept?" - -Auguste looked at Bertrand; the idea of attending a village wedding was -decidedly attractive to him, and the ex-corporal, for his part, felt a -secret longing to make the acquaintance of Monsieur Cadet Eustache's -wine; but the fear that his master would become too well acquainted with -the ladies of the party led him to resist the longing, and he whispered -to Auguste: - -"Decline, lieutenant; that's the wisest thing to do, believe me; if we -keep stopping on the road, our tour of the world will be simply a short -trip to Bourgogne, which is not the land of your Virgils and Tibulluses; -and we shall return to Paris without making a fortune." - -"I am very sorry to decline your invitation, Monsieur Rondin," said -Auguste, "but my companion reminds me that our business requires our -presence in Italy as soon as possible. In truth, if we keep this -conveyance, I don't think that we shall arrive there for a long time to -come; I believe that the knave is driving at a walk; so that his -miserable vehicle can make its sixteenth trip to Naples, no doubt.--I -say, driver--are you asleep, my friend? Do you think it's a joke to -drive like this?" - -The driver turned and coolly informed his passengers that his horses -were going at their ordinary pace, which they never varied, but that he -would undertake to set them down without mishap at their destination. - -"That is very pleasant," said Bertrand; "it means that we are to go all -the way to Italy as if we were following a hearse; if the driver has -made the trip fifteen times at this gait, he must have begun very young. -And you, Monsieur Rondin, on your way to a wedding--aren't you in a -hurry?" - -"Oh! they'll wait for me. Besides, Cadet must have a chance to rest -before he gets married." - -"Has the groom been travelling too?" - -"Yes, monsieur, he's just come from Paris--that's where he brought his -bride from." - -"Aha! so he went to Paris for a wife?" - -"I'll tell you, messieurs: Cadet's a sly one, who'll never let anyone -play it on him! The girls of his village, they're a lot of hussies, and -so, to be sure of getting something good, he went to Paris to look for a -wife." - -"He must be a very clever rascal." - -"Oh! he's the shrewdest lady-killer within six leagues; his mother she -lets him do just as he wants to, so off he goes to Paris, where he had -business anyway. After some time he writes home as how he's found the -woman as suits him. Well, well! she must be virtue and innocence itself, -you see! for Cadet knows what's what in the matter of women." - -"And he found this treasure in Paris?" - -"Not just in Paris, but in the outskirts. So, as he took his charmer's -fancy, he brought her back with him, and he's going to marry her. That's -why I'd like to have you come to the wedding, to tell me what you think -of my nephew's choice." - -Auguste would have liked to make the acquaintance of the bride whom -Monsieur Cadet Eustache had found in the suburbs of Paris. He thought of -Denise, and imagined that Monsieur Rondin's nephew had found some young -village maiden as fresh and pretty and alluring as the little milkmaid. -That thought made him sigh. - -"Perhaps she too is married!" he said to himself; "for she was in love -with someone; she told me as much when she said that she would never -love me." - -Auguste had ceased to smile since his memories had taken him back to -Montfermeil. The peasant, surprised by his neighbor's melancholy, dared -not suggest again his coming to the wedding, and Bertrand said under his -breath: - -"It would certainly be good fun to stay at table for a whole week; but -there's always some pretty face at a wedding party, and I musn't expose -my lieutenant to the risk of running off with another woman, for I -shan't always have the good fortune to fall in with a leather -merchant." - -Nothing more was said, and the _carriole_ crawled on. In four hours they -made but one league. At the end of that time, Pre Rondin, who was fond -of talking, said to Auguste: - -"If you're going to Italy on business, it's safe to say you won't get -there in time. Be you an attorney?" - -"No, I am a painter and a musician." - -"A painter and a musician! Jarni! that's just what we want! you could -play for our girls to dance, and paint a picture of the bride! That -would be a nice surprise for Eustache!" - -"Parbleu!" thought Auguste, "it would be funny enough if I should make -the first trial of my talents on these good people!--What do you say, -Bertrand? I rather like the idea of painting the bride's portrait." - -"You see, Cadet wrote me as how she's a fine figure of a girl," said -Pre Rondin. "Be you good at catching resemblances?" - -"Why, I haven't tried anything else as yet. However, I'll paint whatever -you wish.--Come, Bertrand, this decides me. We'll go to the wedding." - -"The wedding it is, monsieur. But for God's sake, don't do anything -foolish, but remember your resolutions." - -"Never fear, you will be satisfied with me." - -Pre Rondin was overjoyed that he had induced the travellers to attend -the wedding; he was even on the point of inviting the driver too, when -the vehicle, which was moving at a snail's pace, was overturned into a -ditch, the only one by the road at that time, and the travellers rolled -over one another. Luckily they got off with a few bruises, and the -driver calmly busied himself with getting his horses on their feet, -informing his passengers that he was sorry that he had not warned them, -but that ever since he had been driving over that road he rarely failed -to be upset there, because his horses had fallen into that habit. - -That accident put the finishing touch to the travellers' disgust with -the wretched _carriole_. - -"It ain't only a day's walk from here to our place," said Pre Rondin; -"let's foot it. We'll get there a blamed sight quicker if we walk." - -The peasant's suggestion was accepted. They left the _carriole_. -Bertrand took one valise, Auguste absolutely insisting on taking the -other, and they started. - -It was a lovely country. They were delighted that they were travelling -on foot. Pre Rondin was familiar with the roads. They halted only once -for refreshment, and the next morning they arrived at Monsieur Cadet -Eustache's farm. - -They were not a hundred yards away when a tall youth rushed out and -threw himself on Pre Rondin's neck, crying: - -"Here's uncle! come on, uncle! I'm only waiting for you to get married! -and I tell you, I just long to be!" - -"Good-day, Cadet. See, I've brought along a couple of good fellows, my -boy; this gentleman who makes pictures and music, and Monsieur Bertrand, -who drinks straight, I warn you." - -Monsieur Cadet Eustache bowed low to the two travellers, then said to -his uncle: - -"Haven't you brought anybody else?" - -"What do you mean by that, my boy?" - -"Why, if you'd had some more too, it would have been all the better, -because we mean to have some fun, you see! But never mind--they make two -more, anyway." - -"Haven't you got many people at your wedding?" - -"Oh! there's eighty of us already." - -"That's doing pretty well, seems to me." - -"Oh! but we must have some fun! I want to have some fun! and it takes a -lot for that; for my part, I never laugh unless there's at least a dozen -in company." - -"I told you my nephew was a joker," said Pre Rondin to Auguste, who -looked at Bertrand and smiled, while the latter muttered: - -"This bridegroom impresses me as a big idiot." - -"But take us into the house, Cadet; we're tired, and we want something -to eat and drink." - -"Oh! excuse me, uncle; you see, my wife that is to be is on my -brain.--Ah! messieurs, you'll see, that's all I've got to say; you'll -see such a fresh and blooming young woman! She's like a poppy! And a -figure! oh! I tell you--round and plump everywhere!" - -"Ah! you rascal! you seem to have found out about all this while you was -bringing her home." - -"Oh, uncle! I should never have thought of such a thing, because she's -innocence itself, you see, and she'd have given me a good crack! and -she's a strong one, my girl is. She's a good stout sample of virtue. -However, she's my choice, and as you've got here, we'll have the wedding -to-morrow." - -During this dialogue they had arrived at the farm-house, which was a -substantial one and indicated that its owner was in comfortable -circumstances. - -"Jrme," said Monsieur Cadet to one of his men, "go and let everybody -in the neighborhood know that the wedding will be to-morrow, and that -we're getting everything ready for the supper and the ball; and go and -tell the musicians I've engaged.--I'll go and get my bride that is to -be; she and mother are at one of the neighbors', but I want you to see -her right away, and these gentlemen too." - -"The fellow's terrible far gone," said Pre Rondin as he escorted the -travellers into the house and invited them to be seated. - -Madame Eustache soon appeared; she kissed her brother, then proceeded to -kiss the new arrivals; for that is the way acquaintances are made in the -country. - -"But where's the bride?" queried Pre Rondin; "ain't we going to see -her?" - -"In just a minute, brother; she's gone to prink up a bit for the -company. Ah! my eye! she's a fine girl, and Cadet knows what's what!" - -"Has she got any money?" - -"She's got a nice little pile that the gentleman she worked for gave -her; and he told my boy he was giving him a real _rosire!_[G] And -Cadet's a shrewd one, you know, and wouldn't let anybody take him in." - -[G] _Rosire_ is the name given to the maiden who is awarded the prize -for virtue in a village competition. - -"Morbleu!" whispered Bertrand to Auguste, "if the rosire corresponds -with the bridegroom, I'll bet we're going to see some stout Pontoise -cowherd." - -At last they heard Cadet Eustache's voice introducing his chosen bride -to the guests, and Auguste was not a little surprised to recognize -Mademoiselle Tapotte, Monsieur de la Thomassinire's gardener. - -Mademoiselle Tapotte had grown taller, and she was still very plump; she -was, in truth, a fine figure of a girl, and, as formerly, she kept her -eyes on the floor and bowed without looking at anybody. - -"Superb!" cried Pre Rondin; "bravo! you've made a great find, Cadet, on -my word! And it's a fact that you can still see on her cheeks the down -of chastity." - -Monsieur Cadet received these compliments with a smile and said: - -"I have the honor to present Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, who will be -Madame Eustache to-morrow if God lets us live." - -Everyone kissed the bride--that is also the custom--and Bertrand, who -knew nothing of Auguste's adventure at Fleury, was reassured at sight of -the maiden and flattered himself that she would not lead his master into -any fresh folly. - -But, when it came Auguste's turn to kiss Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, -that young woman, despite her ingenuousness, raised her eyes, and a -little shriek escaped her when she recognized the young man. - -"I am very awkward," said Auguste instantly, "to tread on your foot! I -beg your pardon, fair fiance!" - -"Oh! was that what made her cry?" said Cadet, laughingly; "when anyone -treads on the feet of our girls about here, they don't yell; they know -what it means. They ain't like Suzanne! By the way, monsieur, uncle says -you make portraits; do you make faces too?" - -"What do you suppose that I make?" - -"Why, I mean a head, with eyes and a nose, et cetera." - -"I generally find nothing else to paint." - -"Pardi, monsieur, if you had time to catch the likeness of my bride, -just the face alone, I'd like it mighty well." - -"I haven't anything but my pencils in my valise, but I can try to draw -her." - -"Draw her! Will that be just the same?" - -"To be sure." - -"Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, monsieur is going to make your portrait; -he's going to catch you." - -The bride made some objection to allowing herself to be drawn; but -Monsieur Cadet was obstinate about it, and she finally consented to lend -her face to Auguste, who asked for a room where he could work quietly -and without being disturbed. - -He was taken to a small room at the top of the house and furnished with -all that he required. Monsieur Cadet brought his fiance, who seated -herself, with downcast eyes, beside the table at which Auguste was -working. Monsieur Cadet was preparing to watch the process of catching -his charmer's likeness when Auguste said to him: - -"I am very sorry to send you away, but I cannot draw before anybody. If -you want your wife's portrait, you must leave me alone with her; indeed, -that is the custom; a painter doesn't like to have anyone see his work -before it's finished." - -"Oh, yes, that's right," said Cadet; "and then, if I watched you, I -wouldn't have any surprise." - -"That's so." - -"All right, I'll go away. You needn't be afraid to stay alone with -monsieur, Mamzelle Tapotte; he's an artist--he's going to catch you and -surprise me. Ah! how nice that'll be!" - -Mademoiselle Tapotte smiled without raising her eyes, and Monsieur Cadet -left her alone with Auguste, while he went to oversee all the -preparations for the wedding. - -Bertrand was already at table with Pre Rondin. They were soon joined by -several farmers of the neighborhood. Neighbors, male and female, kindred -and friends came to take up their quarters under Eustache's roof on the -day before the wedding. Long tables were laid and covered with dishes -and pitchers. They laughed and sang and shrieked and made a great -uproar, for the hilarity of the peasant is exceedingly noisy. It seemed -as if the wedding festivities had already begun; and Bertrand, who found -the wine excellent and did not notice among the village girls any faces -likely to inflame his master, concluded that they might safely pass a -week at the farm. - -But everybody asked for the bride, and Monsieur Cadet said: - -"Someone's catching her just at this minute, getting up a surprise for -me, copying her face. I guess I'll go and see how it's coming on." - -Monsieur Cadet went up to the room where he had left Auguste and -Mademoiselle Tapotte. But the door was locked, doubtless so that they -might not be disturbed. The groom tapped gently on the door, saying: - -"It's me,--is it done?" - -"No, not yet," Auguste replied. - -"Is it coming on all right?" - -"Yes, it's coming on well." - -"What are you doing now?" - -"An ear." - -"Is it a good likeness?" - -"It will be very striking." - -Cadet went down to the company, exclaiming: - -"I couldn't get in; he was just doing an ear, that's going to be -striking. Oh! that painter seems to be a smart one! I tried to look -through the key-hole, but he must have her posed in profile, for I -thought I saw an eye instead of an ear. I'm going to put my wife's -picture in our big room opposite the one of the boar my grandfather -killed." - -At last, after two hours, Auguste appeared, leading the bride that was -to be, who would not have raised her eyes to look at a diamond, and who -was even more ruddy than usual. Everyone exclaimed at her beauty, her -bloom, and her innocent air, and Monsieur Cadet swelled with pride. - -The groom asked to see the portrait and Auguste exhibited a face which -was as like that of the queen of clubs as one drop of water is like -another. The guests all went into ecstasies over it, saying that the -resemblance was striking, and furthermore that it had the advantage of -resembling the groom and Pre Rondin as well. Monsieur Cadet was -overjoyed, and Auguste received compliments from the whole company. - -The rest of the day passed in dancing and recreation; many guests did -not leave the table except to go to bed, and Bertrand was among them. - -The wedding day arrived at last. At daybreak the farm-house was astir. -Monsieur Cadet donned a costume that he had had made in Paris: nut-brown -coat, waistcoat and trousers. Mamma Eustache went to dress the bride. -Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte was soon led in, armed with the virginal -bouquet; whereupon they set out for the church, with the musicians at -the head of the procession. - -Bertrand enjoyed the festivities immensely; Auguste too, seemed not to -be bored; he danced with the girls, while his companion kept the corks -popping. The whole night was passed in games, feasting and carousing. -But at midnight Monsieur Cadet led his wife away to the nuptial chamber, -leaving the rest to drink and dance. Two hours later they were amazed by -the apparition of the husband, in nightgown and nightcap, in the -ball-room, crying: - -"My friends, I am the happiest of men, that's all I've got to say." - -And Monsieur Cadet returned to his spouse amid a shower of -congratulations and jests from his friends, while Pre Rondin said to -Auguste: - -"Didn't I tell you my nephew was a sly one, and that it's a sort of -rosire, as you might say, that he's brought from Paris?" - -Auguste added his congratulations to those of the other guests. At -daybreak, weary of dancing and eating, he went to bed, leaving the -dauntless Bertrand to hold his own with three farmers, two of whom were -all ready to slide under the table. - -Auguste and his faithful companion passed the week of the wedding -festivities at Monsieur Eustache's farm; and during that time the bride -gave the young man several more sittings, for she always found something -to change in her nose or her eye or her ear. - -At the end of the week the travellers resumed their journey, not without -an invitation from Monsieur Cadet to repeat their visit. - -"_Beati pauperes spiritu!_" said Auguste as they left the farm. To which -Bertrand replied: - -"Yes, lieutenant. Here is one place at all events where you have behaved -yourself." - - - - -XXIV - -A SKETCH OF ITALY - - -Auguste and Bertrand arrived at Turin, undelayed by any fresh adventure. -They took rooms at a modest hotel, for, before continuing their journey, -Auguste desired to make the acquaintance of that pleasant Italian city, -where one may fancy oneself in France, and where reigns an attractive -mixture of French manners and Italian morals. The ladies of Turin are -pretty, agreeable and piquant; in addition to the charm of our -Frenchwomen they have more fire in their glance, a more sensuous -intonation to the voice, more abandon in their bearing. Bertrand, -observing that his master gazed persistently at the Italian women, said -to him again and again: - -"Look out, lieutenant; we are travelling in search of fortune and not of -conquests; we didn't come to Italy to admire black eyes and Greek -noses." - -"True, Bertrand; but as we find them here, there's no reason why we -shouldn't admire them." - -"Remember, monsieur, that the fine arts alone are to occupy your mind." - -"The sight of a lovely woman kindles the flame of genius. Raphael was in -love with his Madonna model." - -"Perhaps that wasn't the best thing he did, lieutenant." - -"Bertrand, you understand nothing about art." - -"Perhaps not, but I know enough about it to calculate." - -"I want to paint one of these charming heads that have caught my eye; I -want to take for a model one of the piquant faces that I notice among -the girls of this region." - -"In that case you will do like Monsieur Raphael, you will fall in love -with your model." - -"So much the better, if it results in my producing a chef-d'oeuvre." - -"I'm afraid that it will result in your producing something else." - -"Have you heard them sing, Bertrand?" - -"Who, monsieur?" - -"The young girls in the suburbs, the villagers, the simple -working-girls; they all sing with such taste and harmony! I hear -delightful concerts every evening when I am walking. We are in the land -of music, my friend." - -"I should prefer to be in the land of gold mines." - -"Here the common people, the workmen, are born musicians; the petty -tradeswoman seeks recreation after her day's labor with her guitar. The -boatman as well as the great nobleman, the peasant woman as well as the -rich lady, blends her voice with the chords that she strikes on that -instrument." - -"It seems, then, that everybody plays it." - -"And the Italian women have a nonchalant air when singing that forms -such a striking contrast to the fire of their eyes." - -"I certainly shall go back to Paris and make trousers, monsieur." - -Auguste left Bertrand and went out to walk in the suburbs of the city. -The season being farther advanced in that beautiful climate, there was -already a wealth of verdure, shrubbery and fragrant groves, which the -Italian regards with the indifference of habit, but which arouse the -admiration of the stranger who sees for the first time that lovely sky, -that delicious landscape, and those flowering orange trees which spread -the sweetest of perfumes all about. - -In a pleasant country everything is calculated to inspire pleasure. The -climate of Italy seems to be the fitting climate of love. The aspect of -a wild landscape, of a rugged and sterile country inclines the soul to -melancholy and sadness; that of a verdant grove, of a valley studded -with flowers, makes our hearts beat more gently and gives birth to no -thoughts save of pleasure and of love. - -Auguste, who did not need to be in Italy to have his imagination take -fire, was conscious nevertheless of the soothing influence of the -climate; he sighed as he glanced at the lovely women who passed him by; -and as the young Frenchman was a comely youth, his sighs were answered -by some very expressive glances. - -Among the attractive young women whom he met in the street, Auguste -noticed one, modestly but respectably attired, who usually had an older -woman on her arm. The young woman's face was fascinating; but her timid -glances, far from challenging the young foreigner's, were modestly -lowered when they met. Auguste followed them, however. Sometimes the -older woman turned her head, and, when she saw the young man, urged her -companion to quicken her pace. When they reached a distant suburb of the -city, the ladies entered a small isolated house. The young woman -afforded Auguste one more glimpse of her lovely features as she -furtively glanced at him; but the old woman closed the door behind them -and the enchanting image vanished. - -Auguste stood some time in front of the house which the pretty Italian -had entered; but at last, tired of staring at a door and windows that -did not open, he returned to his hotel, saying to himself: - -"She's an angel! she is ideally beautiful, the model of the Venus de -Medici, of Girodet's Galatea, of Psyche, of Dido; and I must make the -acquaintance of such charms." - -The next day he went out to walk again, and again he saw the two ladies. -Grown bolder, he approached them and, as a stranger, asked the older one -for information concerning the first thing that his eyes fell upon. She -answered courteously, and the young woman, without joining in the -conversation, turned her beautiful eyes on the Frenchman from time to -time. The old lady, who was very talkative, soon informed the young -Frenchman that her name was Signora Falenza, and that her companion was -her niece Cecilia; that they were far from rich, and for that reason -lived in a retired quarter, and that they let a portion of their -lodgings when they had applications from quiet and orderly people, -because that enabled them to increase their slender income a little. - -The old woman had not finished speaking when Auguste asked her to let -the little apartment to him. - -"I have come to Italy to study painting," he said, "and I have rather -neglected it; I have nobody with me but an old soldier, and we are as -orderly as young ladies. I flatter myself that you will have no cause to -regret having us for tenants." - -Signora Falenza made some objections; but Auguste was so urgent that she -consented to show him the apartment. It consisted of two rooms, rather -shabbily furnished; to be sure, the price asked was very moderate. -Auguste expressed himself as delighted; he was satisfied with -everything, and, after casting a passionate glance at the fair Cecilia, -he hurried away to make his arrangements to return the same evening and -take up his abode beneath the same roof with the two ladies. - -"Pack our valises and pay our bill, Bertrand; we are going to move." - -"Are we going to leave Turin, monsieur?" - -"Oh, no, my friend; I am more pleased with it than ever!" - -"In that case, why do we leave this hotel, where we are well -accommodated, and at not too high a price?" - -"For economy's sake, Bertrand; I have found much pleasanter lodgings, -which will cost only half as much; I trust that you won't find fault -with me this time." - -Bertrand frowned and muttered: - -"There's a petticoat under this, I'll wager." - -However, he packed the valises, paid the bill, and followed his master, -who led the way to the suburb. - -"We don't seem to be moving into the fashionable quarter, monsieur," -said Bertrand. - -"What do we care, so long as the lodgings suit us?" - -"True." - -"See, there's the house." - -"It's a long way from any other. Do you remember that we're in Italy, -monsieur? It looks to me like a cut-throat sort of place." - -"Do you mean that you're afraid, Bertrand?" - -"Oh, lieutenant!" - -"You are growing absurdly suspicious. This is a very pleasant house; the -outlook is on fields and gardens. It's very quiet here, and that is what -I like." - -"Ah! you like quiet now, do you?" - -"Very much." - -Auguste knocked. The door was opened by Signora Falenza, at sight of -whom Bertrand said to himself: - -"If there's only faces like this one here, we shall certainly be very -quiet." - -The old woman escorted the strangers to their rooms, showing them every -courtesy. As they passed through a passageway they met the fair Cecilia, -who bowed pleasantly to the young Frenchman. Whereupon Bertrand heaved a -sigh and thought: - -"This is the economy the lieutenant mentioned!" - -The travellers being installed in their apartment, Signora Falenza left -them, saying: - -"When you gentlemen wish for anything, you need only come to my room; my -niece and I will hasten to offer our services." - -"In that case," thought Auguste, "I hope that I shall frequently have -occasion to seek them." - -Bertrand inspected the two rooms, and at each object that he examined, -frowned and muttered: - -"This is very nice!" - -"Isn't it, Bertrand?" - -"Yes, indeed! a wretched bed and no pillows!" - -"So much the better! we will go and ask for one." - -"Two broken chairs!" - -"So much the better! I'll go and change them." - -"Closets that won't lock!" - -"Bah! they're good enough for what we have to put in them." - -"A desk that I can't find any key to!" - -"I'll go and ask the ladies for it." - -"Not a candlestick on the mantel!" - -"The ladies will give us one." - -"Not even a jar of water." - -"Perhaps it isn't the custom in the country." - -"Well! it's a very clean custom that don't allow a person to wash his -hands! In fact, monsieur, we lack everything here." - -"We shall lack nothing if we ask the ladies for it." - -"The ladies! the ladies!" - -"And the low rent, Bertrand--don't you take that into account?" - -"If there wasn't anybody but the old landlady in the house, you wouldn't -have been tempted to come here to live." - -"That may be; but if I can enjoy the company of a pretty woman, and at -the same time reduce my expenses, it seems to me, Bertrand, that you -can't object to that." - -Bertrand said no more; he went into a corner and filled his pipe, and as -it was growing dark, Auguste went to his landladies' room to ask for a -light. The old lady was absent, but her niece was there, and our -Frenchman, overjoyed at the opportunity of a tte--tte with the fair -Cecilia, sat down beside the young woman, who seemed less shy at home -than on the street, and who replied with a smile to the soft avowals -that he addressed to her. The conversation lasted until very late. -Auguste forgot Bertrand, who was without a light; he was in a fair way -to forget a great many things, but Signora Falenza returned and by her -presence revived his memory. He went up to his own room; Bertrand had -thrown himself on the bed and was asleep. Auguste did not think it best -to wake him, and he too fell asleep, his mind full of the fascinating -Cecilia's image, convinced that he had never been more comfortably -bedded. - -Three days passed in the new lodgings. Auguste almost never went out; he -watched for opportunities for a tte--tte with Cecilia; but the aunt -was seldom absent and kept a much closer watch upon her niece. However, -Auguste obtained a sweet avowal; he knew that he was beloved; but that -was not enough, and Cecilia's eyes seemed to promise him more. - -Bertrand had become accustomed to his new quarters; but he said to his -master every day: - -"You came to Italy to study and work, monsieur; instead of doing that, -you pass all your time running after our young landlady." - -"Cecilia is teaching me to speak Italian better, Bertrand; and I am -teaching her French." - -"I don't see what good this reciprocal teaching will do you." - -"Why, the pleasure of it, Bertrand--is that to be counted nothing?" - -"Are we travelling for pleasure?" - -"Not entirely; but, when it offers itself, why not make the most of it?" - -"Remember, monsieur, that your pleasures have always cost you dear." - -"You can't say that I am squandering my money here; I have never been so -quiet and orderly. I never go out; these ladies, when I invited them to -go to the theatre, declined." - -"I agree that they are stay-at-homes and don't try to make you take them -all over the city. But I don't like that old Falenza with her reverences -and her compliments." - -"Really, Bertrand, you are getting to be too particular. When you -travel, my friend, you must accustom yourself to the idea of finding -different customs and different manners." - -"True, monsieur; but I'm very much afraid that the foundation is the -same everywhere! Selfish men, coquettish women, schemers who make a -great show of wealth in order to make dupes more easily, rascals who -open their mouths only to lie; and here and there a few honest people, -who nevertheless consider their own interests before everything. I fancy -that that's what we shall find in every country." - -"Travelling makes you very eloquent, Bertrand. Write down your -reflections; I'll read them--when we return to France." - -"It will be high time, monsieur." - -Auguste was no longer listening to his companion; he had overheard -Cecilia's voice, and he went to her. But the young Italian had but a -moment to speak to him, as her aunt would soon return. Yielding to the -young man's urgent entreaties, she gave him an assignation for the next -day. A pretty little wood, about a fourth of a league from the city, was -the spot to which Cecilia was to go secretly. The time was agreed upon, -and they parted, to avoid arousing her aunt's suspicions. - -Auguste returned to his room with the inward satisfaction that one -always feels at the approach of a long-desired moment. Never did evening -seem longer to him, and he retired early so that the morrow would come -the sooner. - -Day broke at last. Auguste rose, dressed himself with care, and went -out, leaving Bertrand still asleep. The place appointed for the meeting -was a very long way from Signora Falenza's abode; but Auguste supposed -that Cecilia had chosen it from prudential motives. He traversed a large -part of the city, followed the bank of the Po, and at last reached the -little wood, where he hoped soon to see his young landlady. - -He waited patiently a long while; hope sustained him; it must be that -some accident had kept Cecilia at home. But several hours passed and the -fair Italian did not come. Auguste, weary of walking back and forth on -the same spot, decided at last to return to the house, cursing the -mischance that had prevented Cecilia from keeping her appointment. - -As he approached the suburb where he lived, Auguste saw Bertrand in -front of him, evidently returning home, like himself; he quickened his -pace in order to overtake him. When the ex-corporal caught sight of his -master, he uttered a cry of joy, saying: - -"Morbleu! you are not wounded?" - -"Why in the devil should I be wounded?" demanded Auguste. - -"What would there be so surprising about it, monsieur, when you have -been fighting a duel?" - -"A duel--I?" - -"At all events that's what our landlady told me this morning; she -declared that a young man called for you at daybreak, and that from the -few words that fell from you she gathered that there was a duel in the -wind." - -"Parbleu! this is very strange!" - -"She even mentioned several places where she thought you might have gone -to settle your dispute; so that, since early morning, I've been running -in all directions, and have been well laughed at by everybody that I -asked if they'd seen two men fighting." - -"I don't understand it at all, Bertrand." - -"Do you mean to say that it isn't all true?" - -"There isn't a word of truth in it." - -"Ah! that old signora shall learn that I'm not to be made a fool of like -this." - -"Let's hurry, Bertrand." - -"What's the matter, lieutenant? You seem anxious." - -"Yes. I'm afraid that the niece has made a fool of me too. Here have I -been waiting for her in vain three hours and more at the other end of -the city." - -"Ten thousand bullets! there's something very crooked in this long -excursion they made us both take. Didn't I tell you, lieutenant, that -the old woman made too many reverences?" - -"Perhaps we are frightened without cause. But here we are. Knock, -Bertrand." - -Bertrand knocked, but no one opened the door. He knocked again until the -window panes rattled, and there was no response. - -"What does this mean, lieutenant?" he cried, looking at Auguste. - -"Why, it means that there's no one here, that is very certain." - -"Still, we must get in." - -As he spoke, he broke in the door with a kick, and entered the house, -followed by his master. It was deserted; they had carried off everything -except a few wretched pieces of furniture, and the travellers' apartment -too was dismantled. - -"We are robbed, monsieur," said Bertrand. - -"It looks to me very much like it, my friend." - -"Did you leave our money here?" - -"Alas! yes, in the desk. It was all there except these ten gold pieces -that I have in my pocket." - -"Ah! the rascals! To the devil with signoras, fine eyes and reverences! -Why did we leave our hotel?" - -"It was my fault, Bertrand, I realize it. It is my folly again that has -caused this misfortune. But what's the use of talking? the harm is -done." - -"We must enter a complaint, monsieur; we must obtain justice." - -"Enter a complaint, my friend, in a country where we are strangers, and -when we have nothing with which to pay for obtaining justice, which is -very dear everywhere?" - -"In that case, monsieur, we must allow ourselves to be robbed and say -nothing, must we?" - -"That is the wisest course in this case, Bertrand." - -"It's very amusing!" - -"We must make haste, too, to leave this house, which was undoubtedly let -to those sharpers, and of which we have smashed the door; for we may be -asked by what right we are here, and be punished for breaking in as we -did." - -"That would be the last straw! Ah! my poor old Schtrack, it would have -been much better to stay with you!" - -"Courage, Bertrand, let us rise superior to disaster. We have nothing -left--very good! that compels me to work. We will travel on foot; in -that way one doesn't run the risk of making evil acquaintances as one -does in a diligence. And then our baggage is lighter than ever, and each -of us can say with the Greek philosopher: _'Omnia mecum porto.'_" - -"That must mean that he hadn't a sou, doesn't it, lieutenant?" - -"Pretty nearly that, Bertrand." - -"In that case we are getting to be mighty philosophical!" - -"Let's leave Turin and go elsewhere in search of prudence." - -"Ah! where shall we stop, monsieur?" - - - - -XXV - -WHICH COVERS A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS - - -Let us leave Auguste and Bertrand to pursue their travels, the one -promising never again to allow himself to be led astray by the sly -glances of the first pretty face he may meet; the other, swearing -because his advice was not heeded, and reviling the sex which led his -master into so many scrapes. You must forgive Bertrand, ladies, and -pardon his ill humor; he really had some reason to distrust beauty. But -if he had been twenty years younger, and some pretty creature had -undertaken to make a conquest of him, who can say that, like his master, -he would not have succumbed? Let us return to the village, to the little -milkmaid, from whom Auguste's follies have kept us away too long; and -may the picture of innocence and of true love give our eyes a little -rest after that of the passions and intrigues of cities, and the -hypocrisy and selfishness of society. It is like turning to a lovely -landscape of Regnier after looking at one of Gudin's tempests; but, if -the representation of the conflict causes us keen emotions, the sight of -a pure sky and fields bright with blossoms brings sweet repose to our -souls and often arouses pleasanter sensations within us. - -Denise took back to her aunt the three thousand francs that she had -intended to force upon Auguste; she heaved a profound sigh as she handed -her the bag of money. - -"Wouldn't he take it?" asked Mre Fourcy. - -"Alas! it was too late, aunt! he had gone away! He's gone round the -world! and God only knows when he will come back!" - -"It ain't our fault, child; we got the money together just as quick as -we possibly could; for, you see, three thousand francs ain't like a -cheese. If he's gone travelling, it must be that he wasn't in need of -money; at any rate we've nothing to blame ourselves for, and when he -comes to see us again, he'll see what a pretty cottage we've had built -for Coco." - -Denise felt confident that Virginie would keep her promise, that she -would succeed in finding out where Auguste had gone, and that she would -send her news of him; that hope was the sole joy of her life. Hope -always counts for much in the sum total of happiness that we mortals -enjoy on earth; how many people have never known any other happiness -than that which it gives! - -Virginie had said to Denise, to console her: - -"You will see Auguste again, and when he knows how dearly you love him, -I am sure that he will care for you." - -Those words were engraved on the girl's heart, and she said to herself -every day: - -"That lady will tell him that I love him, and when he comes here again I -shall blush to meet him! I shan't dare to look him in the face! Perhaps -he won't like it, but it's his own fault; why did he tell me that he -loved me? Ought a man to say such things if he doesn't mean them? I made -believe to laugh when I heard him, but in the bottom of my heart I -realized how happy it made me! Of course he only meant to joke with me; -he talked to me as he does to all the women he thinks pretty. He doesn't -know what misery he has caused me!" - -On the site of the hovel occupied by the Calleux family, a pretty -cottage had been built, consisting of a ground floor and attics only. -Behind it was a garden of considerable size, surrounded by a fence. The -cottage was constructed with the three thousand francs left by Dalville; -it belonged to Coco, although he was still too young to live there. But -Denise took pleasure in beautifying the little place for which the child -was indebted to his benefactor; and there she passed a large part of -every day, after performing her morning tasks, dreaming of him whose -return she never ceased to expect. There, alone with the child, she -talked to him about Auguste, taught him to love him, to remember that he -owed everything to him, and never to enter the cottage without giving a -thought to gratitude. - -The garden was carefully tended. Denise planted flowers there. She -remembered what she had seen in the lovely bourgeois gardens that she -had visited, and she determined that the garden of the cottage should be -laid out on the same plan. She desired that Auguste should be agreeably -surprised when he visited the cottage, and should compliment her on her -taste. - -"He will see these shrubs," she thought, "these beds of verdure; and he -will be surprised that peasants should have done it all as well as -people from Paris." - -But in another moment the girl would sigh and say to herself sadly: - -"If he has gone to the end of the world, it will be a long time before -he comes to see my garden." - -The winter was succeeded by the lovely days of spring, and Denise heard -nothing from Virginie. - -"She hasn't found out anything about him," thought the girl; "otherwise -she would have come to tell me about it." - -The hope of hearing from Auguste induced Denise to make another trip to -Paris. She easily obtained her aunt's permission, and one morning she -appeared at Auguste's former abode. - -As usual, Schtrack was smoking on a bench in front of his lodge. He -recognized the girl, and although it was nearly four months since she -had fainted in his arms, he called out when he saw her: - -"Wasn't all the money in the bag?" - -"What, monsieur? what bag? Has Monsieur Auguste come back?" inquired -Denise, gazing anxiously at the old German. - -"Oh, no! no! The young man is still travelling with Pertrand. But I -thought you haf come about the bag of money that fell in the yard, and -that you didn't find it all. Sacreti! you see, Schtrack don't joke -about questions of honor." - -"Oh, monsieur! of course I didn't come about that!--Haven't you heard -from him, monsieur?" - -"From who, my child?" - -"From Monsieur Auguste." - -"How in the devil do you suppose I could hear from him when he's gone -round the world?" - -"And that lady--have you seen her?" - -"A lady?" - -"The one who was here with me the last time I came, and who was kind -enough to help me." - -"Oh ja! the demon! the hussy! the little grenadier!" - -"Has she been here, monsieur?" - -"Oh ja! she's been twice to ask for news of the young man." - -"And she told you nothing about Monsieur Auguste?" - -"Sacreti! don't I tell you that she came to ask about him? Don't you -understand?" - -"Do you know her address, monsieur?" - -"The little hussy's?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -"No, I don't know it." - -Schtrack resumed his smoking, and as Denise could learn nothing from -him, she turned away, regretting that she did not know Virginie's -address. If she had, she would have gone to see her, not because she -supposed her to be any better informed than herself concerning the -whereabouts of the travellers, but because she could, at least, have -talked with her about Auguste; and it is so great a delight to talk of -the person we love, especially with someone who understands us! - -Several more months passed without bringing any news of Auguste, nor had -Virginie come to the village. Hope began to fade in Denise's heart, but -love did not die out; that sentiment, when it is genuine, defies -obstacles, time, and absence, and it alone does not pass away when -everything about it passes away. - -Denise was seventeen years of age. She had grown no taller, but her -features seemed to have acquired a greater charm, her face more -expression; the secret sentiment that engrossed her thoughts gave to her -features a gentle melancholy which was most becoming to her sweet face. -Village maidens rarely have that look; perhaps that is why the young men -of Montfermeil and the neighborhood found in Denise a something that -fascinated them and turned their heads. But she had very little to say -to them, she no longer laughed and joked with them, she shunned their -dances and their sports; and the other girls sneered at the little -milkmaid, saying: - -"How high and mighty she is! She puts on the airs of a great lady! She's -trying to copy city folks. But with her scowling face she won't get any -lovers." - -Despite the prophecies of the peasants, Denise, involuntarily and -unconsciously, made conquests every day; and the village maidens, with -all their loud laughter, their merriment and the lusty blows they dealt -out to the beaux of the neighborhood, saw that they all sighed for her -who did nothing to attract them. And as Denise, in addition to her sweet -face, was an excellent match, several young men applied to Mre Fourcy -for her hand. - -The excellent aunt had noticed that there had been something wrong with -her niece for a long time; but she was convinced that marriage would rid -her of that something which caused her to sigh night and day. Mre -Fourcy flattered herself that she had had much experience, and -remembered that a great many young women, after taking unto themselves -husbands, recover the fresh color that is beginning to fade. So one fine -morning she went to her niece, who was, as usual, alone in the garden of -Coco's cottage. - -"My child," said Mre Fourcy, sitting down beside her, "I have come here -to talk to you about something." - -"Whatever you please, aunt," replied the girl, with her eyes fixed on a -marguerite from which she had just plucked the petals, and in which she -had read that the young traveller loved her dearly. - -"My child, you were seventeen years old on Saint-Pierre's day. A girl of -seventeen ain't a child any longer--do you understand that, Denise?" - -"Oh, yes, aunt!" - -"Besides, you've known all about housekeeping for a long time, and your -sewing's like a charm, and you make cheeses that a body could eat all -day long without hurting 'em; and then you know all the ins and outs of -a house. You're active and a good worker; you have three times more wit -than you need to guide a man who might try to go wrong; and morguenne! -the man who gets you won't ever regret it!" - -Denise looked at Mre Fourcy in surprise, and faltered: - -"I don't understand, aunt." - -"That makes a difference, my dear; I'll cut it short. You're old enough -to get married, and there's several chances offered. First of all, big -Fanfan Jolivet, and then neighbor Mauflard's nephew, and tall -Claude-Jean-Pierre-Nicolas Lathuille, who's just inherited his father's -estate; there's lots more too that would like you, but those three are -the best fixed. They're good boys and hard workers. It's your business -to choose which one you want for a husband." - -Denise had turned pale and shown great embarrassment during her aunt's -speech; but she glanced again at the remains of her marguerite and -replied in a very low tone: - -"I don't want any one of them, aunt." - -"What do you say, my child?" - -"I say that--that I don't want to marry." - -"You don't want to marry? Nonsense! You're joking when you say that! As -if girls mustn't marry! I tell you, on the contrary, marriage will do -you good. For a long time now you haven't been yourself, you don't laugh -or sing any more. A husband, my child, makes you sing, brings back your -spirits, and--Great heaven! you're crying, my poor Denise! Do you think -I mean to make you feel bad? No, no! I'll send all your suitors to the -devil first. My poor child crying! I don't want you to do that. Come, -tell me right away what makes you cry." - -"To have to refuse you, aunt." - -"The idea of crying for that! Do you think I'll ever drive you to do -what you don't want to do?" - -"Oh, no! you're so kind to me, aunt!" - -"But if you cry, I'll scold you. You don't want any of these husbands, -so we won't say any more about it, my child. But, jarni! something's the -matter with you, all the same. A girl don't sigh all day thinking about -flies." - -"Oh, aunt!" - -"Tell me what the trouble is, my child." - -"I don't dare to." - -"I want you to dare to. You've got a pain in your heart, that's sure." - -"Oh! I am very silly! I know that." - -"You, silly! you, the cleverest, the smartest, the shrewdest girl in the -world! Anyway, my dear, a body don't cry because she's silly. It can't -be you're in love with anybody, are you?" - -Denise heaved a profound sigh, and replied at last, lowering her eyes: - -"Yes, aunt." - -"Well, my dear, there's no law against it! and if it ain't one of the -fellows that's offered himself, why, never mind, so long as he's an -honest man and will make you happy; for he loves you dearly too, no -doubt?" - -"No, aunt, he doesn't love me at all; he doesn't give me a thought." - -"Jarni! I'll go and tear his eyes out! Do you mean to say he's forgotten -you, or deceived you? The idea of my Denise loving him, and him not -being too happy to marry her!" - -"But he has never spoken of marrying me, aunt." - -"Then he's a deceiver, is he, a rake?" - -"No, aunt; but he's--it's that gentleman from Paris." - -"Monsieur Dalville?" - -"Yes, aunt." - -"O mon Dieu! what on earth are you thinking about, Denise? You're in -love with a fine gentleman from Paris, a man in the best society, a man -who would never look at a peasant girl!" - -"Oh, yes! he did look at me a great deal, I assure you." - -"But you can't think of such a thing as loving Monsieur Dalville, my -dear!" - -"Alas! it isn't my fault--I can't help it." - -"How did this love come to you, my child?" - -"When I fell from my donkey, aunt." - -"Is it possible?" - -"Mon Dieu! yes. I met Monsieur Auguste on the road; he was in his -cabriolet and I was walking behind Jean le Blanc." - -"You told me that, my child." - -"He kept looking at me, and I pretended not to notice it. He got out of -his carriage and followed me along the narrow path through the wood; he -told me I was pretty and I laughed at his compliments." - -"You told me that, too." - -"He tried to kiss me, and in defending myself I scratched his face." - -"You didn't tell me that, my dear." - -"Oh! I was very angry then! I hated the man! I got on Jean le Blanc so -as to get away from him faster, but Jean began to gallop and threw me -off. I fell--I don't know how." - -"Mon Dieu! my child! And then what?" - -"The gentleman ran up to me; but he lifted me up so respectfully--he -seemed so sorry for my fall--he was paler and trembled more than I did. -Then, I don't know how it happened, but all of a sudden my anger went -away, and--and I believe that I loved him already." - -"And then?" - -"Bless me! you know, aunt, that we found what he'd given Coco and his -grandmother, and I felt that that made me love him still more. I saw him -again at Madame Destival's, and he told me to take care of Coco; and -since then, you know, aunt, he hasn't been to see us but once." - -"Have you told him that you loved him?" - -"No; on the contrary, as Monsieur Bertrand told me that would keep him -from coming to see us, I told him that I should never love him." - -"You did well, my child." - -"Oh, no, aunt! I think that I did wrong rather, for he hasn't been here -since then, and he went away without bidding us good-bye." - -"Well, well, now she's crying again! But, my child, what good does this -love do you?" - -"None at all, aunt." - -"Monsieur Auguste wouldn't have married a poor village girl. Now he's -gone away, and we shan't ever see him again probably." - -"Do you mean to say that he may not come back? Won't he want to -see--Coco again? He will come back, aunt; ah! I am still hopeful." - -"Even if he should, remember that he's a gentleman, and used to fine -ladies; while you--Well! what are you looking at that flower so for?" - -"It told me that Auguste loved me dearly." - -"Who told you so?" - -"This marguerite, aunt." - -"Pluck another one to-morrow, my dear, and it will tell you just the -opposite." - -"Oh! I pluck them every morning, aunt." - -"And does the flower always tell you he loves you?" - -"When there's one that doesn't I question another, and I keep on till I -find one that gives me the answer I want." - -"That's the way girls tell their own fortunes. But look you, my child, -it would be much more sensible to forget a man who don't give you a -thought." - -"I can't do it, aunt." - -"If you should take a husband instead of plucking marguerites, your love -would soon pass away, I promise you." - -"No, aunt, I don't want to marry. Leave me at liberty to think of him -and to consult the flowers, and I promise you that I won't cry any -more." - -"As you please, my dear Denise; and if that's your taste, stay -unmarried. But you're so pretty, and such a figure. Ah! it would be a -great pity if you should pass your youth consulting flowers." - -The worthy aunt said no more to Denise on the subject of marriage, and -the suitors were dismissed. The villagers indulged in various -conjectures concerning the girl's conduct. The young women laughed at -the gallants who had been rejected; the gallants hoped that in time -Denise would be less cruel. But time passed and Denise's determination -did not waver. - -Mre Fourcy became infirm and her niece waited upon her with the most -loving solicitude. Coco, who as he grew up had learned to love his -benefactresses as dearly as his goat, strove to make himself useful, and -often diverted Denise from her melancholy by his childish prattle. She -loved to watch and to fondle the child whom Auguste had loved; she had -him taught all that could be taught him in the village; she guided his -heart into the paths of virtue, for she wished him to do credit to his -benefactor. - -Two years had passed since Auguste and Bertrand started on their -travels. During that period Denise had been to Paris six times in quest -of news of the travellers; but Schtrack had never been able to give her -any, and she heard nothing from Virginie. At the end of two years Mre -Fourcy fell sick, and, despite her niece's care, soon died in her arms. - -The loss of her aunt caused Denise the keenest sorrow; we can but regret -profoundly those who throughout their lives have sought only to make us -happy, without ever reminding us of what they have done for us--the -latter being a method of conferring favors which freezes gratitude; for -there are many people who do good, but there are very few good people. - -Denise was left alone on earth but for Coco, who was not yet eight. She -let her house, which was now too large for her, and went to live in -Coco's cottage, to which she added a small wing. There Denise was -happier: it seemed to her that she was nearer Auguste. She was no longer -obliged to be a milkmaid, and she hired an old peasant woman who -undertook the house work. Denise busied herself about her garden and -sought additional knowledge in books. In her aunt's lifetime she was -rarely able to gratify her taste for reading, because Mre Fourcy -considered that she already knew too much for a peasant. But nothing now -prevented her from following her inclination and trying to train her -mind. - -One by one Denise laid aside the coarse woolen skirt, the apron, the -sackcloth waist; she wore clothes which, while they were most simple and -unpretending, approximated the costume of Parisian ladies. Thereupon the -villagers said to one another: - -"Denise Fourcy is trying to play the fine lady, that's sure. Don't you -see that since her aunt died she don't dress like us any more, but puts -on style and uses big words when she talks?" - -Denise cared little what the people of the village thought; her only -desire was to please him whom she still expected; and she would say to -herself as she looked in her mirror: - -"Perhaps he'll like me better like this. He won't find me so awkward and -embarrassed as I was; but it will be all the same to him, for he doesn't -love me, and he thinks that I don't love him either. Mon Dieu! why did I -tell him that? It was Monsieur Bertrand that made me do it; he deceived -me by telling me that Auguste wouldn't come to the village if I loved -him. Yes, I am sure that he deceived me; for it was after that that -Auguste received me so unkindly in Paris; and he didn't come here again. -But when I see him, ah! then I'll tell him the truth; it is always wrong -to lie. And I will beg him not to lie to me either." - -Another year passed; Denise was twenty and Coco nine. The child was -happy; mirth and health shone on his pretty face. Denise was still -melancholy; she tried in vain to banish from her mind the memory of -Auguste whom she was beginning to lose hope of seeing again. - -"Perhaps he has settled in some foreign land!" she would say to herself; -"perhaps he is married--and will never come back!" - -Then her eyes would fill with tears, and the child's caresses served -only to intensify her grief, for he was forever asking her: - -"Shall I see my kind friend soon?" - -Denise often determined to be sensible, to drive her insane passion from -her heart, and to think no more of Auguste. Then she would go out to -seek distraction in the fields; but, whether by chance or from -preference, she always found herself on the narrow path in the wood, -where she fell from her donkey. - - - - -XXVI - -THE RETURN - - -One lovely spring evening Denise sat under the shrubbery in the garden, -reading, while Coco played in front of the cottage, beside the old -peasant woman, who had fallen asleep on a bench. - -Happening to look out on the road, Coco saw a man standing there, -apparently gazing at the house, and so engrossed by his thoughts that he -did not notice the child playing near by. - -The man was not dressed like a peasant; a gray woolen jacket, trousers -with gaiters, and a bundle slung over his shoulder, seemed to indicate a -traveller. He wore a shabby round cap, and in his hand he carried a -stick which he evidently needed to lean upon; for his face was pale and -worn, and his long beard and the expression of his eyes denoted poverty -and suffering. - -Coco stole toward him, staring at the stranger with childish curiosity -and was surprised to see tears falling from his eyes as he gazed at the -cottage. - -The child had learned from Denise to be compassionate to the sufferings -of the unfortunate. He stood in front of the stranger and said in an -artless and kindly tone: - -"Are you unhappy, monsieur? If you'd like to rest in our house, come in -and we'll give you some supper." - -The child's voice startled the stranger, he started in surprise and -scrutinized Coco closely; then he took his hand and squeezed it -tenderly, saying in a voice choked by emotion: - -"What! is it you, my friend?" - -The boy, surprised to be addressed in that way, answered with a smile: - -"Do you know me, monsieur?" - -The wayfarer sighed, and replied after a moment: - -"Yes, I saw you once, long ago, here, on this spot; but at that time, -instead of this pretty cottage, there was only an old ruined hovel here! -What a transformation has taken place!" - -"Oh! it was my good friend who gave me the money for all this; for -that's my house, monsieur, that is; but when he comes back, I'll thank -him ever so much!" - -The stranger pressed the child's hand again, as he continued: - -"Won't you come in? Come, I'll tell Denise that you're going to have -supper with us." - -"Denise! what, is Denise here?" exclaimed the stranger, detaining the -child. - -"Yes, monsieur, we've lived together ever since her dear aunt died." - -"And is Denise married?" - -"No, monsieur.--Well, are you coming?" - -After a moment's hesitation, the stranger decided to follow the child, -who took his hand and led him into the house. - -"Denise! Denise!" cried Coco, "here's some company! here's a gentleman, -who's hungry!--You are hungry, ain't you?--Denise, come, I say!" - -But Denise was at the end of the garden and did not hear the child's -voice; so he ran to the thicket of shrubbery to fetch her, and the -stranger slowly followed him. - -"Dear Denise," said Coco, "I just saw a man on the road who looked very -unhappy, and I asked him to come into the house; we'll give him some -supper, won't we?" - -"Yes, my dear." - -"I did well to bring him in, for he looks as if he was poor; and yet he -didn't beg." - -"Yes, you did well; let's go to him." - -"Look, he has followed me--there he is." - -The stranger had stopped at a little distance and was looking at Denise; -the last rays of daylight rested on his face, and the girl examined him -with interest as she walked toward him. But she had not taken four steps -when she gave a little cry and ran, flew toward the stranger. - -"Auguste!--Monsieur--is it you?" - -That was all she could say; and Auguste, for he it was, received her in -his arms. - -"Denise! dear Denise!" said Auguste, pressing to his heart the girl whom -surprise and joy had almost deprived of consciousness. - -At last she recovered the power of speech. - -"Coco, it is your kind friend," she cried, "your benefactor has come -back! Come and kiss him." - -The child stared at Auguste in open-mouthed amazement; he had difficulty -in reconciling himself to the idea that that shabbily dressed man with -the long beard was his benefactor; but if his eyes did not recognize his -kind friend, his heart was not silent: something drew him to the -stranger, so that he ran joyfully to Auguste and kissed him, and the -latter abandoned himself for some moments to the pleasure of holding -the child and the girl in his arms. - -"So you knew me, did you, Denise?" he said at last. - -"Oh! always! I shall always recognize you! Even if your face were not -the same, my heart would tell me that it was you." - -"Dear Denise!" - -"Well, I didn't know you, my kind friend," said Coco, "because you've -got a beard; and then, you were crying." - -"Alas! you did not expect to see me in this pitiable costume, did you?" - -"Oh! we expected you, dressed no matter how! In our eyes, aren't you -always well dressed? But when I see you like this, I fear that you have -been unfortunate; and that is what grieves me." - -"Yes, Denise, yes, I have been unfortunate, but I have earned it! It's -my own folly that has reduced me to this condition! But as I still have -your friendship and this little fellow's, I feel that I have not lost -all." - -"Oh! monsieur, is it possible that you could doubt our hearts?" - -"What would you have? misfortune often makes men unjust. I was wrong, I -see. I will tell you everything that has happened to me, Denise; I will -tell you frankly what I have done; you are the last one from whom I -would conceal my shortcomings, for I am sure beforehand that you will -forgive me." - -"Oh! I am so glad to see you again, monsieur! But come in and sit down -in the house, and rest; you must want something to eat and drink." - -"It is true that I have had nothing since yesterday." - -"Since yesterday!" cried Denise; and a deathly pallor overspread her -cheeks, her eyes filled with tears, and she could not speak; she laid -her head on Auguste's shoulder and gave free vent to the tears that were -choking her. - -"Denise, dear Denise, pray be calm! I am with you; I have already -forgotten part of my misfortunes--don't be alarmed about me! Besides, I -am not entirely without resources. The reason why I have eaten nothing -since yesterday is that sad thoughts took away my appetite. I still have -a little money, but I am saving it to procure lodgings in Paris; for -nothing is so conducive to economy as misfortune. Oh! the loss of my -wealth is not what grieves me most, as you know; blest with a happy -disposition, hope and cheerfulness continued to travel with me even when -my purse was light; but the ingratitude of men, the desertion of him -whom I loved like a brother--that is what cut me the deepest! that is -what took away my courage! I know that a man may bear the blows of -destiny philosophically; but I could find no philosophy to enable me to -bear the loss of a friend, the pains of the heart." - -"O mon Dieu!" said Denise; "is it possible! But, it is true, you are -alone--What has become of Bertrand?" - -"He has deserted me! He got tired of my follies, and he left the man -who, in his prosperous days, treated him as a friend, not as a servant." - -"Bertrand deserted you--left you when you were unfortunate and a long -way from home! Oh, no! no! that is impossible, monsieur! He loved and -honored you! Bertrand is an old soldier, he has not forgotten all that -he owes you; I will answer for his heart as surely as for my own." - -"Nevertheless, Denise, I have told you the truth. But let us go into the -house; later I will tell you the story of my travels." - -"Oh! forgive me, monsieur; to think of my forgetting! Let's go in -quickly; come and rest." - -Denise led Auguste into the house. Coco followed them, jumping and -crying aloud for joy. - -"Here's my kind friend come back! Denise won't be sad any more!" - -The girl ran to wake her old servant, and turned everything topsy-turvy -in her haste to set before the wayfarer the best that she had; and as -she went to and fro by Auguste, she stopped constantly to look at him, -as if to make sure that he was not a delusion, then exclaimed: - -"He is here! he has come back at last! he hadn't forgotten us!" - -And she wiped away a tear born of her emotion, which was instantly -succeeded by a smile. Auguste was deeply moved by the pleasure that his -arrival caused in the cottage. He did not tire of gazing at Denise, he -noticed the change that had taken place in her language and manners and -dress; and as he turned his eyes upon himself, he sighed and said: - -"The three years that have passed have wrought vast changes: instead of -the milkmaid, a rather awkward village girl, I find in you a young woman -full of charm. And I, whom you used to see so dandified and -elegant--here am I arrayed like any poor devil who travels on foot -without the means to pay for a lodging!" - -"What difference does that make? Are you Coco's benefactor any the less? -or he who made love so ardently to the little milkmaid?" - -"You will agree, Denise, that in this costume I don't look very much -like a benefactor or a seducer." - -"For my part, if you don't like me this way, I will very soon go back to -the woolen waist and the little cap." - -"You will always be lovely. However, I have no right--I must not -forget----" - -Auguste paused and Denise looked at him anxiously; but he seemed to make -an effort to banish a painful memory and took his place at the table, -saying: - -"Let us not think of anything but the pleasure it affords me to be here! -Denise, Coco, come beside me; one evening of happiness will help me to -forget several months of suffering." - -They sat down at the table. Auguste was the object of the most zealous -attentions on the part of the occupants of the cottage; the presence of -a sovereign would not have made them so happy as that of the poor -wayfarer. - -When Auguste had recovered from the fatigue of his journeying, he took -Coco on his knee, seated himself in front of Denise, and began his -story: - -"I determined to travel, hoping that travelling would ripen my wits; -moreover, it was necessary that I should make an effort to put my -talents to some use. I know how to paint, I am a good musician, but it -was very hard for me to look for pupils in Paris, the scene of my days -of splendor, where I could not take a step without meeting old -acquaintances, who turned their heads to avoid bowing to me when they -learned that I was ruined! So I started with Bertrand----" - -"Yes, and without coming to bid me good-bye!" interjected Denise with a -profound sigh. - -"I was afraid to see you again. I supposed that you were married. I have -not forgotten what you told me in your garden when I came to call on -you." - -Denise blushed, and Auguste continued: - -"So I started. We had six thousand francs left; with economy, that was -enough to carry us a long way. But it is so hard for me not to do -foolish things!" - -"And to be good!" said Denise under her breath. - -Auguste smiled and continued: - -"At Turin we were robbed by adventuresses of our whole fortune except a -few gold pieces, with which we travelled to Rome. There I worked and -earned a little money with my violin, and Bertrand gave fencing lessons. -We went to Naples, where I met by mere chance a lady whom I had known in -Paris; she interested herself in my behalf and procured me some rich -pupils. We had lived there very comfortably for a year when I received -two or three stiletto thrusts on account of an Italian damsel's lovely -eyes." - -"Mon Dieu!" cried Denise; "why did you need to love an Italian too?" - -"I was driven to seek distraction. That adventure disgusted me with -Italy, where, in truth, I saw no prospect of making a handsome fortune. -I determined to go to England, where moderate talent often commands a -very high price. Bertrand was still ready to go with me; we left Italy -and reached London without mishap. There, after a very short time, -having acquired the friendship of a man who frequented the first -society, he made me the fashion, and I had more pupils than I could give -lessons to. I charged very high rates, and I was overjoyed to find that -I should be able some day to return to my native land with a good round -sum of money. But, alas! I had the ill luck to become acquainted with a -young English-woman." - -"Well! still another woman!" exclaimed Denise testily. - -"She lived with some relations, who, so she said, made her very unhappy. -She proposed to me to carry her off, and I dared not refuse. Despite -Bertrand's advice I indulged in that escapade. But the abduction created -an uproar, and I was proceeded against; I was obliged either to marry -the young woman, or to pay a large sum; for in England one must always -give compensation. I did not choose to marry, so I paid." - -"Ah! that was much better than--than to marry by force," said Denise. - -"But that adventure caused me to lose my pupils and the fruit of my -labors. Distressed by this catastrophe, for which I could accuse no one -but myself, I proposed to Bertrand that we take a trip to Scotland -before returning to our own country. One of my pupils had presented me -with a horse, I bought one for Bertrand, and we left London in the -saddle. We stopped at a lovely village called, I believe, Newington. -After breakfasting at an inn, I sat alone, waiting for my companion, -whom I had sent to pay our bill. Surprised at his failure to return, I -went downstairs and made inquiries. 'Your companion has gone,' they told -me; 'he just mounted his horse and rode off at a gallop.' Utterly unable -to understand his absence, I remained at the inn all day, waiting for -him. I could not imagine that Bertrand had left me; but the next day -again I waited in vain. I questioned the people at the inn; they could -tell me nothing except that, after paying our bill, he had crossed the -courtyard, and a moment later they had seen him riding away at full -speed. I was driven at last to a realization of the fact that Bertrand -had voluntarily turned his back on me. Ah! Denise, I can't tell you how -I suffered because of his desertion! Accustomed to living with my old -friend, I had often paid little heed to his advice, but I set great -store by his friendship. No doubt he was tired of my foolish -performances; he probably lost patience, and despairing of making me -less reckless, did not choose to share my evil fortune any longer. -However, he had often sworn never to leave me while he lived, and I -trusted his oath, for a friend's is more sacred than a mistress's." - -"Bertrand--leave you! I can't understand it!" said Denise. - -"I changed my plans, and, having no further desire to go to Scotland, -determined to return to France. Oh! how I longed to stand on my native -soil! I felt a most intense craving to see you and to embrace this -little fellow! I sold my horse to pay my passage. When I arrived at -Calais, I reckoned up my resources and determined to travel on foot. -But, I confess, my strength frequently betrayed my courage. Accustomed -as I am to wealth, to the comforts of life, my health is still that of a -dandy, while my modest costume stamps me a humble wayfarer; and more -than once I had to stop on the way. At last I reached this village; -before going on to Paris, I longed to see this spot once more, to learn -what you were doing, Denise. And here I am by your side! Unhappiness, -fatigue, everything is forgotten; and to-morrow, with a razor, clean -linen, and a few changes in my costume, you will see once more, not the -resplendent Dalville, but at least poor Auguste, for whom your -friendship is not dead." - -Auguste kissed the child. Denise, who had taken the deepest interest in -his story, said to him: - -"I trust that now you will not go travelling over the world any more?" - -"You must stay with us, my kind friend," said Coco. - -"Yes, I see that I must abandon the hope of making my fortune with such -talents as I have. I have ceased to think of travelling. As to what I -shall do--I haven't any clear idea as yet; but still, among my dear -friends in Paris, who no longer deign to look at me, there are many whom -I have obliged, and who are still my debtors. There is something like -twelve thousand francs owing to me, and I propose to try to collect at -least half of it; then----" - -"You will come and settle down near us, won't you, monsieur?" - -"At all events, Denise, I will come to see you often." - -"But you won't go to Paris right away; you won't leave us for a long -while----" - -"No, I promise." - -"Remember that you are in your own house here; we built this cottage -with what you gave Coco, so you see that it belongs to you." - -"No, Denise, this house is the boy's fortune; I am too happy to have -been able to contribute to his welfare, and I only regret that I didn't -use in this way all the money I have wasted on my pleasures!--Nothing is -left to me from my follies; but something always remains of the good -that one does!" - -"Then you have reformed? You won't fall in love any more--with every -woman you see, will you?" - -"Faith, Denise, I wouldn't swear not to as yet. I received a bitter -lesson on my fifth floor--and in my travels I turned it to no advantage -whatever. Ah! if I had won the love of a sincere, true-hearted, virtuous -woman--like you, Denise--perhaps I should have reformed before this!" - -"What, monsieur!" said Denise, blushing; "do you mean that I don't love -you?" - -"No--you love me like a brother, I know, and your touchingly warm -welcome of me, the delight that my return has caused you, show plainly -enough your deep affection for me; but, my dear Denise, there is a -sweeter, tenderer sentiment which I hoped to inspire in you before you -told me that you could never love me. Don't lower your eyes, Denise; I -am not reproaching you; we cannot control our hearts, and I admit that I -did not deserve yours. I tried to accustom myself to look upon you as a -sister; that is what I have been trying to do ever since our interview -in your aunt's garden. It will be hard, but with time I shall -succeed--perhaps. Let us leave that subject; I am so happy to be with -you now!--Well! haven't you anything to say to me, Denise?" - -"Yes, monsieur, yes! But you must feel the need of rest." - -"It is true that my journey has tired me; and my story has kept you up -late." - -"Come, monsieur; I'll take you to the little summer-house that I have -had built in the garden; it makes the prettiest room in the house. I -wish I could give you even better quarters----" - -"You forget, Denise, that I am no longer the dandy of the -Chausse-d'Antin! Just cast your eye at my costume." - -"Oh, to me you are always the same, monsieur!" - -She took Auguste to the summer-house and left him there with a loving: -"Until to-morrow;" then she returned to the house and her own room, -saying to herself: - -"He thinks that my only feeling for him is friendship; he is very much -mistaken; what I feel for him is love! Mon Dieu! why did I believe -Monsieur Bertrand at that time? Why did I tell him that I didn't love -him? This is what comes of lying! But I'll tell him the truth now, -because I don't want him to try to look on me as a sister." - - - - -XXVII - -AVOWALS.--THE PROPOSAL - - -After travelling about for three years in quest of riches, and finding -in all lands the same vices, the same passions, the same folly,--when -one returns home even poorer than one went away, how delicious it is to -wake beneath a hospitable roof, with faithful friends whom one's evil -fortune has not changed, and who are made happy by one's return! It is -the harbor after a gale; it is the clear sky after a storm; it is the -gleam of dawn after a long night. - -Such was Auguste's waking; in his eyes the cottage was a palace, aye, -better than a palace, since it held Denise and Coco. He rose, and after -revelling for a few moments in the pure air of the garden, he turned his -attention to his costume. Not with impunity does one live under the same -roof with a lovely girl whom one has once loved, and still loves, -although resolved to be nothing more than her friend. Moreover, it is -quite natural to try to recover some of one's former attractions, after -making one's appearance in the costume of an impoverished wayfarer. - -In a short time, the razor had disposed of the beard. But Auguste's -modest portmanteau contained only a coat, a waistcoat and almost no -linen. He was inspecting it with a dejected air when there came a soft -tap at his door and he heard Coco's voice: - -"It's me, my kind friend." - -Auguste opened the door to the child, who had a large bundle which he -placed on the bed. - -"What's all this, my friend?" queried Auguste, after he had kissed the -little fellow. - -"I don't know, my kind friend; it was Denise that told me to bring it to -you. Good-bye; I'm going to feed my goat. You didn't see her last night; -hurry up and dress yourself and come and say good-morning to her." - -When the child had gone, Auguste opened the package, which contained a -supply of linen and a paper on which was written: - -"Coco gives you this; remember that he didn't refuse your gifts a long -time ago." - -"Dear Denise!" said Auguste; "how thoughtful of her! And to think of her -being able to get them so early! She can't have slept at all--she must -have ransacked the village already. If this is the way her friendship -works, what would happen if one had her love!" - -However, it was a bitter thing to Auguste to accept the girl's gifts; -when one is in the habit of giving, it is hard to make up one's mind to -receive. He overcame at last the feeling of pride that caused him to -hesitate; he realized that it would hurt Denise if he refused, and that -consideration decided him to accept her presents. - -After completing his toilet, Auguste went into the garden and found -Denise there. She came to meet him with the most engaging smile, and a -look in which there was something more than friendship. Coco ran to -Auguste and said: - -"Ah! I know you now--this is the way you used to look." - -"Thanks to you, Denise!" said Dalville in an undertone. - -But the girl put her hand over his mouth, and he seized the hand and -pressed it to his heart without more words. They showed him the cottage, -the garden, every nook and corner, and Denise said to him at every step: - -"Do you like this? Are you satisfied with the use I have made of your -money?" - -"What surprises me," said Auguste, "is that you can build a house with -three thousand francs." - -"In the first place, monsieur, we had the land; and then, you see, the -cottage has only four rooms and attics above." - -"But that pretty summer-house where I slept last night?" - -"Oh! I had that built after my poor aunt's death. I preferred to live -here than in our house. I felt as if I weren't so far away from you." - -These words were accompanied by another sweet smile; all of which was -not calculated to induce Auguste to look upon the lovely girl as his -sister simply. - -After breakfast they sat in the shade of a clump of lilacs. They talked -a long while, having so much to say to each other after a long -separation. The girl did not weary of listening to Auguste's stories of -his travels. When he mentioned Bertrand's name, a sigh escaped him; -whereupon Denise took his hand and pressed it affectionately, to give -him to understand that he still had friends. He continued his story, but -her hand remained in his, and she did not think of withdrawing it. - -Engrossed by the pleasure of being with Denise, of exchanging soft -glances with her, it did not seem to occur to Auguste that he must look -upon her only with a friend's eyes. Nor did Denise seek to conceal the -state of her feelings from him; on the contrary, she wished him to read -in the lowest depths of her heart. - -Several days passed swiftly. In the morning Auguste and Denise went to -walk in the country. Coco always went with them, but his presence did -not incommode them; for their eyes alone betrayed their feelings, and an -innocent heart has no fear of witnesses. At night, when they were -together in the cottage, the hours flew more swiftly still, and when -they separated, they exchanged a loving: "Until to-morrow." - -Auguste could not conceal from himself the fact that he adored Denise, -and, being persuaded that she had no other feeling than friendship for -him, he said to himself: - -"This girl will end by turning my head. But she loves me only as a -brother; she doesn't know how dangerous to my repose her affectionate -glances and caresses are. I must leave her and return to Paris; a few -days more and I shan't have strength to do it." - -On her side Denise said to herself: - -"Great heaven! doesn't he see that I love him? I do all that I can to -show him! Is it that he doesn't choose to understand me? In that case I -must just tell him how it is; and now that he has nothing at all and I -have a little money, perhaps he'll not despise the little village girl." - -Although he continued to tell himself that he must go away from Denise, -Auguste did not leave the cottage, where he was so comfortable. But one -evening when he was alone with her, he inquired: - -"How does it happen, Denise, that you are not married?" - -"Because I didn't choose to marry, monsieur!" she replied, raising her -lovely eyes to his. - -"But you were in love with someone, surely? You told me so. What -obstacle has prevented you from marrying the object of your choice?" - -Denise blushed and no longer dared to look at Auguste. At last she -faltered in a tremulous voice: - -"I--I lied that time, monsieur." - -"How so, Denise?" - -"You know, that time in my aunt's garden, when I told you that I had a -sweetheart, it was because Monsieur Bertrand had told me that you didn't -come to the village for fear of falling in love with me; and I longed so -to see you that that was why I said I didn't love you." - -"Dear Denise! is it possible?" cried Auguste, throwing his arms about -her. - -"Yes, that's the truth; and since then I've been awfully unhappy because -I told you that; for you didn't come again, and you thought I loved -somebody else." - -Auguste gazed lovingly at the girl; but soon his brow grew dark; he -fixed his eyes on the ground and seemed to be meditating deeply. Amazed -by his silence and his depression, she drew nearer to him and said -timidly: - -"Are you angry because I love you?" - -"Ah! Denise, it might once have made me perfectly happy--but now----" - -"Well--now?" - -Auguste made no reply; and after a moment she asked him: - -"Will you marry me, monsieur?" - -"Marry you, Denise?" - -"Yes; formerly I wouldn't have dared to hope for such a thing, for you -were very rich, and you couldn't have taken a village girl for your -wife. But you have lost the fortune which kept you in fashionable -society. You say every day that you no longer care for the fine ladies, -the coquettes, who deceived you.--Now, if you want me, I am yours. I -haven't a great fortune, but I have enough for us two; and I will never -deceive you!" - -Auguste was deeply moved by Denise's affecting offer; but he contented -himself with pressing her hand and heaving a profound sigh. She -impatiently awaited his reply; his silence made her think that her -proposal had offended him; she walked away from him, and, unable to -restrain her tears, faltered: - -"I made you angry by proposing that you should marry me. Forgive me, -monsieur; I forgot that I am only a peasant. I thought that you loved -me." - -"Ah! I love you, Denise, more than I ever loved! my feeling for you is a -hundred times sweeter and fonder than the passions which have led me -into so many follies. You are only a peasant, you say! but your virtues -and your good qualities make you the equal of a great lady, even though -you had not in addition such lovely features, such charming ways, and a -melting voice that goes to one's very heart!" - -"You love me! Oh! how happy I am! Then you will take me for your wife?" - -Auguste gazed tenderly at her, and said at last: - -"You shall have my reply to-morrow, Denise." - -"To-morrow! Why not at once? Do you need to reflect about it?" - -The girl said no more. During the rest of the evening Auguste seemed -more affectionate, more in love than ever; his eyes, which were -constantly fixed on Denise, expressed the most genuine passion, and when -he left her, to return to his summer-house, he pressed her to his heart -and seemed unable to tear himself from her arms. He left her at last, -and Denise said to herself: - -"Oh! he will certainly marry me! but why not say so at once?" - -She did not sleep; she was too excited to close her eyes. In default of -dreams, her imagination conjured up a thousand delightful pictures: she -saw herself the chosen companion of the man she loved; she passed the -rest of her days with him. So charming a future is surely not inferior -to the pleasantest dreams, and we do not try to sleep when we possess -the reality of happiness. - -Day broke at last. Denise rose and spent a longer time than usual at her -toilet. That is a venial offence when a woman knows that she is going -into the presence of the man whom she wishes to call her husband. She -left her room and went into the garden, where she found Auguste every -morning; but he was not there, and the girl was surprised that he was -still asleep; for she thought that he must have been unable to sleep, -like herself, and that he would be in haste to see her. - -She seated herself in the shrubbery where they had talked the night -before. She could see the summer-house from there, and she waited -impatiently for Auguste to come out. But the door did not open, and at -last Coco, whom Denise had not yet seen, came running toward her with a -letter in his hand. - -"Here, my dear Denise, my kind friend gave me this for you," he said, -holding out the letter. - -"Your kind friend! Why, have you seen Monsieur Auguste already?" - -"Oh, yes! he was up before sunrise." - -"Where is he now, then?" - -"He kissed me and then he went away; I don't know where he went." - -Denise had a presentiment of evil; she opened the letter with a -trembling hand and read: - - "I love you, my dear Denise; do not doubt my love; but shall I join - my poverty to your comfort, after I have lost my money by my own - fault? shall I bestow on you the hand of a man who has not even any - knowledge of the agricultural labors by which your little property - can be made profitable? No, Denise, I am not worthy to be your - husband, I cannot make up my mind to live at the expense of a woman - who would sacrifice a happy future for me. Doubtless your kind - heart led you to offer me your hand; perhaps you even pretended to - love me so as to induce me to accept your generous offer; but I - must not do it. Adieu, Denise! If I should become rich again, I - shall fly to you; but I have no hope of it now. Adieu! I shall come - to see you when I have strength enough to look upon you as my - sister." - -The girl turned deadly pale and dropped the letter, crying: - -"He doesn't believe in my love!" - -"Well, where's my kind friend? Did he write you where he's gone?" - -"Alas! he has abandoned us, he has run away from us, he thinks we don't -love him!" - -Denise burst into tears; the child ran to her arms and she pressed him -to her heart, sobbing: - -"Oh! I shall die of grief, and you must tell him that he's the cause of -it; then perhaps he'll believe that I loved him!" - - - - -XXVIII - -VIRGINIE AGAIN - - -It was very early in the morning when Auguste left the pretty little -cottage where he had passed a fortnight which he looked upon as the -happiest period in his life. It was not without a mighty effort that he -tore himself away from Denise; it requires a deal of courage to leave a -woman whom one loves, when she has voluntarily offered one her heart. -But we must remember that Auguste had been rich, and that every feeling -of pride was not extinct within his breast. His pride could not accustom -itself to the idea of offering Denise the hand of a penniless -unfortunate; and furthermore he feared that it was from gratitude for -what he had done for Coco that the girl offered him her hand. A heart -bruised by misfortune is easily frightened; dread of humiliation makes -us unjust; a benefaction seems like almsgiving, and consolation is -nothing more than condescending pity. - -With his little bundle tied to the end of his staff, Auguste started for -Paris. When he saw the great city once more, he could not restrain a -sigh. But he pulled his hat over his eyes and walked with lowered head, -in dread of meeting some former acquaintance. However, it is no crime to -be poor; why, then, should the unfortunate seem to avoid men's eyes when -so many scoundrels go about with their heads in the air? Why should one -be any more ashamed to say: "I haven't a sou," than to say: "I owe a -hundred thousand francs"? Because in society we see and seek and care -for none but those who have money; because we too often close our eyes -to the source of the wealth of a multitude of schemers who cut a dash at -the expense of the scores of families they have ruined, and who from -their magnificent equipages look down in derision on those whom they -have reduced to destitution; because we pardon all sorts of vices in the -man who is able to cover them with gold, and refuse to pardon a trifling -peccadillo in a poor devil; because we lavish attentions on a Messalina -arrayed in silk and diamonds, and close our doors to a girl who has -given herself for love to a man who cannot support her. All this is very -sad, but it is all true. - -Auguste was careful not to go near Rue Saint-Georges; he went in the -direction of the Marais. It was necessary that he should be most -economical in his outlay, and he found in an old house on Rue de Berry, -a closet, said to be furnished, on the sixth floor, which he could hire -for fifteen francs a month. He paid half of the first month's rent in -advance. - -The man who formerly passed his life in dissipation, who set the fashion -in manners and style, who was sought after and fted, for whom women -disputed at parties, and whom they were proud to subjugate,--the -brilliant Dalville found himself reduced to the necessity of occupying a -garret and sleeping on a wretched pallet. When he entered the miserable -den he had just hired, he could not control a feeling of regret, and he -threw himself on a chair which wavered under him. As he glanced at the -walls, only partially covered by a few tattered strips of paper; as he -contemplated the furniture of his closet, and the tumbledown roofs near -by, Auguste recalled old Dorfeuil's room; he remembered especially the -old man's story and he dropped his head on his hands, saying: - -"And that did not reform me!" - -In a few moments, summoning his courage, he took his portfolio, glanced -over a list that he had made of all the people who owed him money, and -determined to spend the next day calling upon his debtors. At that -moment, the payment of a single debt would be of great service to him; -for, despite the economy with which he had travelled, he had but eleven -francs left after paying his rent for a fortnight. He had given his name -to the landlady as a teacher of music and drawing; but was he likely to -find any pupils, and how could he live before he received the price of -his lessons? Such reflections were ill adapted to make the aspect of his -abode more attractive. If only his former companion had been there to -comfort him and revive his courage! Again and again, impelled by the -force of habit, Auguste turned and looked about the room for Bertrand; -but, just as he was on the point of calling him, he remembered his -desertion, and his heart was torn anew. - -For a moment Auguste had thought of going to his former lodgings to -inquire whether Schtrack had seen Bertrand, and whether the ex-corporal -was in Paris; but he abandoned the idea when he reflected that he might -meet Bertrand in the old concierge's quarters, and that he ought not to -risk encountering a man who, by his ingratitude, had rendered himself -unworthy of being regretted. - -It was by thinking of Denise, by recalling the happy moments that he had -passed with her, that Auguste strove to forget his deplorable plight. He -was well aware that he would always find shelter under Denise's roof, -but he could not make up his mind to live at her expense. - -"It may be that it was from compassion that she offered me her hand," he -said to himself. - -On the following day, after carefully brushing his old coat, and trying -to dissemble his destitution, Auguste set out to visit his debtors. His -first two calls were not fortunate; one man was dead, the other had gone -to Bordeaux, whither Auguste could not go to seek him. At his third -attempt he was more fortunate; the debtor was a young man who, like -Dalville, was devoted to pleasure; he was in the act of performing his -second toilet when his creditor was ushered into his presence. - -One does not put oneself out for a poorly dressed person, and the young -man, who did not recognize Dalville, said to him while continuing to tie -his cravat: - -"What do you want?" - -"First of all, to see you. Is it possible that Lon does not recognize -me?" - -Surprised at being addressed by his baptismal name, the young man -bestowed a contemptuous glance upon Auguste and said: - -"Deuce take me if I know you. Can it be that we have ever had anything -to do with each other?" - -"Yes, monsieur, for Auguste Dalville has had the privilege of doing you -a favor more than once." - -"Auguste Dalville!" cried the young man, turning his head once more; -"what! can it be you, my dear fellow?" - -"Myself!" - -"Oh! it's impossible! you are dressed like a highwayman! Are you just -out of prison?" - -"No, thank God! unfortunate as I am, I have never put myself in the way -of being imprisoned." - -"Look you, my dear fellow, that doesn't prevent one's being an honest -man; I've been to Sainte-Plagie more than once myself, and it's likely -that I shall go again. Poor Auguste!--Damn this knot! I shall never get -it tied.--Well, what chance brings you here, my dear friend? You -haven't been seen anywhere for a century." - -"It's three years since I left Paris; I have been in Italy and England." - -"The devil you say! Tell me, is it true that the English tie their -cravats like a groom?" - -"That isn't the kind of thing I gave my attention to on my travels. As I -have told you, Lon, I am not in luck; but when I was rich you had -recourse to my purse more than once. I lent you more than a thousand -francs; half of that sum would be of great service to me now, and I have -come to ask you to pay me five hundred francs on account of what you owe -me." - -"Parbleu! my dear Auguste, you have chosen a very bad time. I lost at -roulette yesterday all the money I had. I determined to put my luck to -the test. I have nothing left, and if I can't pick up ten louis or so -to-day, to take a lovely little woman to the Bois, I am a lost man. My -charmer will probably go to the Bois with somebody else, and you can -understand--Does my cravat look all right?" - -"I thought that you had a better heart, Lon. You will find ten louis to -take your charmer to drive, but you can't find them for me, to whom you -owe them, and who am in a lamentable plight." - -"I don't say that I won't find them for you, my dear fellow. Come again -in a few days; I promise to put aside all I win at cards, and it shall -be for you. Poor Dalville--on my honor, I am distressed.--This corner of -my collar won't stay in place; it's terribly annoying, it spoils all the -harmony of a costume." - -Auguste left the young dandy's apartment, wondering how he could ever -have been the friend of a man whose head was as empty as his heart. He -called upon others of his debtors: some were out, some had moved. He -returned home, tired out and with little hope of faring better on the -morrow. For several days he persistently pursued them; but the majority -were not to be found or not to be seen; those whom he succeeded in -seeing never had any money, and it was impossible for him to catch young -Lon at home again. He sought fruitlessly the abode of the Marquis de -Cligneval; but one day, as he was going home, he saw monsieur le -marquis, ran after him and stopped him. - -"What do you want of me?" said Monsieur de Cligneval haughtily. - -"I have something to say to you, monsieur." - -"I don't know you." - -"You don't know me!" cried Auguste angrily, standing in front of the -marquis, who was about to walk away. His tone and the flash in his eyes -evidently refreshed Monsieur de Cligneval's memory, for he replied, -trying to smile: - -"Oh! I beg pardon! a thousand pardons! It's Monsieur Dalville. I was so -engrossed--I am going out to dinner--I am late, and----" - -"Monsieur, you have owed me money for a long, long time, which you -borrowed for a few days only." - -"I, owe you money? Oh! you are mistaken, I assure you." - -"What, monsieur?" - -"I beg pardon--I paid you! I give you my word that I paid you, a long -time ago; that's why you have forgotten it." - -"You dare to assert----" - -"My dear sir, you confuse my debt with somebody else's; really I paid -you. Think carefully and you will remember. When you lend to a number of -people, you get them mixed and forget; it's like boston--there are -people who always ask you twice for the trick.--Adieu! au revoir! I am -going out to dine." - -Monsieur de Cligneval was already far away. Auguste stood still, -petrified by his debtor's impudence; but what is one to do with a man -who denies a debt, when one has no evidence thereof? To thrash him would -be some compensation at least, but the law would put you in the wrong. - -Auguste went home more depressed and dejected than ever, and, to cap the -climax of his misfortunes, fatigue and anxiety had inflamed his blood. -He was consumed by fever; he was alone, on a bag of straw, and ere long -it would be impossible for him to obtain those things which were -essential for his restoration to health. - -Stretched on his bed, where he had passed the whole day, Auguste courted -sleep, which avoided his eyes. He was in pain, he breathed with -difficulty, and sounds of mirth disturbed the silence of his abode. The -person who lived below him seemed to be singing over her work; her voice -pierced the thin ceiling that separated her from the hapless invalid, -and the latter, on his bed of suffering, distinguished from time to time -a vaudeville air or the refrain of a _chansonnette_. - -"Those people haven't a fever like me," he said to himself. "Oh! this is -an excellent time to be philosophical, but nature speaks louder than -philosophy." - -After a sleepless night, the poor fellow, devoured by thirst, found that -he had no more water with which to satisfy it. He summoned all his -strength, left his bed, and dragged himself down to the concierge's -room; for he dared not apply to any neighbors, and moreover he was -alone, between two lofts, on his sixth floor. - -"Oh! are you sick, monsieur?" cried the concierge, at sight of Auguste. - -"Yes, I have been suffering greatly since yesterday." - -"You must take care of yourself and not go out." - -"Oh! that would be impossible!" - -"Leave your key outside, monsieur; I'll come up to-night to see if you -want anything." - -Auguste thanked the woman, crawled back to his garret with much -difficulty, and threw himself on his bed once more. - -The concierge, like all of her class, loved to talk, and very soon all -the lodgers who stopped at her lodge knew that there was on the sixth -floor a young man with a very distinguished bearing who was probably -going to have inflammation of the lungs. - -Among the persons who stopped to chat with the concierge was the singer -who lived below the sick man. This singer was no other than Virginie, -who had not succeeded in making a fortune by riotous living. Dissipation -soon banishes the hues of health, late hours circle the eyes, fatigue of -all sorts impairs beauty, and beauty was almost the sole possession of -Virginie, who, with three years added to her age, had fewer lovers than -of yore. All this was the reason why she was living in the Marais, in a -very modest fifth floor apartment; that she often passed her evenings in -working, because she no longer had some pleasure party for every -evening; and lastly, that she sang over her work, because she had -retained her voice and her cheerfulness. - -Virginie had a kind heart, she had never sinned except through excess of -sensibility. There are women who have no sensibility except where -pleasure is concerned, but Virginie was still capable of sympathy with -the unfortunate. On learning that there was a young man above her who -was alone and ill, Virginie asked the concierge: - -"Have you been up to see if he wanted anything?" - -"I haven't been yet because I've got to watch my stew; but I'll go up -to-night." - -"Well! you are a good one! Suppose the man gets sicker before then? I'll -go myself. I'm only sorry I didn't know it sooner, for I sang all last -evening, and when a person is feverish he don't like trills; but I was -in good voice! I could have sung _Armide!_ I'm going up to see my -neighbor. He's young, you say?" - -"Why, yes--twenty-nine or thereabouts." - -"Poor boy! perhaps he's lovesick. But no, men never lose their health -for love. I'm curious to see him; if he was old, I'd go all the same; -but a young man is always more alluring." - -Virginie went upstairs, and kept on to the sixth, passing her own door -without stopping. The key was on the outside of Auguste's door. - -"When a man lives in this hole," thought Virginie, "he don't eat green -peas in January." And she tapped softly on the door, saying aloud: "It's -your neighbor from downstairs, monsieur, come to ask if you want -anything." - -There was no reply, so she decided to open the door noiselessly. She -entered the hovel, in comparison with which her room was a palace. She -went to the bed on which lay the sick man, whose fever had increased, -and who no longer had the strength to open his eyes. She leaned over him -and gave a little shriek when she recognized Auguste. - -That shriek caused the invalid to open his eyes; he tried to give -Virginie his hand, while she threw herself upon him, kissed him again -and again, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and the next moment -drenched his face with her tears, crying: - -"It is you, Auguste! it is really you! O mon Dieu! in this garret! on -this wretched bed! My poor dear! sick, alone--and I didn't know it! Poor -Auguste! and I sang last night while he was groaning here! Oh! I feel as -if I should choke! I can't say any more." - -But at last Virginie realized that her tears and kisses were no longer -sufficient for the invalid, who motioned that he was consumed by thirst. - -"Wait--wait, my dear," she said, "I'll give you--Great God! there's -nothing here but water! Why, that's no good--it increases the fever. -I'll go--the doctor must come right away; I'll go and fetch him. I'm -going. Don't be impatient, my friend; I won't be long; and after this -you won't be alone any more; I shan't leave you again!" - -Virginie ran to the door, returned to the bed, pulled the clothes over -the sick man, arranged his head, then ran downstairs four at a time, and -arrived at the concierge's door all out of breath, saying: - -"A doctor! where's there a doctor?" - -"Why, there's several in the quarter. Is the gentleman sicker?" - -"His address--quick!" - -"A doctor's address? There's one on this street--yonder, next to the -fruit store; then there's the one that bled me; but----" - -Virginie was no longer listening; she was already at the door the -concierge had pointed out. She ran up to the doctor's room and begged -him to come instantly to see a sick man, in the tone that only women can -assume when the object of their affection is involved. The doctor made -no reply but took his hat, which was much better, and followed Virginie, -who led the way to Auguste's garret. He ascended the six flights almost -as quickly as she did, and when he entered the room apparently saw -nothing but the invalid. All honor to the men who devote their lives to -relieving the ills of mankind, and who show the same zeal for the poor -as for the rich. Their number is large, and although Molire did poke -fun at the doctors, doubtless he would be the first to do them justice -to-day. - -Virginie gazed anxiously at the doctor's face while he was feeling the -invalid's pulse. His eyes gave no favorable indication; while Auguste, -heedless of everything that was going on about him, seemed neither to -see nor to hear anything. - -"Well, monsieur?" queried Virginie at last. - -"The young man is in bad shape; he has a high fever and there is every -reason to expect that it will increase; however, with extreme care, I -hope we shall save him." - -"Oh, monsieur, don't neglect anything, I beg you!" - -"But he is very badly off here; the room is so small, there is so little -air, and the sun beats down so fiercely on the roofs, and makes these -garrets burning hot; this is a very unhealthy place." - -"Oh! he shall leave this garret this very day; he shall live in my room -as long as he's sick. It's right below here; he'll be much more -comfortable there, for it's a good size, at least--one can turn round in -it. He'd have been there before this if I could have carried him alone. -If you would be kind enough to help me, monsieur, it would soon be -done!" - -"Let's try it, mademoiselle." - -And the doctor went to the bed and lifted the only mattress that there -was on the straw; Virginie did the same on the other side, and thus they -carried Auguste to the floor below and laid him upon the only bed in the -room. - -"Where will you sleep, mademoiselle?" queried the doctor. - -"Oh! that don't worry me, monsieur. I'll bring down the straw bed from -upstairs; indeed, I shan't feel like sleeping as long as he's sick." - -The doctor looked at her again, then wrote a prescription and took his -leave, promising to come again early the next morning. - -When Virginie was alone, she looked at the prescription and tried to -read it. - -"Bless my soul!" she muttered, "how badly these doctors write! like -cats. 'Syrup of--infusion of'--No matter, the druggist will understand; -this much is clear, that here's syrups and infusions--consequently, -money. Poor Auguste! I'm quite sure he hasn't any. And I haven't much -more. But never mind--I have got to find some. He gave me enough when he -was rich. I must go at once and get whatever he needs." - -Virginie took her purse and went out to buy what was required for the -draught the doctor had ordered. She did not amuse herself by babbling -with the concierge, but made haste back to her room to nurse the sick -man. His fever had changed to delirium; he did not know her, and he -seemed to be much worse. Virginie nursed him with redoubled zeal. She -succeeded, not without difficulty, in making him take the potion -prescribed for him. She did not take one moment's rest during the night; -she was constantly beside the sick-bed, leaving it only to return to her -work. Her work was making linen garments, for since her opportunities -for pleasure had fallen off, she had realized that in order to live -something more was required than fine eyes and a fetching smile. This -work brought her but little money; but she redoubled her efforts when -she had Auguste to care for. - -While she worked, Virginie kept her eyes on the invalid. - -"Poor boy!" she would say to herself; "his travels evidently didn't -bring him luck. But how does it happen that good old Bertrand isn't with -him? He must be dead, not to be with Auguste. He was a true friend, he -was! not like those popinjays who swindled him! And Denise, who loved -him so dearly! If she knew he was in this condition! Suppose I should -write to her? But no, that might make Auguste angry; perhaps he's seen -her again, and they've had a row; one can never tell! I must cure him -first; then he will tell me all his adventures." - -The doctor came the next day, as he had promised; he was unable as yet -to give a definite opinion, but he agreed to come again in the evening, -and told Virginie to follow the same treatment. - -For three days Auguste was very ill. The doctor was not sparing of his -visits, and Virginie followed all his prescriptions to the letter. But -in the afternoon of the third day she found nothing in her purse, and -she had no work ready to carry back. She needed money, however, for a -thousand things that her patient must have. Virginie was not at a loss; -she took off her bracelets and earrings, the sole relics of the days of -her early prosperity, and sold them to a jeweller as gayly as if she -were going to a party. - -The doctor's treatment and Virginie's nursing were not thrown away. On -the fourth day Auguste was better; he was no longer delirious and was -surprised to find himself in a room which he did not recognize. He -pressed Virginie's hand and would have spoken; but the doctor had -prescribed perfect rest, so Virginie said to him: - -"Hush! wait till you're better before you talk; meanwhile, don't worry -about anything; you're in my room, and I'll take care of you as well as -if you had a dozen black servants. All that I ask you is to drink your -medicine like a good boy, and think of nothing but rose-bushes. When you -are getting better, I'll sing as much as you want me to; I'll even go so -far as to dance, if that will amuse you, so as to bring back your -spirits." - -Auguste smiled and held his peace. He continued to improve, but his -convalescence bade fair to be very long; and as a sick man always -requires innumerable things, the jewelry money was soon expended. -Thereupon, while Auguste was asleep, Virginie looked over her wardrobe -to see what she had that she could do without. In reality it contained -nothing that was not strictly necessary, but she succeeded in finding -several things of which she made a bundle, saying to herself: - -"This will rid me of a lot of old stuff that I am sick to death of." - -And the bundle went to join the jewels. - -When Auguste had recovered a little strength, he was able to tell -Virginie the story of his adventures. When she learned that Bertrand had -voluntarily left his master, she dropped a glass of medicine that she -was about to hand to Auguste, and exclaimed: - -"My arms have gone back on me! That Bertrand, whom I always thought -worthy of being embalmed! whom I looked upon as a faithful dog in his -attachment to you! You can't trust a man! My friend, the English beer -must have changed all his feelings!" - -But when Auguste told her of his stay at Denise's cottage, Virginie -interrupted him to describe the peasant girl's grief and despair when -she learned of his departure--in short, all her love for him. - -"Is it possible?" said Auguste; "she really loves me? Then she did not -deceive me! it wasn't pity that made her offer me her hand!" - -"Does she love you! She adores you, monsieur. The poor child made me -feel so sad. She cried so! But you men are unique! when a woman loves -you, you're surprised, and when she doesn't love you, you're surprised -too." - -"Oh! how happy you make me, Virginie!" - -"In that case, get well right away, and go and console poor Denise." - -"Oh no! I shall not go there." - -"What's that? you won't go? You know that she loves you, that she is in -despair at your absence, and you won't go back to her?" - -"I am destitute--I can't accept her hand." - -"My dear friend, that's a piece of delicacy that I can't understand. -When a person loves us, what's theirs is ours; and if a prince should -fall in love with me, although I haven't any more money than you have, I -shouldn't hesitate a moment about marrying him." - -Auguste held his peace, and Virginie said nothing further on a subject -that seemed to distress him. To restore the sick man's strength, he was -given no more infusions to drink; old wine and rich soups were -prescribed by the doctor, and Virginie, who searched her drawers in a -vain endeavor to make money, decided to sell a shawl which was her most -beautiful possession, and which she almost never laid aside. - -But Auguste saw how much he was costing Virginie, and his distress on -that account retarded his convalescence. He watched her as she worked -incessantly, often passing a large part of the night at her sewing, and -he sighed, as he said to himself: - -"She is killing herself for me! and I shall never be able to requite all -her care of me!" - -When Virginie returned after procuring a sum of money by means of her -remaining resource, Auguste noticed that she was without the shawl she -usually wore. - -"Where have you been, Virginie?" he asked in a feeble voice. - -"For a little walk, to take the air. I saw that you were asleep and -didn't need me." - -"Why aren't you wearing your shawl?" - -"My shawl? Why, I didn't put it on because it's too warm." - -"You had it on when you went out." - -"Did I?--Well, the truth is that I've lent it to a friend of mine who's -going to a party to-night; but she'll give it back." - -"You are deceiving me, Virginie." - -"No, monsieur, I am not deceiving you." - -"I am costing you a great deal; and you deprive yourself of everything -in order to take care of me, so that I may lack nothing! You are -stripping yourself clean for me!" - -"What are you talking about, Monsieur Auguste? I deprive myself of -everything! Let me tell you, monsieur, that I deprive myself of nothing. -Who told you that I am not well fixed, that I haven't money put by?" - -"And you work a great part of the night!" - -"I work because it amuses me, and because I don't care to sleep. The -fact is that I have all I want; I had a hoard; I am certainly at liberty -to spend it as I please.--The idea of telling me that he is a burden to -me! How shameful of him! I, whom he has been kind to so many times! And -he is angry because I am taking care of him!--Monsieur would prefer that -somebody else should do it, perhaps. If you give me any more nonsense -like that, I'll throw the stew out of the window. As for my shawl, it's -true that I haven't got it now; but I didn't like it. In the first -place, the color isn't in fashion any longer; and then I don't want a -flower pattern--it's bad form." - -Auguste said no more; he simply sighed as he took Virginie's hands in -his; and she pretended to be more lighthearted than ever, and sang all -day to prove that she did not regret her shawl. - -The doctor came to see his patient; he found him much better, and -complimented Virginie on her nursing. She, although she had no idea how -she was going to pay him, asked him to tell her how much she owed him. -But the doctor replied that he never charged anything when he went -higher than the fourth floor; and he ran away from the thanks of Auguste -and Virginie, enjoining anew upon the convalescent to be careful and to -wait until his strength had returned before going out. - -"There's a mighty fine man!" cried Virginie, looking after the doctor. -"He isn't handsome; certainly no one can say he's handsome; in fact, one -eye's smaller than the other. But for all that he's been a little Cupid -in my eyes ever since I saw what zeal he showed in his care of you." - -Auguste smiled; Virginie's remarks often made his eyes sparkle; but when -he thought of his plight, his brow darkened and he sighed, despite all -the efforts of his nurse, who said to him constantly: - -"You didn't use to sigh like that when you made love to me." - -Auguste was anxious to get up and go out, but he was not strong enough; -and yet Virginie gave him everything that the doctor ordered. But his -convalescence seemed certain to be very slow, and although she told -Auguste every day that he must not worry, that she had money enough to -last a long while, Virginie discovered one morning that she had nothing -left of the proceeds of the sale of her shawl. - -But the doctor, who had called on the evening before, had said that -Auguste could eat chicken, and Virginie, after searching her boxes, her -drawers and her purse, where she found nothing, muttered under her -breath: - -"It's no use for me to look; there's nothing to raise money on--not even -enough to buy a lark; and my work won't be done till day after -to-morrow! No matter! if I have to put myself in pawn, he shall eat -chicken to-day!" - -And Virginie put on her cap and the little neckerchief which had -replaced her shawl; then, leaving Auguste still asleep, she stole softly -from her room, saying to herself: - -"I won't come back without a chicken." - - - - -XXIX - -WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED.--RETURN TO THE VILLAGE - - -Virginie walked along the street, with no very clear idea as to where -she was going; she cudgelled her brains to think of somebody who might -accommodate her, but the memory is often in default when one asks it the -name of a true friend. If Czarine had been in Paris, Virginie would not -have hesitated to call on her, because she knew her kindness of heart; -but Czarine was then on the track of her Thodore, who had left the -capital, and her Thodore was likely to lead her a long way. - -Virginie's other acquaintances offered too unpromising a prospect; there -were several to whom she would not have dreamed of applying. However, -the result of her reflections was always the same:--"I must have a -chicken for Auguste, and I will have one. I don't know just how I shall -do it; but whenever I've taken it into my head to do a thing, I've -always succeeded in doing it, and it's often been a question of things -much more interesting than a chicken; it would be a deuce of a go, if I -couldn't acquit myself creditably in the matter of a little chicken!" - -And Virginie stopped in front of poultry shops and cookshops; she walked -back and forth, cudgelling her brains to no purpose; she found no money, -and she heaved a sigh as she gazed at the delicacies with which she -desired to regale the convalescent. - -The amusing faces that Virginie made--her decent dress did not indicate -want--and the way she glared at the roast chickens, made the passers-by -smile now and then, for they saw in the grisette's emotion only an -outburst of gluttony; and she, seeing them smile as they looked at her, -muttered between her teeth: "The idiots! Suppose they do laugh in my -face--what difference does that make to me? Isn't there one of them who -will be polite enough to offer me a chicken? Men are getting to be -brutes!" - -For ten minutes Virginie had been walking back and forth before a -cookshop, beside which was the small establishment of a linen-draper. -Virginie had not noticed the proprietress, because she had no eyes for -anything but the chickens; but through the gloves, ribbons and drygoods -in her window, the tradeswoman had noticed Virginie, whose strange -behavior was calculated to arouse curiosity. Women have a sentimental -instinct which enables them to understand at once what men cannot divine -in an hour, or what they cannot divine at all. The young linen-draper -saw in Virginie's eyes that it was not gluttony that caused her to stand -in contemplation before her neighbor's merchandise. She went out of her -shop by the rear door,--her yard and that of the cookshop were the -same,--entered the cookshop, purchased a fine, fat chicken, wrapped it -in two thicknesses of paper, and returned to her own shop by the same -road. Then she stood in her doorway and looked at Virginie, not knowing -how to proffer her gift. For some time Virginie paid no heed to the -young woman; but the latter gazed at her with such a meaning expression, -and seemed so anxious to speak to her, that Virginie walked toward the -shop-door. - -The young tradeswoman at once said to her, in a low tone and blushing -hotly: - -"Madame, you have forgotten your purse, haven't you? If you would allow -me to offer you----" - -And as she spoke, she thrust the chicken under Virginie's arm, trembling -as if she had done a ridiculous thing; but one often trembles much more -when doing a kind deed. Virginie could only squeeze the young woman's -hand and say: - -"You guessed my plight. Ah! if you knew how happy you have made me! if -you knew why--But you will see me again; I will come again to thank you -and pay my debt to you." - -"Yes, yes, madame," said the young tradeswoman; and she retreated, -sorely embarrassed, to the back of her shop, while Virginie, light as a -feather, tripped gayly homeward, her chicken under her arm, saying to -herself: - -"I knew that I'd get one! I never lose hope, I don't!" - -However, the chicken had not yet reached Auguste. At a street corner, -Virginie, who probably was looking at her feet and nothing else, was -roughly jostled by a man who knocked the chicken to the ground. - -"You infernal idiot!" cried Virginie, stooping to pick up the chicken. -But her voice caught the ears of the man who had jostled her, and who -had simply apologized and kept on his way. He stopped, retraced his -steps and exclaimed in his turn: - -"Why--yes! ten thousand bayonets! it's Mamzelle Virginie! Morbleu! -perhaps she'll be able to tell me something about him." - -"Hallo! it's Bertrand!" said Virginie, as she recognized the -ex-corporal; "it's good old Ber--But what am I saying! he's a villain, -an ungrateful, hardhearted wretch, and I don't like him any more. Let me -carry my chicken--don't hold me, monsieur." - -"Whether you like me or not, mademoiselle, isn't the question just at -this moment. One word, if you please: have you seen him, do you know -where he is, what's become of him?" - -"Of whom?" - -"Morbleu! my lieutenant, Monsieur Auguste." - -"On my word! do I know where he is? What a question! when he's been -living in my room a fortnight!" - -"He's in your room?--I have found him! I shall see him again!" - -In his joy, Bertrand embraced Virginie and once more knocked the hapless -chicken to the ground. This time it fell into the gutter and Virginie -was ready to weep. - -"Won't you please let me alone!" she cried; "this chicken's for Auguste; -and after I've had so much trouble to get it, you'll be the cause of -his not being able to eat it!" - -"Oh! don't cry! I'll buy you more chickens--ten--twenty--an ox, if you -choose! But, for the love of God, take me to my lieutenant straight -away. I am in haste to embrace him!" - -"What! then you still care for him?" - -"Care for him! Who can ever have doubted my attachment, my devotion to -his person?" - -"Then you didn't abandon him in England on purpose?" - -"Abandon him! when it was in his service--for his welfare----" - -"Oh! dear old Bertrand! I was perfectly sure he was a good fellow. Come, -my little Bertrand, let's go to Auguste. My! but he'll be glad when he -knows that you are still worthy of his affection!" - -Virginie and Bertrand walked toward Rue de Berry. On the way, Virginie -told the old servant of all the disasters that had befallen Auguste, and -of the serious illness that he had had. As he listened to these details, -Bertrand wiped his eyes now and then and exclaimed: - -"Sacrebleu! why didn't I find him sooner? But I only returned to Paris -the day before yesterday; and I intended to go to Montfermeil to-morrow -to look for him, hoping to be luckier there than in this city, where -Schtrack and I have been scouring every quarter for two days, without -success." - -At last they reached the house in which Virginie lived; as they went -upstairs Bertrand was as excited as if he were going to see a long lost -son; and Virginie said to him: - -"You mustn't show yourself to Auguste right away; he is still very weak, -and the sight of you might cause him too much emotion. You understand, -don't you, Bertrand?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle." - -"I'll go in first, and prepare Auguste gently; then I'll motion to you." - -"Yes, mademoiselle, I'll wait in another room." - -"No; as I have but one, you must wait on the landing. I'll leave the -door ajar." - -"All right; but don't wait long before you give me the signal, for I am -crazy to have my arms around him." - -They arrived at Virginie's door; she opened it, then partly closed it, -and Bertrand stood as close as possible, hardly daring to breathe. - -Auguste had risen and was sitting at a window, impatiently awaiting -Virginie, whose long absence made him anxious. - -"Here I am, my friend," she said, as she entered the room; and she hung -about Auguste with as much embarrassment as she had shown in front of -the cookshop. "Here I am; I've been rather long, but--but--it was -because I met someone who is much better than a chicken." - -"You met someone?" - -"Yes--someone who--someone----" - -Before Virginie could think of what she wanted to say, Bertrand, unable -to contain himself any longer, opened the door, rushed to Auguste, and -threw his arms about him, crying: - -"It was me, sacrebleu! it was me! But I can't stay hidden any longer; I -must embrace him!" - -Bertrand could not make up his mind for some minutes to release his hold -of Auguste, and Virginie exclaimed reproachfully: - -"There! you see! he couldn't wait till I motioned to him; he'll make -Auguste worse!" - -"No," said the convalescent, "no, happiness never does that! My poor -fellow! so you have come back!" - -"And you could believe that I abandoned you!" said Bertrand, taking -Auguste's hand. "You doubted the love of your old comrade, your faithful -servant!--I admit that my hurried departure must have surprised you; but -when you know!" - -"You are here, Bertrand, and everything is forgotten!" - -"Oh! listen to me first, and then tell me if I behaved so very -badly.--You remember that I left you in the common room of a village -tavern where we had just breakfasted. I had just paid our bill when, as -I crossed the courtyard, I saw a man whose face attracted my attention, -and whom I recognized instantly as our rascal of a Destival." - -"Destival!" cried Auguste. - -"The man who robbed you!" said Virginie. - -"He was just getting into a post-chaise when I caught sight of him. He -couldn't have seen me, but the carriage had started before I recovered -from my surprise. So then, without taking the time to warn you, because -I didn't want to lose a minute for fear our man would escape me, I ran -to the stable, saddled my horse, and galloped off in pursuit of our -rascal. I soon overtook the post-chaise; but I knew that, in a foreign -country, it would be a hard matter to make the villain disgorge, and -that I could not rely on anyone but myself to do justice. So I followed -the carriage, awaiting a favorable opportunity to see my man in private. -For two days the infernal chaise stopped only to change horses; at last, -at the end of the second day, they stopped at the posting inn, and my -rascal, who evidently needed rest, entered the inn. I lost no time in -following him, and asked to speak to the traveller who had just come -in. They showed me his room. I went upstairs, entered the room, and -began by locking myself in with our man, who, when he saw me, nearly -fainted in an easy-chair. I went up to him, took his arm, and said to -him: 'You are a thief, you ruined my master, but you won't ruin anybody -else; I taught you once to handle weapons, and we'll see if you remember -my lessons. Here are two pistols--take one. We shall be very comfortable -in this room--four paces is distance enough when one doesn't want to -miss. Let's make haste.' - -"Instead of taking the pistol I handed him, the miserable wretch threw -himself at my feet and begged for mercy. I demanded your money back. He -took a wallet out of his pocket, showed me a hundred and sixty thousand -francs in notes of the Bank of France, and swore that that was all that -was left of what he took away from Paris. I concluded that that was -better than nothing, and that I ought to get your money back for you -rather than kill the villain. So I took the wallet, and, leaving the -scoundrel more dead than alive, I went out of his room and locked him -in. I remounted my horse and rode back as fast as I could to the place -where I had left you; when I got there, my horse was foundered and I -didn't find you. I rode about in all directions, but no one could tell -me anything about you. I started for Scotland, where we had intended to -go. I passed three weeks visiting every corner there, even the smallest -villages, but I wasn't any more fortunate. At last I decided to return -to France, and I got to Paris the day before yesterday. My first thought -was to go and question Schtrack; he hadn't seen you and he didn't know -mademoiselle's address; we began to walk the streets trying to find you. -But here you are! I have found you. I can give you what I have rescued -of your property.--That is a report of my conduct, lieutenant; now, are -you angry with me?" - -For all reply, Auguste opened his arms to Bertrand, who handed him the -wallet; while Virginie capered about the room, dancing with the chairs, -and tossing her cap in the air, crying: - -"Vive Bertrand! Auguste isn't poor any more! we'll have a high old time -now!" - -When the first outburst of joyous excitement had subsided, Auguste told -Bertrand what he had done since he left him. He did not conceal from him -the miserable plight to which he was reduced when Virginie came to his -garret. He told him all that she had done for him--how she had worked -and sat up all night, and all the sacrifices that she had undergone -every day in order to provide him with whatever he required. - -During this story, Virginie tried to make Auguste keep quiet by saying: - -"That isn't true; he makes too much of it; don't believe him, Bertrand. -Anyhow, if I did do all that, it must have been because I enjoyed it." - -But Bertrand, who could not listen unmoved to Auguste's narrative, ran -to Virginie, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying: - -"That was fine! that was mighty fine!" - -"Yes, but you are squeezing me too tight, Bertrand." - -Melancholy thoughts gave place to thoughts of happiness. Auguste no -longer sighed when he thought of Denise. He was already longing to be -with her, he burned to see her again, to requite her love; for after all -that Virginie had told him he could no longer doubt the village maiden's -heart. But he was unable to go to Montfermeil at once; however, as -happiness is a great restorer of health, after two days passed in -forming delightful plans for the future, Auguste was in condition to go -out. - -Before going to the village, where he expected to stay for some time, -Auguste put his affairs in order. He went to his old notary and -instructed him to invest his funds, keeping back only so much as was -necessary for the execution of his plans. He intended to assure -Virginie's future; since she was no longer as young as she had once -been, she was anxious to carry on a little business. Auguste hired a -pretty shop for her and stocked it with embroideries and novelties, and -Virginie became a dealer in small wares. She proudly took her seat -behind her counter, after having a sign put over her door: _A la -Pucelle_; and she swore to Auguste that she proposed thenceforth to -devote herself exclusively to her business. - -Auguste received Virginie's thanks and her kindest regards for Denise, -whom she did not propose to visit until her new line of conduct had -covered her former aberrations with oblivion. He was on the point of -starting for Montfermeil with Bertrand, when Virginie exclaimed: - -"Mon Dieu! I forgot the little shopkeeper and the chicken! I meant to -recommend her to you, so that you might at least buy your gloves of -her." - -"What shopkeeper? what chicken?" inquired Auguste. - -Virginie told of her adventure on the day she met Bertrand. Auguste, -after expressing anew to Virginie his gratitude for all that she had -done for him during his sickness, determined to call upon the young -woman who had displayed so much delicacy in conferring a favor, and to -thank her. He took Virginie in his cabriolet and they drove to the young -linen-draper's shop. - -The cabriolet stopped at her door and the three occupants alighted. The -young woman was amazed; she was not accustomed to having customers come -in a carriage to buy needles and thread. But she blushed when she -recognized Virginie, who entered first, saying to Auguste: - -"It was madame here, who was so kind to me when you were convalescent." - -Auguste stepped forward to salute the young tradeswoman, who was sorely -embarrassed by the thanks he expressed. But before she could speak, an -old man, who was in the back shop, and whom they had not noticed, came -toward them, crying: - -"Daughter! Anna! it is our place to thank this generous man! He is our -benefactor! It is he to whom I owe my life and the happiness of seeing -you happy!" - -Auguste looked at the old man and recognized poor Dorfeuil; and before -he had recovered from his surprise, father and daughter were at his -feet, covering his hand with tears of gratitude. - -Thereupon it was the turn of Bertrand and Virginie to demand -explanations. Auguste tried to slink away, but old Dorfeuil held him -fast while he told of all that he owed him, and finished his story by -saying to Auguste: - -"As you see, your benefaction brought us good luck. I have paid my debt; -and in the last three years, my Anna, having succeeded in all her -undertakings, has been able to set up in business here, where I am -passing my declining years with her, in peace." - -Bertrand embraced Auguste again, Virginie embraced everybody, and they -parted, promising to meet again. Virginie returned to her shop, from -which she could not be absent longer, and Auguste drove off at last -toward Denise's village. - -As they drew near Montfermeil his heart beat fast. He looked at Bertrand -and said: - -"We are going to see her! Oh! if you knew how they welcomed me, how they -fted me when I was unfortunate!" - -"And yet you left them!" - -"My dear fellow, I had nothing to offer Denise." - -"And now that you are much richer than she is, what if she should take -her turn at refusing you? Then there'd be no end to it. Lovers have no -common sense." - -Instead of taking the road to the village, Auguste could not resist the -desire to go by the little wood path where he had kissed the little -milkmaid long ago. When he was near the place where Jean le Blanc ran -away, he saw a small boy on a donkey in the woods; and a little farther -on was a young girl, sitting at the foot of a tree. - -"There they are!" cried Auguste. - -In a twinkling he had jumped out of the cabriolet; he ran into the woods -to where the girl sat, threw himself at her feet, covered her hand with -kisses, and said: - -"It's I, Denise; I have come back to you, never to leave you again." - -The girl was in doubt as to whether she was awake; she gazed at Auguste, -who was fashionably dressed as in the old days, while Coco ran up to -them, saying: - -"Here's my kind friend! he's dressed like he was the day I broke the -bowl." - -"Is it really you?" said Denise. "Oh! if you knew how your letter -grieved me! Wicked! to leave me because you were poor! to dare to say -that I didn't love you! that you wouldn't come to see me again till you -had ceased to love me! Is that what your coming now means? Oh! tell me -quickly, don't let me hope for happiness--it is too hard to be cheated -out of what one longs for!" - -Auguste made no other reply than to press her to his heart, while his -eyes told the sweet girl that it was something more than friendship that -had brought him back to her. - -Bertrand, having left the cabriolet, came forward to pay his respects to -Denise. - -"Bertrand too!" she exclaimed; "he has come back!" - -"Yes, and it is to him, whom I accused of deserting me, that I owe my -good fortune to-day." - -A few words put Denise in possession of the whole story, and she held -out her hand to Bertrand, saying: - -"Oh! my heart never doubted his! As if one could cease to love a person -because he is unfortunate!" Then suddenly remembering that Auguste had -recovered a large part of his property, she exclaimed: "Oh! mon Dieu! -then I cannot be your wife!" - -"Yes, Denise, you will be my wife," said Auguste, taking her hand, "for -you are the only woman who could make me happy, and I cannot doubt the -sincerity of your love." - -"But I am only a village girl----" - -"Whom I prefer to all the fine ladies of the city." - -"I shall be awkward in society." - -"I have learned the worth of society, and I care very little for its -judgments; besides, when it knows you, my Denise, it will be compelled -to do you justice." - -"Oh! I don't want to know it, for my part, my dear; let us agree that, -if you marry me, I shall stay here. When you want to go to Paris, you -shall go alone; and then, when you are tired of the city, you can come -back to your little milkmaid." - -Auguste kissed her and they started for the cottage. When one is happy, -everything seems delightful; in the eyes of the lovers the cottage had -become a palace; but Bertrand, who was not in love and who always -thought of the future, said to Auguste: - -"This house isn't big enough for you, lieutenant; besides, it belongs to -Coco--it's his property. You must buy a pretty house, not too expensive, -which you can see from here, where you will have suitable accommodations -and where you can entertain a few friends; because, you know, you -mustn't isolate yourself from society altogether; the sure way to have -your love last only a short time is to shut yourself up with your wife -for six months. Now that you know the world, you won't be taken in -again. You will take men at their true value; you can associate with the -people whose company is agreeable, and you mustn't play for such high -stakes as you used to; for now, or never, is the time to be prudent." - -Auguste approved Bertrand's suggestion. The house was hired, and a week -later, Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her -charms and her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the -altar by the man she loved. - -All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married. The peasants said to one another: - -"Now's the time she's going to play the fine lady! She's marrying a -swell! How high she'll hold her head!" - -But they were mistaken: Denise, after she became Madame Dalville, was as -sweet and kindhearted as when she was a simple peasant girl herself. - -As he escorted his young wife to their new home, Auguste cast a glance -now and then at the comely women whom they happened to pass; but it was -a matter of habit simply--Denise alone had his heart. - -True to her promise, Denise did not desire to leave the village; and for -a long while Auguste did not go away from his wife. Later, however, he -went occasionally to Paris. On one of his visits to the capital he -learned that the vivacious Athalie had separated from her husband, -because Mre Thomas made a second trip to Paris; and that Monsieur de la -Thomassinire, having made some unfortunate speculations and allowed -himself to be ruined by Monsieur de Cligneval, had been compelled to -turn over all his property to his creditors, and had become a -cab-driver--a trade in which he seemed much more in his proper place -than when he was in a salon. - -The Marquis de Cligneval, having ventured to indulge in divers sharper's -tricks at cart, which were not to the liking of his adversary, was -forced to fight a duel with him, and was killed. As for Destival, when -he tried to do business in England on the same plan as in Paris, one of -his clients, whose money he had appropriated, struck him a blow from -which he did not recover. - -It was Monsieur Monin who supplied Auguste with all this news, after -asking him how his health was; having applied to his snuff-box, he -rejoined Bichette, whom he had left with Monsieur Bisbis in a clump of -shrubbery at the Caf Turc. - -Auguste also saw Dorfeuil and his daughter; but he went very rarely to -the young linen-draper's, because she was very pretty. By way of -compensation he often saw Virginie, who was no longer pretty, but who -had reformed entirely, and whose warm heart caused her former follies to -be forgotten. - -When he had passed a short time at Paris, Auguste returned to -Montfermeil, and it was with ever-renewed delight that he found himself -once more in the company of his little milkmaid, of Bertrand, and of -Coco, who, as he grew to manhood, often congratulated himself on having -broken his bowl. - - * * * * * - -Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: - -what will be do=> what will he do {pg 284} - -old hut with gradma=> old hut with grandma {pg 316} - -He overcome at last=> He overcame at last {pg 428} - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of -Paul de Kock Volume XX), by Charles Paul de Kock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - -***** This file should be named 41645-8.txt or 41645-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/4/41645/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -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/license - - -Title: The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XX) - -Author: Charles Paul de Kock - -Release Date: December 17, 2012 [EBook #41645] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="357" height="550" alt="image of the book's cover" title="" /> -</p> - -<p class="figcenter"> -<i>Copyright 1904 by G. Barrie & Sons</i><br /> -<a href="images/frontispiece_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="402" height="550" -alt="Frontispiece" title="Frontispiece" /></a> -</p> - -<div class="lcalled"> - -<p class="c"><i>THE MILKMAID’S WEDDING</i></p> - -<p><i>Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her charms and -her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the altar by -the man she loved.</i></p> - -<p><i>All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married.</i></p> -</div> - -<h1> -<small>NOVELS<br /> -<br /> -<small>BY</small></small><br /><br /> -<big>Paul de Kock</big><br /> -<br /> -<small><small><span class="red">VOLUME XX</span></small></small><br /> -<br /> -<small><span class="red">THE MILKMAID<br /> -<br /> -OF<br /> -<br /> -MONTFERMEIL</span></small></h1> - -<p> </p> - -<p class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/colophon.png" width="150" height="63" alt="colophon" title="colophon" /> -</p> - -<p> </p> - -<p class="cb">THE JEFFERSON PRESS<br /> -<br /> -BOSTON <span style="margin-left: 8em;">NEW YORK</span></p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p class="c"><small><i>Copyrighted, 1903-1904, by G. B. & Sons.</i></small></p> - -<p><a name="page_001" id="page_001"></a></p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p class="cb">THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL</p> - -<p><a name="page_002" id="page_002"></a></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<p class="c"><a href="#I"><b>I</b></a><br /> -<a href="#II"><b>II, </b></a> -<a href="#III"><b>III, </b></a> -<a href="#IV"><b>IV, </b></a> -<a href="#V"><b>V, </b></a> -<a href="#VI"><b>VI, </b></a> -<a href="#VII"><b>VII, </b></a> -<a href="#VIII"><b>VIII, </b></a> -<a href="#IX"><b>IX, </b></a> -<a href="#X"><b>X, </b></a> -<a href="#XI"><b>XI, </b></a> -<a href="#XII"><b>XII, </b></a> -<a href="#XIII"><b>XIII, </b></a> -<a href="#XIV"><b>XIV, </b></a> -<a href="#XV"><b>XV, </b></a> -<a href="#XVI"><b>XVI, </b></a> -<a href="#XVII"><b>XVII, </b></a> -<a href="#XVIII"><b>XVIII, </b></a> -<a href="#XIX"><b>XIX, </b></a> -<a href="#XX"><b>XX, </b></a> -<a href="#XXII"><b>XXII, </b></a> -<a href="#XXIII"><b>XXIII, </b></a> -<a href="#XXIV"><b>XXIV, </b></a> -<a href="#XXV"><b>XXV, </b></a> -<a href="#XXVI"><b>XXVI, </b></a> -<a href="#XXVII"><b>XXVII, </b></a> -<a href="#XXVIII"><b>XXVIII, </b></a> -<a href="#XXIX"><b>XXIX.</b></a> -</p> - -<p><a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a></p> - -<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I<br /><br /> -A CONVERSATION IN A CABRIOLET</h2> - -<p>“For you can’t go on like this forever, lieutenant—you must agree to -that. The great Turenne didn’t fight ten battles at once and didn’t -carry on six intrigues on the same day.”</p> - -<p>“No, my dear Bertrand, but Cæsar dictated four letters at once in four -different languages, and Pico de la Mirandola boasted that he was -familiar with and could talk <i>de omni re scibili</i>——”</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, lieutenant, I don’t know Latin.”</p> - -<p>“That means that he claimed to know all languages, to have gone to the -bottom of all the sciences, to be able to refute all creeds and -reconcile theologians of all breeds.”</p> - -<p>“As I don’t think that you’re so conceited as that, lieutenant, I won’t -compare you with this Monsieur de la Mirandola, who claimed to know -everything. As for Cæsar, I’ve heard him spoken of as a very great man, -but I’m sure he didn’t have as many mistresses as you.”</p> - -<p>“You’re mistaken, Bertrand; the great men of antiquity had a great many -female slaves, concubines, and often cast off their wives and took new -ones. Love and Pleasure had temples in Greece; and those high and<a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a> -mighty Romans, who are represented to us as so strait-laced, weren’t -ashamed to indulge in the wildest debauchery, to crown themselves with -myrtle and roses, and sometimes to appear at their banquets in the -costumes of our first parents.”</p> - -<p>“For God’s sake, lieutenant, let’s drop the Romans, with whom I never -exchanged a shot, and go back to what we were talking about.”</p> - -<p>“I propose to prove to you, my dear Bertrand, that we are very far from -surpassing preceding generations in folly, and are in fact much more -virtuous.”</p> - -<p>“Is that why you have four mistresses?”</p> - -<p>“I love women, I admit; I will say more—I am proud of it; it is a -natural inclination. I cannot see an attractive face, a fine pair of -eyes, without feeling a pleasant thrill, an agitation, an I don’t know -what, in short, that proves my extreme susceptibility. Is it a crime, -pray, to be susceptible in an age when selfishness is carried to such -lengths; when self-interest is the mainspring of almost all human -actions; when we see authors prefer cash to renown, and men in office -forgetful of everything except retaining their offices, instead of -meditating on the good they might do; when we see artists begging for -the patronage of people they despise, and asking alms from stupidity -when it is in power; when we see men of letters carefully block a -confrère’s path when they detect in him a talent that might outshine -theirs; when, in short, every door is closed to obscure merit, and -thrown wide open to impudence and conceit when accompanied by wealth? If -selfishness had not wormed its way into all classes of society, if love -of money had not replaced love of one’s neighbor, would it be thus? And -you berate me for my susceptibility! You reproach me for being unable to -listen unmoved to the story of a noble deed,<a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a> or of pathetic misfortune; -for giving money to people who deceive me; for allowing myself to be -gulled like an ass by the palaver of a child who tells me that he is -begging for his mother, or of a poor laboring man who swears that he has -no work and nothing to eat! Well, my dear Bertrand, I prefer my -susceptibility to their icy selfishness, and I find in my heart sources -of enjoyment which their indifferent hearts will never know.”</p> - -<p>This conversation took place in a stylish cabriolet, drawn by a prancing -horse, which was bowling along the lovely road from Raincy to -Montfermeil. A small groom of some twelve or fourteen years was perched -behind the carriage, in which Bertrand was seated beside a young man, -dressed in the latest fashion, who, as he conversed, touched -occasionally with his whip the spirited steed he was driving.</p> - -<p>Bertrand had partly turned his face away toward the end of his master’s -speech; and to cloak the emotion which was beginning to be too much for -him, he blew his nose and took a huge pinch of snuff. Somewhat composed -thereby, he said in a voice slightly tremulous with emotion:</p> - -<p>“God forbid, lieutenant, that I should blame you for being -tender-hearted! I know your kind heart; I know how willing and ready to -help you are! And I could mention a thousand things you’ve done that -many men would have bragged about; whereas you are very careful to -conceal them.”</p> - -<p>“People who boast of the good they do are like the ones who offer you a -thing in such a way that you can’t accept it: both give regretfully.”</p> - -<p>“We needn’t look very far, lieutenant; haven’t you heaped presents on -me? didn’t you take me in, and give me board and lodging?<a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You’re an idiot, Bertrand; don’t you act as my steward, factotum, -confidential man of business,—yes, and as my friend, which is better -than all the rest, and for which one cannot pay?”</p> - -<p>At that, Bertrand turned his head altogether, and blew his nose again, -because a great tear had dropped from his eyes. He took two pinches of -snuff, and having warmly grasped the hand that his master offered him, -he said in a quavering voice:</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, you are the best of men; you have a thousand good -qualities! and no one had better say anything different in my hearing! -Morbleu! my sword isn’t rusty yet.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! so now you’re going to flatter me, are you? Remember, Bertrand, -that you began this conversation for the purpose of scolding me.”</p> - -<p>“Scolding you! no, indeed, lieutenant, but simply to point out to you -that it would be more reasonable to love one woman at once; with full -liberty to change as soon as you see another one that you like better.”</p> - -<p>“Look you, Bertrand, I’ll draw a comparison for you, that you’ll see the -justice of at once.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t put any Greeks or Romans in it, will you, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Not one.—You like wine, don’t you, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“That’s so, lieutenant; I admit that an old bottle—of a good -brand—there’s nothing like that to liven you up!”</p> - -<p>“Do you like beaune?”</p> - -<p>“Very much, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“And bordeaux?”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes! it smells of violets; it has a delicious bouquet!”</p> - -<p>“And volnay?<a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I’ve never been able to resist it.”</p> - -<p>“And chambertin?”</p> - -<p>“I would go down on my knees to it, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“If you had a bottle of each of those wines in front of you, would you -give up three of them and drink just a single one?”</p> - -<p>“I promise you, lieutenant, that I’d take care of all four of them, and -I wouldn’t be any worse off for it either.”</p> - -<p>“Why then do you expect me, when I am surrounded by four pretty -creatures, each of whom has some peculiar charm, to give up three of -them and make love to only one?”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! that’s true enough, lieutenant; you can’t do it; you must -drink them—I mean you must love them all four; and I see now that I was -wrong.”</p> - -<p>The discussions between Bertrand and Auguste Dalville almost always -ended so. Auguste was twenty-seven and had twenty thousand francs a -year; his father died while he was in the cradle, and his mother was -taken away from him six years before our story opens. That was the date -of the beginning of Auguste’s life of dissipation; he had sought -distraction from his perfectly natural grief, and had finally become -unable to resist a sex in whose company he had at first sought diversion -only.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the ambition to wear a handsome uniform, and perhaps to earn -a pair of epaulets, had led Auguste to enter the army. The country was -at peace; but a young man with a good education does not remain a -private. Auguste, promoted to sub-lieutenant, delighted to listen to -Bertrand, who had served as corporal of <i>voltigeurs</i>, and had been at -Austerlitz, Eylau, and Friedland. Bertrand was only forty-four: he put -into the<a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a> description of his battles the same fire and zeal that he had -displayed in the battles themselves, and Auguste never tired of -listening. The corporal’s stories excited his ardor; he regretted that -he was not born a few years earlier, thinking that he might, like -Bertrand, have taken part in those triumphant campaigns which will -always be the glory of France.</p> - -<p>About this time, Auguste was sent with his regiment to Pampeluna, to -which the French were laying siege. Bertrand found himself under the -command of the young officer, who had been made a lieutenant. But, the -war at an end, Auguste quitted the military profession, and returned to -Paris, to abandon himself afresh to his taste for pleasure. He proposed -to Bertrand to go with him; he readily obtained his discharge and -accompanied Dalville, to whom he was sincerely attached, and whom he -continued to call lieutenant, partly from habit and partly from choice.</p> - -<p>Bertrand had a mother in Paris, very old and infirm. Auguste’s first -care was to settle on the poor woman a pension which placed her beyond -fear of want, and enabled her to enjoy in her old age a multitude of -comforts which she had never known during her life of toil and -misfortune.</p> - -<p>Thereafter Auguste was not simply a master in Bertrand’s eyes; he -regarded him as his benefactor, and his affection and devotion knew no -bounds. After his mother’s death, which occurred three years later, -Bertrand attached himself to Auguste’s service altogether, and vowed -that he would devote his life to proving his gratitude. Bertrand had had -no education; he often made blunders in delivering the messages which -his master entrusted to him; but Auguste always forgave him, because he -was well aware of the ex-corporal’s<a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a> attachment and his good heart. -Bertrand, as we have seen, sometimes ventured to remonstrate with his -superior officer, because, being as yet unfamiliar with the manner of -life in high society, Auguste’s follies terrified him, and he was in -constant dread that his intrigues would lead to serious complications; -but Auguste always succeeded in allaying Bertrand’s fright, so that the -latter invariably ended the conversation by saying: “I was in the -wrong.”</p> - -<p>There are many more things that I might tell you concerning the two men -who have been talking together. Perhaps I ought to draw their portraits -for you, and to tell you to just what type of face Auguste Dalville’s -belonged. But what would be the use? Doubtless some one of his numerous -conquests will have something to say about him; so that I should run the -risk of unnecessary repetition by sketching him at first. We can simply -presume that he was comely, as he was fortunate enough to please the -ladies. “That is no reason,” you will say; “when a man has twenty -thousand francs a year, that takes the place of physical charms, and -conceals ugliness.”—Oh! what an idea, my dear readers! Surely no reader -of the gentler sex would make such a reply; for I have too good an -opinion of the ladies not to feel sure that it would take something more -than twenty thousand francs to captivate them.</p> - -<p>But the cabriolet is speeding along; we will resume our reflections at -some other time.</p> - -<p>“Bébelle goes very well. You are warm, lieutenant; don’t you want me to -take the reins?”</p> - -<p>“No, I like to drive.”</p> - -<p>“We shall be at Monsieur Destival’s by eleven o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“That is quite early enough; and from that time until five o’clock, when -we dine—But I promised a long while ago. At all events, Madame Destival -is an excellent<a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a> musician, and we will try to amuse ourselves while we -are waiting for dinner.”</p> - -<p>“Why did you bring me, lieutenant? I can’t play or sing, and as I don’t -belong in the salon, where am I to do sentry-duty?”</p> - -<p>“Never fear; Monsieur Destival expressly requested me to bring you. He -has become infatuated with hunting, and he wants you to teach him to -handle a gun.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, lieutenant, I’ll teach him all I know; that won’t take -long.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Virginie! What a rage she will be in to-night! I promised to take -her to Feydeau——”</p> - -<p>“She has often promised you things, and then broken her word.”</p> - -<p>“How do you know that, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Because I’ve heard, lieutenant, that Mademoiselle Virginie’s a terrible -liar.”</p> - -<p>“That is true; yes, I have had proofs of it more than once.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very bad, after all that you’ve done for her! But you’re so -kindhearted, you always allow yourself to be imposed on! Ten thousand -carbines! if the hussy had killed herself every time she threatened <i>to -perish</i> because she didn’t have enough to pay her rent——”</p> - -<p>“Come, come, Monsieur Bertrand, be quiet! You have a wicked tongue.—Go -on, Bébelle; I believe you’re asleep.”</p> - -<p>“And one evening, when you went out, and she told me her troubles! She -said that if she had had a weakness for you, it was because she was too -loving, but that she was determined to change her ways, not to see you -any more, and to make up with her aunt. For my part, I believed every -word of it; in fact, she had such a sincere way of saying it, that I -felt all ready to cry. But no<a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a> sooner did she learn that you were at the -masked ball than she shouted: ‘I’m going too, Bertrand! lend me some -clothes, I’m going to dress as a man!’—‘What, mademoiselle,’ says I, -‘when you’re talking about being good and not seeing Monsieur Auguste -any more!’—At that she began to laugh like a madwoman and called me an -old turkey-cock! Faith, lieutenant, I don’t understand a woman like -that.”</p> - -<p>“I can well believe it, my poor Bertrand; even I myself don’t understand -her, and I know her better than you do.”</p> - -<p>“I like that little light-haired woman better; you know, lieutenant, the -one you got acquainted with by carrying back the little poodle she’d -lost, that I found lying at our door at night.”</p> - -<p>“You mean Léonie?”</p> - -<p>“No, I mean Madame de Saint-Edmond.”</p> - -<p>“Léonie and Saint-Edmond are the same person.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“But look you, Bertrand, it was your fault that I made her -acquaintance.”</p> - -<p>“The poodle’s rather, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Léonie lived in the same house with me, and I didn’t know her.”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu, lieutenant, as if a body knew all his neighbors in Paris! -except concierges and cooks, whose business it is.”</p> - -<p>“At all events, you found the dog, and I bade you ask the concierge if -anyone in the house had lost it.”</p> - -<p>“And he told me that there was a young lady on the third floor, who had -lain awake all night for grief at losing her dog, and that her maid, -after searching from garret to cellar, had gone out to have placards -printed offering thirty francs reward to whoever brought the<a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a> little -beast back. I confess that I didn’t have any idea that the little -poodle, which did nothing but bite and growl, was worth more than four -months’ pay for a private soldier; but I went up to the third floor in a -hurry, to have the order for the placards countermanded by giving the -little beast back to its mistress. To celebrate his return, he began by -scratching a handsome blue satin armchair and putting his paws in -madame’s cup of chocolate; but that didn’t prevent her calling him her -little jewel, and expressing the greatest gratitude to me. Still, -lieutenant, I don’t see anything in all that to force you to fall in -love with Madame Léonie Saint-Edmond.”</p> - -<p>“You haven’t told everything, Bertrand: you forget that, when you came -down from the third floor, you drew a very alluring picture of that -lady; you told me that she had a pair of eyes—and a voice—and a -certain shape!”</p> - -<p>“Bless me, lieutenant, I should say that all women have eyes and a shape -and a voice!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to be sure; but still I was curious to know this young neighbor of -ours, who showed such keen sensibility.”</p> - -<p>“And it would seem, lieutenant, that you dislodged the poodle, for since -then Madame Saint-Edmond is forever at your heels; and as for me, madame -questions me and tries to make me talk; she sends for me to come up when -she’s at breakfast, and as she offers me a little glass of malaga and a -biscuit, she asks me where you passed the evening before.”</p> - -<p>“And Monsieur Bertrand, melted by the malaga, recounts my actions to my -neighbor, I presume?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! for shame, lieutenant! What do you take me for? The idea of my -betraying my master’s secrets!<a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a> If there had been half a dozen bottles -of malaga in front of me, I wouldn’t have said a word! To be sure, I -don’t like malaga.”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul, my dear Bertrand, I am not scolding you! You know well -enough that I make no secret of my follies, even to those who might have -ground for complaint. It’s a mere matter of an amourette or two, a -little fooling.”</p> - -<p>“All the same, lieutenant, I am seriously embarrassed, on my word, being -forever questioned by this one and that one. One calls me her little -Bertrand, another her true friend—and these ladies are all very -attractive——”</p> - -<p>“Ah! monsieur le caporal has noticed that!”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu, lieutenant, I have eyes just like other men, and if my heart -don’t take fire as easily as yours, that don’t mean that it’s -invulnerable. And when I see one of those ladies put her handkerchief to -her eyes, when I hear your neighbor throw herself into an armchair and -say that she’s going to faint; and when Mademoiselle Virginie cries that -she <i>will perish</i>,—why, I don’t know where I am. I run from one to the -other, offer them salts and eau-de-vie, tear my hair, and sometimes I -even cry with them. Let me tell you that I’d rather assault a fortress -six times than be present at one of those scenes, on my honor!”</p> - -<p>“Ha! ha! ha! Poor Bertrand!”</p> - -<p>“Of course, you laugh; it don’t make any difference to you how much you -are called traitor, perfidious villain, savage, monster, cruel wretch!”</p> - -<p>“Those are terms of endearment; in a young woman’s mouth those words -mean: ‘You are charming, I love you, I adore you!’”</p> - -<p>“Oho! so ‘monster!’ means ‘you are charming,’ does it? That makes a -difference, lieutenant; I couldn’t be<a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a> expected to guess that; now I -understand. But these tears that you are responsible for—do they also -mean that you are considered charming?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! do you suppose, my old friend, that in love-affairs tears are -always sincere?”</p> - -<p>“In a great flood, lieutenant, there may happen to be one honest one; -and it seems to me that a man ought to be sorry for the suffering he -causes a pretty girl.”</p> - -<p>“I promise to reform, Bertrand, to be more virtuous in the future! Is it -possible that you think that I, who adore that charming sex, I, whose -whole happiness depends on making myself attractive to the ladies—that -I set about causing them pain?”</p> - -<p>“No, lieutenant; on the contrary, I am well aware that you would like to -give pleasure to all the young beauties you meet; but it is that very -pleasure that leads to regret and cares; and you yourself—for, as I was -saying just now, the great Turenne——”</p> - -<p>Auguste had ceased to listen to Bertrand; he had put his head out of the -window and was watching a young peasant who had just come out of the -forest and was walking along the same road that our travellers were -following, driving before her an ass laden with baskets, in which were a -number of the tin cans in which milk is carried to the people of Paris -by the village women.</p> - -<p>As the ass did not move as fast as Bébelle, Auguste drew in his horse -and made him walk, in order to see the girl as long as possible.</p> - -<p>“Shall I touch Bébelle up?” asked Bertrand, surprised to find that they -continued to go at a walk.</p> - -<p>“No, no—she’s going well enough.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, lieutenant, you will be very wise to turn virtuous—virtuous for -you, I mean; if you don’t, your income won’t be enough to pay all your -expenses. You have<a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a> appointed me your steward, so I can venture to talk -figures with you; and, although I’m not a great mathematician, I can see -plainly enough that when you’re forever dipping into a cash-box, it is -soon empty. This year you don’t seem to be lucky at that infernal game -you play so often—you know, lieutenant, the game in which you turn the -kings——”</p> - -<p>“Fresh complexion—a pretty figure—lovely eyes—it’s extraordinary, I -swear!”</p> - -<p>“And then the cashmere shawls you send to one, and the milliner’s bill -that you pay for another——”</p> - -<p>“And all these charms in a milkmaid!”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? a milkmaid? Do you mean to say that you pay their bills -too, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Who in the devil said anything about bills? Just look at that sweet -child on the road yonder.”</p> - -<p>“Well! she’s a milkmaid—that’s the whole story!”</p> - -<p>“You don’t see how pretty she is. And that sly smile, every time her -eyes turn in our direction.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps she wants to sell us some cream cheese?”</p> - -<p>“Blockhead! to see nothing but cheese! I tell you that sackcloth waist, -that double linen neckerchief, so high in the neck, conceal a multitude -of treasures.”</p> - -<p>“Treasures! treasures! Parbleu! one can guess very nearly what they -conceal, although appearances are often deceitful. But such treasures -aren’t scarce; is it on account of the little milkmaid that we’re going -now like a load of flour?”</p> - -<p>“No, no, it’s because I am beginning to get tired of the cabriolet. The -weather is so fine; I feel that it will do me good to walk. We’re only a -little way from Monsieur Destival’s now. Here, Bertrand, take the reins; -I’ll do the rest of the distance on foot.”</p> - -<p>“What, lieutenant, you mean to—<a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a>—”</p> - -<p>Auguste had already stopped his horse; he jumped lightly to the ground -despite Bertrand’s grumbling, and said:</p> - -<p>“Go on with Tony.”</p> - -<p>“But what shall I tell Monsieur Destival?”</p> - -<p>“That I am coming; I shall be there as soon as you.”</p> - -<p>“But——”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, I insist.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand said no more; but he cast an angry glance at the little -milkmaid, and lashed Bébelle, who soon left Auguste far behind.</p> - -<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II<br /><br /> -THE FALL</h2> - -<p>The damsel went her way, with a branch of walnut in her hand, driving -her ass before her, apparently oblivious of the fact that the young man -had alighted from his cabriolet. She did not look back, but contented -herself with calling out from time to time: “Go on there, White Jean;” -and White Jean went none the faster.</p> - -<p>Auguste soon overtook the milkmaid. He walked behind her a few moments, -to examine her; she was well-built, so far as one could judge of her -shape beneath the thick wrapper in which she was muffled; her foot was -certainly small, although encased in heavy shoes, and her woolen -stockings covered a shapely leg, which he could examine at his leisure, -for a milkmaid wears very short skirts.</p> - -<p>Auguste stepped forward; the girl looked up and seemed surprised to see -the young man of the cabriolet<a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a> walking by her side. But she turned her -head away, with another “go on!” to her ass, in which there was no touch -of romance.</p> - -<p>Our young exquisite gazed closely at the girl, who wore a cap perched on -top of her head, which concealed none of her features.</p> - -<p>“She is very pretty,” he said to himself; “fine eyes, a pretty mouth, a -complexion like the rose; but nothing extraordinary, after all. Her -freshness is the freshness of a village girl; she’s a mere country -beauty, and I should have done as well to stay in the carriage. However, -as I have alighted, I may as well try to gain something by it.”</p> - -<p>And the young man continued to stare at the milkmaid, with a smile on -his face; but she, apparently annoyed by the fine gentleman’s scrutiny, -said to him sharply:</p> - -<p>“Shall you soon be through looking at me?”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it within the law to admire you?”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t like to have anyone eye me like that.”</p> - -<p>“If you weren’t so pretty, people would look at you less.”</p> - -<p>“If this is the way you talk to your ladies in Paris, you must have lots -of faces in your head! When you look at a body so close, you’ll know her -again; but here among us, we don’t call it decent; and you’d better not -come here to play monkey tricks like this!”</p> - -<p>“I made a mistake in leaving the cabriolet,” thought Auguste. However, -he continued to walk beside the girl, and said to her after a moment:</p> - -<p>“Are you a milkmaid?”</p> - -<p>“Pardi! anyone can see that. Have you just guessed it?”</p> - -<p>“Will you sell me some milk?<a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t got any.”</p> - -<p>“Do you carry it to Paris?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t go so far as that.”</p> - -<p>“Where do you come from?”</p> - -<p>“You’re very inquisitive.”</p> - -<p>The girl’s tone was not encouraging, and Auguste looked along the road -to see whether he could still see his cabriolet; but it had disappeared, -for White Jean stopped very often to eat leaves or grass, despite the -blows with the switch which his mistress bestowed on him.</p> - -<p>“Do you know,” said Auguste, “you are not very agreeable, my lovely -child? You are so pretty that I thought you would be gentler, less -savage.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just it! monsieur thought he was going to turn my head with his -flattery! But I’m used to meeting young men from Paris; it’s always the -same old song; they think they can make themselves welcome just by -telling me I’m pretty! Oh! you’re a parcel of flatterers! but I don’t -listen to you, you see!”</p> - -<p>“I should like to hear anyone deny again that virtue has its home in the -village!” said Auguste to himself. “It is clear enough to my mind that -the country is the place where we find the pure morals of the ancient -patriarch, the models of virtue celebrated by the poets, the—That devil -of a Bertrand needn’t have driven Bébelle so fast; he must have done it -from pure mischief! And when I said that we were almost there I was -lying. It’s at least three-quarters of a league farther!”</p> - -<p>To complete the young man’s discomfiture, the milkmaid turned aside from -the high road into a path that led through the woods. Auguste stood for -a moment hesitating at the entrance to the path. Should he follow his -cabriolet? or should he follow the girl? The first<a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a> course was the more -sensible, and that was his reason no doubt for deciding in favor of the -second.</p> - -<p>The time that Auguste had passed in indecision had allowed the milkmaid -to get some distance ahead of him; she walked along the path, and, -thinking that the young man had followed the highroad, she sang as she -drove White Jean in front of her:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“You love me, you say,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Then prove it, I pray;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">But dandies like you,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Would hoax us, I know.”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>“Very pretty! although the rhyme isn’t first-class,” said Auguste, -quickening his pace to overtake the girl. She turned, and seemed -surprised to see the young man in the path behind her.</p> - -<p>“What! you coming this way?” said the milkmaid, in a somewhat uncertain -voice.</p> - -<p>“To be sure; this path is lovely.”</p> - -<p>“Ain’t you going to overtake your carriage?”</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t make up my mind to leave you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you’re wasting your time, monsieur, and I promise you you’d do -better to go after your carriage.”</p> - -<p>“But I much prefer to walk by your side, although you treat me so -harshly; however, I have an idea that you’re not so unkind as you choose -to appear.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’re mistaken; I ain’t kind at all; ask all the young fellows -in Montfermeil how I treat them when they try to fool. Oh! Denise Fourcy -is well known hereabout, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Denise Fourcy? Good, now I know your name.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what then? How does that put you ahead any?<a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a>”</p> - -<p>“It will help me to find out about you easily, and to find you again -when I choose.”</p> - -<p>“Pardi! I ain’t lost, and anyone can easily find me.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say, Denise, that at your age, pretty as you are, you -haven’t a lover?”</p> - -<p>“Is that any of your business?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! very much!”</p> - -<p>“Here in the country we ain’t in such a hurry as your city ladies.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t women hearts in the country as well as elsewhere?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; but they don’t take fire the way yours does; it seems to me to be -a little heart of tinder.”</p> - -<p>“Upon my word, she is really amusing!” said Auguste, laughingly.</p> - -<p>“<i>She!</i>” repeated the milkmaid in an irritated tone; “how polite these -fine gentlemen are! <i>She!</i> Anyone would think we had known each other a -long while.”</p> - -<p>“It depends entirely on you whether or not we shall be the best friends -in the world in a moment. And to begin with, I must give you a kiss.”</p> - -<p>“No—no, monsieur—none of that sort of thing, if you please.—Oh! look -out, or I’ll scratch you.”</p> - -<p>Auguste, accustomed to defy such prohibitions, seized the little -milkmaid by the waist, and tried to put his lips to her fresh, ruddy -cheek; but she defended herself more vigorously than the city ladies do; -to be sure, a peasant is less embarrassed by her clothes, she isn’t -afraid of rumpling them, and her corsets are not so tight that she -cannot move her arms; that is the reason no doubt that a kiss is much -harder to obtain from a peasant.</p> - -<p>The kiss was taken at last; but it cost Auguste dear, for he bore below -his left eye the marks of two nails which had drawn blood from the -Parisian dandy’s face.<a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a> Thus each of the combatants was beaten, for each -bore a token of defeat. But the war seemed not to be at an end. Denise, -twice as red as she was before the battle, arranged her neckerchief, -glaring angrily at the young man; while he put his hand to his face, -and, finding blood there, wiped it with his handkerchief, looking at the -girl with a less sentimental expression; for those two digs with her -nails had cooled his ardor to an extraordinary degree.</p> - -<p>“I’m glad of it,” said the girl at last; “that will teach you to try to -kiss a girl against her will, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“I certainly didn’t expect to be treated so. The idea of disfiguring -me—just for a kiss!”</p> - -<p>“If all women did the same, you wouldn’t be so forward.”</p> - -<p>“Thank God, they don’t all have the same ideas that you have. You hurt -me terribly!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! what troubles you the most is that it will show; you’re afraid you -won’t be so pretty to look at.”</p> - -<p>“No, I assure you that that isn’t what I am thinking about. I am sorry -that I really made you angry. I realize that I was wrong. Come, Denise, -let us make peace.”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur, no, I don’t listen to you any more.”</p> - -<p>And the milkmaid, thinking that the young man intended to try to kiss -her again, ran to her donkey, and, in order to fly more rapidly, leaped -on White Jean’s back, and beat him with redoubled force. But it was the -animal’s custom to return placidly to the village, browsing on whatever -he found by the roadside, and not to bear his young mistress on his -back. Disturbed in his daily routine by this unexpected burden, White -Jean broke into a fast trot, and entered the woods despite his -mistress’s efforts to make him follow the beaten path.<a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a> Auguste heard -the girl’s cries as she tried in vain to hold her steed, dodging with -much difficulty the branches which brushed against her face every -instant. Forgetting the marks that Denise had left on his cheek, -Dalville followed the milkmaid’s track, in order to lead the ass back -into the path; but when he heard running behind him, the infernal beast -went faster than ever and rushed heedlessly into the densest part of the -wood. Soon a stout branch barred the milkmaid’s path. While her mount -ran beneath it, she was swept to the ground; and as she fell another -branch caught her skirt; so that poor Denise fell to the ground, face -downward, with her skirt over her head and consequently not where it -usually was.</p> - -<p>Auguste came up at that moment. You can imagine the sight that met his -eyes; and what the skirt no longer covered was white and plump and -fresh. But we must do the young man justice; instead of amusing himself -by contemplating so many attractive things, he ran to Denise. She -shrieked and wept and gnashed her teeth. He succeeded in rescuing her -head from her petticoats, and quickly covered—what you know.</p> - -<p>Denise rose; but she was covered with confusion, she dared not look up -at the young man, who, far from taking advantage of her embarrassment, -inquired solicitously whether she was hurt.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! it ain’t anything,” said Denise, still blushing. “I should have -forgotten all about it before this if that cursed branch—Pardi! I must -be mighty unlucky.”</p> - -<p>“Why so? because you fell? Why, my dear child, that might happen to -anybody.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it’s possible to fall without showing—without—Never mind, -you’re the first one that ever saw it, all the same.<a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Ah! I would like to be the last one, too.—Come, why this offended -expression? I promise you that I didn’t see anything; I thought of -nothing but helping you. I was so afraid that you had hurt yourself! It -would have been my fault; for, if it hadn’t been for my nonsense, you -would have gone your way in peace, and this wouldn’t have happened.”</p> - -<p>As Denise listened to Auguste, her anger passed away, and she even -smiled as she said:</p> - -<p>“I ain’t cross with you any more. You’re more decent than I thought; if -I’d fallen like that before the village fellows, they’d have laughed to -begin with, and then they’d have made a lot of silly talk, and there -wouldn’t have been any end to it. Instead of that, you picked me right -up, and you looked so scared!—I’m sorry now that I scratched you. Come, -kiss me, to prove that you forgive me.”</p> - -<p>Auguste made the most of this permission. Denise was so pretty when she -smiled! and a woman who defends herself so sturdily makes the favors -that she grants seem the more precious.</p> - -<p>So peace was made between the milkmaid and the young man. But White Jean -was no longer there; overjoyed to be rid of his burden, he had kept on -through the woods.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I ain’t worried,” said Denise; “I’m sure he’s gone home. Let’s take -this path and we shall soon be in the village.”</p> - -<p>They walked on; the milkmaid beside Auguste, who once more considered -her a charming creature, since she had smiled upon him and had allowed -him to kiss her. In truth, Denise’s face was no longer the same; an -angry expression is not becoming to a pretty face, and features that are -made to inspire love should never<a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a> express wrath. But they soon emerged -from the woods and descended a hill, at the foot of which lay -Montfermeil.</p> - -<p>“There’s my village,” said Denise; “and look, do you see my ass trotting -along down there? Oh! I knew he’d go right home.—Have you got business -in the neighborhood?”</p> - -<p>“No, not exactly. I am going to Monsieur Destival’s country place. Do -you know it?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure; I carry milk to them, when Madame Destival stays there in -summer. She always tells me to be careful about her little cheeses. You -see, I make nice ones. I carried them a bigger one this morning, because -Mamzelle Julie, madame’s maid, told me they expected company from -Paris.”</p> - -<p>“That being so, I probably shall have the pleasure of tasting your -cheeses.”</p> - -<p>“But if you’re going to Monsieur Destival’s, you mustn’t go to the -village. I’ll show you what road you must take.”</p> - -<p>“It will be much kinder of you to go with me and show me the way; as you -are not anxious about your ass, there is nothing to hurry you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! monsieur! I see that you’re all right, but you’re too fond of -kissing the girls. Besides, my aunt is waiting for me. It’s after noon, -and our dinner-time.—Look, monsieur, take that road that goes up the -hill yonder, then the first turn to the left, then the grass-grown road, -and you’ll find yourself at the place where you’re going.”</p> - -<p>“I shall never remember all that. You will be responsible for my losing -my way.”</p> - -<p>“You shouldn’t have left your carriage.”</p> - -<p>“It was your lovely eyes that turned my head.<a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you’re going to begin again. Go along, quick, or they’ll eat the -cream cheese without you.”</p> - -<p>“I should be very sorry for that, as it was you who made it.”</p> - -<p>“The road up the hill—then turn to the left—then the grass-grown road. -Adieu, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“One more kiss, Denise.”</p> - -<p>“No, no; that sort of thing shouldn’t be repeated too often; you’d soon -get tired of it.”</p> - -<p>And Denise hurried down the hill toward the village. Auguste followed -her with his eyes for a long while, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“She’s very pretty, and she’s bright too! What a pity that she doesn’t -live in Paris!—What am I saying? If she were in Paris, she’d look like -all the rest; it’s because she’s a milkmaid that her face and her wit -have impressed me.—Well, I will follow the directions she gave me, and -arrive as soon as possible. I am sure that they are impatient for me to -come; poor Bertrand won’t know what to say, and Madame Destival will -pout at me—how she will pout!—And great heaven! these scratches! how -in the devil am I to explain them? Faith, I scratched myself picking -nuts. It’s a pity that nuts don’t have thorns. But no matter, they may -think what they choose.”</p> - -<p>So Auguste decided to resume his journey; but he cast another glance at -Denise’s village, and murmured as he walked away:</p> - -<p>“I shall come again and make Montfermeil’s acquaintance.<a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III<br /><br /> -THE CHILD AND THE BOWL</h2> - -<p>Auguste followed the road that Denise had pointed out to him, his -thoughts still fixed on the little milkmaid. The most fickle of men -remembers the last woman who has succeeded in attracting him, until some -new and pleasing object, causing him to feel other desires, effaces from -his mind the charms of which he has lately dreamed.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the sound of tears and lamentations roused the young man from -his reverie. He looked about and spied, some ten yards away, by a large -tree, a little boy of six years at most, dressed like a peasant’s child, -in a little jacket, trousers torn in several places, no stockings, and -heavy wooden shoes; his head was bare, protected only by a forest of -fair hair.</p> - -<p>Auguste walked toward the little fellow, who wept lustily, and gazed -with an air of stupefaction at the fragments of an earthen vessel at his -feet, the former contents of which were spilled on the road. The child -did not turn to look at the person who spoke to him, all his thoughts -being concentrated on the broken vessel; he could do nothing but weep, -raising to his head and eyes from time to time a pair of very grimy -little hands, which, being wet by his tears, smeared his chubby face -with mud.</p> - -<p>“Why, what makes you cry so, my boy?” asked Auguste, stooping in order -to be nearer the child.<a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a></p> - -<p>The little fellow raised for an instant a pair of light-blue eyes, about -which his little hands had drawn circles of black; then turned them -again upon the pieces of broken crockery, muttering:</p> - -<p>“I’ve broke the bowl—hi! hi! and papa’s soup was in it—hi! hi! I’ll -get a licking, like I did before—hi! hi!”</p> - -<p>“The deuce! that would be a misfortune, and no mistake! But stop crying, -my boy, perhaps we can fix it all right. You say that you were carrying -soup to your father?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I broke the bowl.”</p> - -<p>“So I see. But why do they make you carry such a big bowl? You’re too -small as yet. How old are you, my boy?”</p> - -<p>“Six and a half—and I broke the bowl, and papa’s soup——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, it’s on the ground; you mustn’t think any more about it.”</p> - -<p>“It was cabbage soup—hi! hi!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I can smell it. But don’t cry any more. I promise you that you -shan’t be whipped.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I shall; I broke the bowl, and grandma told me to be very -careful.”</p> - -<p>“Come, listen to me: what’s your name?”</p> - -<p>“Coco—and I’ve broke the bowl.”</p> - -<p>“Well, my little Coco, I’ll give you money to buy another bowl, and to -have three times as much cabbage soup made. I hope you won’t cry any -more now.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, Auguste took a five-franc piece from his pocket and put it -in the child’s hand; but Coco stared at the coin with his big blue eyes -open wider than ever, and continued none the less to sob bitterly, -saying:</p> - -<p>“Papa’ll lick me, and so will grandma too.<a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What! when you give them that money?”</p> - -<p>“Papa’s waiting for the soup for his dinner; and when he sees me without -the bowl—”</p> - -<p>“Well,” thought Auguste, “I see that I must take it on myself to arrange -this matter. It will make me still later; but this little fellow is so -pretty! and they are quite capable of beating him, despite the -five-franc piece. I wasted one hour making love to a milkmaid, I can -afford to sacrifice a second to save this child a thrashing.—Come, -Coco; off we go, my boy! Take me to your father; I’ll tell him that it -was I who knocked the bowl out of your hands as I passed, and I’ll -promise that you won’t be beaten.”</p> - -<p>Coco looked at Auguste, then turned his eyes on the remains of the -vessel, from which he was very reluctant to part. But Dalville took his -hand, and the child concluded at last to start. On the way Auguste tried -to make him talk, to divert him from his terror.</p> - -<p>“What does your father do, my boy?”</p> - -<p>“He works in the fields.”</p> - -<p>“And his name?”</p> - -<p>“Papa Calleux.”</p> - -<p>“Papa Calleux evidently is not very pleasant, as you’re so afraid of -him. And your mother?”</p> - -<p>“She’s dead.”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s your grandmother who makes the cabbage soup?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and she told me to be very careful and not break the bowl, like I -did the other time.”</p> - -<p>“Aha! so you’ve broken one before, have you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and there wasn’t anything in it; but they licked me.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t seem to be lucky with bowls. But the idea of whipping such a -little fellow! These peasants must<a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a> be very hardhearted. Poor boy! he is -still sobbing; and he isn’t seven years old! So there’s no age at which -we haven’t our troubles.”</p> - -<p>The boy led Auguste across several fields, through the middle of which -ran narrow paths. It took Auguste still farther from Monsieur -Destival’s; but he did not choose to leave the child until he saw that -he was happy. At last they reached a field of potatoes, and Coco stopped -and grasped his companion’s arm with a trembling hand.</p> - -<p>“There’s papa,” he said.</p> - -<p>Some forty yards away Auguste saw a peasant plying the spade. He dropped -the child’s hand and walked toward the peasant, who kept at his work, -bent double over the ground.</p> - -<p>“Père Calleux, I have come to make amends for a slight accident,” said -Auguste, raising his voice.</p> - -<p>The peasant raised his head and displayed a face covered with blotches, -a huge nose, great eyes level with the face, a half-open mouth, and -teeth that recalled those of Little Red Riding Hood’s enemy. That -extraordinary countenance expressed profound amazement at hearing a -fashionably-dressed gentleman call him by name.</p> - -<p>“I imagine that Père Calleux is as fond of wine as of cabbage soup,” -said Auguste to himself as he scrutinized the peasant.</p> - -<p>“What can I do for you, monsieur?” asked the latter.</p> - -<p>“I met your son Coco on the road——”</p> - -<p>“Ah! where is he, I’d like to know? He was going to bring me my -dinner.—Coco! what are you doing there?”</p> - -<p>“Wait until I tell you the whole story; as I was looking at a fine view, -I ran into the child, and I knocked the bowl he was carrying out of his -hands; it broke, and——”</p> - -<p>“You’ll pay for it, that’s all; for you’re to blame for my having no -dinner.<a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s but fair; that’s why I came to speak to you. How much do I -owe you? Name the price.”</p> - -<p>“Well, monsieur, it was a good soup-bowl; it was worth all of thirty -sous; and there was twelve sous’ worth of soup in it; for pork’s dear -round here——”</p> - -<p>“See, here’s five francs; are you satisfied?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! monsieur; that’s fair enough; I haven’t got anything to say.”</p> - -<p>“Then I hope that you won’t scold your son; and, if you take my advice -you won’t make a child of that age carry such heavy loads any more.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! monsieur, it gets them used to being strong. We poor folks can’t -bring children up on lollipops.—Well, Coco, come here.”</p> - -<p>The child approached timidly, and, when he reached his father’s side, -began to whimper again, saying:</p> - -<p>“I broke the bowl.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I know what happened; monsieur told me all about it. Go back -to the house now, and tell Mère Madeleine to get me some dinner, and to -be sure to have some wine. But no, I’d rather go to dinner at Claude’s -cabaret. Go home, Coco, and don’t wait supper for me; I’ve got business -in the town.”</p> - -<p>Auguste guessed that Père Calleux’s business consisted in drinking up -the five-franc piece to the last sou; but, satisfied to see that his -young protégé was in high spirits, he bade the peasant adieu, and -followed the child, who retraced the steps they had just taken; but this -time he leaped and gambolled about his companion. His great grief was -forgotten already! And they say that we are great children: it is true -as concerns our foibles, but not as concerns happiness.</p> - -<p>Auguste, happy in the little fellow’s joy, took pleasure in watching -him. Laughter sits so well upon a little face<a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a> of six years! A person -who is fond of children cannot conceive how anyone can look with -indifference on their tears. And yet there are people for whom a dog’s -yelping has more charm than the laughter of a child! It speaks well for -their depth of feeling!</p> - -<p>As they went along, Coco sang and ran and played about Auguste, playing -little tricks on him, for they were great friends already; at six years -and a half one gives one’s friendship as quickly as at twenty one gives -one’s heart. Auguste ran and played with the child; he chased him, -caught him, and rolled with him on the grass, heedless of the fact that -it stained his clothes, because the boy’s laughter was so frank and true -that it was often shared by his elegant companion.</p> - -<p>What! you will say, a dandy, a lady-killer, a butterfly of fashion, -amuse himself playing in the fields with a little peasant boy? Why not, -pray? Happy the man who, as he grows old, retains his taste for the -simple pleasures of his youth! Henri IV walked about his room on all -fours, carrying his children on his back. When surprised in that -position by the ambassador of a foreign power, he asked him, without -rising, if he were a father, and, upon his answer in the affirmative, -rejoined: “In that case, I’ll just trot round the room.”</p> - -<p>When they reached the place where he had first met the child, Auguste -would have bade him adieu and have gone his way; but Coco held his hand -and refused to release it.</p> - -<p>“Come home with me,” he said, “please come; Mamma Madeleine will give -you some nice butter. Come and you can see Jacqueleine; she’s awful -pretty, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Who is Jacqueleine, my boy?”</p> - -<p>“She’s our goat; she sleeps by me.<a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a>”</p> - -<p>“And is your home far away?”</p> - -<p>“No, it’s right over there.”</p> - -<p>Auguste submitted to be led away. Coco repeating: “It’s right over -there,” gave his companion another half-hour’s walk. At last they came -in sight of a wretched hovel, the thatched roof of which had fallen in -in several places, standing on a crossroad, and Coco shouted: “Here we -are; do you see our house?” Then he pulled his companion’s sleeve, to -make him run with him.</p> - -<p>An old woman sat in front of the hovel; she was thin and bent, and her -complexion reminded one of an Egyptian mummy. But a strong, shrill voice -emerged from her fragile body.</p> - -<p>“So here you are at last, lazybones!” she said to the child; “what have -you been doing so long? Where’s the bowl?”</p> - -<p>Coco looked at Auguste, whom he was already accustomed to look upon as -his protector; Auguste told Mère Madeleine the same fable that he had -told Père Calleux, reinforced once more by the five-franc piece, which -was the irresistible argument. At that the old woman tried to soften her -voice, and urged Auguste to come in for a drink of goat’s milk and some -fresh butter, which were all that she could offer him. The young dandy -entered the cabin. His heart sickened at the sight of that wretched -habitation. The home of the Calleux family consisted of a single room. -It was a large room, but the daylight lighted only a small part of it. -The bare earth formed the floor; the walls, half whitewashed, had -nothing upon them to conceal their nakedness; the thatched roof -threatened disaster. Two cot beds, in the darkest corner, had no -curtains to shelter them from the wind which entered on all sides. An -old buffet, a chest, a table and a few chairs were the only other -furniture.<a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a></p> - -<p>“Where on earth do you sleep?” Auguste asked the child. He led him to a -corner of the room, where it was almost impossible to see anything, and -pointed out a small straw bed on the floor, with a dilapidated woolen -coverlet thrown over it. Close beside it was a goat, lying in some straw -that was spread on the ground.</p> - -<p>“There’s my bed,” said Coco. “Oh! I’m all right, you see; Jacqueleine -keeps me warm in winter. Jacqueleine loves me, she does!”</p> - -<p>And the child threw his arms round the goat’s neck, and patted her, -rolling over and over on the straw with her. But he was obliged to leave -his faithful companion, for his grandmother called him.</p> - -<p>“Come, come, good-for-nothing! You can play by-and-by. Come and put the -bread on the table and give me a cup. The little scamp ain’t good for -nothing.”</p> - -<p>“You treat your grandson very harshly,” said Auguste, taking his place -at the table and tasting the rye bread and the milk.</p> - -<p>“If I’d let him have his way, monsieur, he’d play all day long.”</p> - -<p>“But you must love the child dearly, as he’s the only one your daughter -left you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! yes, I love him enough! But when a body’s poor, it’s just as well -not to have none at all.”</p> - -<p>Auguste looked once more at the old peasant woman, and her extreme -ugliness no longer surprised him so much. He took Coco on his knee, gave -him milk to drink, and bread and butter to eat, and enjoyed looking at -his pretty face and lovely fair hair. The old woman seemed astounded by -the endearments which the fine gentleman lavished on the child, and -muttered between her teeth:</p> - -<p>“Oh! you’ll spoil him! ‘taint no use in doing that!<a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Is he learning to read and write?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, of course! where’s the money coming from, I’d like to know? -Besides, we don’t want to make a scholar of him. Is that wanted for -driving the plough?”</p> - -<p>“But you might at least give him a better place to sleep than he has.”</p> - -<p>“There ain’t no sheets but for one bed, and it’s no more’n fair for me -to have ‘em, old as I am. His father sleeps on a sack of straw same as -he does. He don’t sleep no worse for it either, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Here, Mère Madeleine, take this, and buy a bed for the child, and don’t -be so harsh with him.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, Auguste rose, and put six more five-franc pieces in the old -woman’s hand. She, having never before seen so much money at one time, -made curtsy after curtsy, overwhelming the stranger with thanks, and -saying to the child:</p> - -<p>“Come, Coco, thank monsieur for giving me all this money for you. Thank -him, I say, quick!”</p> - -<p>The child looked up at his grandmother in evident embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“Let him alone,” said Auguste, as he kissed him; “he doesn’t know the -value of money yet. The kiss he gives me is all the more sincere on that -account. Adieu, my little Coco.—By the way, which is the road to Livry, -please?”</p> - -<p>“Follow this path, monsieur, and it’ll take you to the main road. You’ll -be there in half an hour. Do you want Coco to show you the way?”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t necessary.”</p> - -<p>Auguste left the hovel; the child bade him good-bye and called after -him:</p> - -<p>“Come and play with me again, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Auguste, “I promise.<a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV<br /><br /> -SOME PORTRAITS AFTER NATURE</h2> - -<p>Since eleven o’clock Dalville had been expected at Monsieur Destival’s. -Madame, a brunette of thirty, with a bright eye and a most expressive -glance, who was an adept in the art of making the most of a shapely -figure and seductive contours by an effective costume,—madame had -finished her toilet. In the country it was, of course, very simple; but -there are some négligé costumes which require much preparation. However, -as madame was pretty and still young, she had spent only a half hour in -donning a filmy white dress, confined at the waist by an orange sash; in -arranging her curls becomingly and adorning them with a bow of the same -color as her sash. Nor had she asked Julie more than six times if the -yellow was becoming to her.</p> - -<p>Julie replied that madame was fascinating, that yellow was always -becoming to brunettes, and, in fact, that madame need not be afraid to -wear any color. Madame smiled slightly at Julie, who was only -twenty-four, but was extremely ugly, which is almost always considered a -valuable quality in a lady’s maid.</p> - -<p>Monsieur Destival was ten years older than his wife; he was tall and -thin; his face was not handsome, but it had character; unfortunately its -expression was not of the sort that denotes an amiable person, whose wit -causes one to forget his ugliness; it denoted self-sufficiency, conceit, -and a constant tendency to be cunning.<a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a> His rustic cap, set well forward -on his head, seemed to put a seal upon all the rest.</p> - -<p>Monsieur Destival was formerly a government employé; with his wife’s -dowry he had bought the office of official auctioneer, which he had -afterward sold at a profit. Although he never talked of politics for -fear of compromising himself, and did not himself know to what party he -belonged, he had had the shrewdness to set up an office as a business -agent, had obtained a numerous clientage and had succeeded in tripling -his capital. To be sure, he gave receptions, balls and small punches, -and madame, whose eyes were full of fire and whose manners were -charming, did the honors of her salon with infinite grace.</p> - -<p>The country house, where they passed much of the time in summer, was -large enough to enable them to entertain extensively, and to provide -rooms for seven or eight friends. As monsieur never allowed more than -one day to pass without going to Paris to look after his business, and -as he sometimes passed the night there, madame—who was very timid, -although she had the look of a strong-minded woman—liked to keep one of -monsieur’s male friends in the house.</p> - -<p>A young man with twenty thousand francs a year could not fail to be -hospitably received at Monsieur Destival’s; and so, although it was only -three months since Auguste had made his acquaintance, he was already on -the footing of an intimate friend. Monsieur constantly urged him to -call, whether at Paris or in the country, and madame was very fond of -singing and playing with him.</p> - -<p>But the clock struck twelve, and Monsieur Dalville did not appear. -Madame was annoyed. Julie was posted on the lookout at a window on the -second floor, and monsieur wandered from one room to another, -exclaiming:<a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a></p> - -<p>“The devil! my friend Dalville is very late, and he promised to come -early, to be here for breakfast.”</p> - -<p>“Does Monsieur Auguste ever remember his promises?” asked madame -snappishly.</p> - -<p>“Oh! there you go again, always finding fault with him, attacking him, -making fun of him.”</p> - -<p>“I, monsieur? What concern of mine are Monsieur Dalville’s tastes or his -failings? When did you ever see me attack him?”</p> - -<p>“I know that it’s all in joke; but you are a little bit caustic, my dear -Emilie, you like to hurl epigrams. It is true, I admit, that I myself -should be very biting, if I didn’t hold myself back; in fact, I often am -unconsciously. But after all, Dalville’s a charming -fellow—well-born—rich—talented.”</p> - -<p>“Talented? Oh! very slightly.”</p> - -<p>“I thought that he was strong on the violin?”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur, he often plays false—Well, Julie, do you see anyone -coming?”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! no, madame, it’s no use to look. And all those cheeses that I -bought of Denise! How annoying!”</p> - -<p>“For heaven’s sake, mademoiselle, don’t bother us with your cheeses. Go -up to the cupola—you can see farther.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, madame.”</p> - -<p>Julie went upstairs and monsieur resumed the conversation.</p> - -<p>“You won’t deny, I trust, that Dalville has a pleasant voice.”</p> - -<p>“Pleasant! bah! a voice like everybody’s else.”</p> - -<p>“Why, I should say that you and he sing duets together perfectly, -especially the one from Feydeau’s <i>Muletier</i>; you know, the one with -‘What joy! what joy!’ and that ends with ‘coucou! coucou!<a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a>’”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you tire me, monsieur, with your ‘coucous!’”</p> - -<p>“He plays quadrilles on the piano.”</p> - -<p>“Who doesn’t play now?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, I don’t; to be sure, I have always had so much business on hand -that I have had to neglect my taste for music. At all events, Dalville -is bright, pleasant, always in good spirits.”</p> - -<p>“There are days when he can’t say three words in succession!”</p> - -<p>“Let me tell you that I myself, when I’m very much occupied with some -important matter, am not as agreeable as usual—that happens to -everybody. To return to Dalville—he is rich—and young.—By George! I -have an idea! such a delicious idea!”</p> - -<p>“What is it then, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“I must find a wife for him.”</p> - -<p>“A wife for Monsieur Auguste? Why on earth should you interfere? Is it -any of your business?”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it my business to look after other people’s business? This may -turn out a profitable affair.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! don’t go to making matches, monsieur, I beg! As if you knew -anything about such things!”</p> - -<p>“I flatter myself that I do, madame.”</p> - -<p>“A business agent make marriages—nonsense! that would be absurd!—Have -you thought about your gun, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, I told Baptiste to clean it; and Dalville promised to -bring that old soldier of his, Bertrand; he will teach me how to use it; -for a wolf has been seen in the neighborhood, you know, madame; and that -is very unpleasant because it keeps one uneasy all the time.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t suppose that that makes it impossible for you to beat up the -wood?<a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! on the contrary, madame, it was I who suggested that measure of -safety. I propose to see the wolf, madame.”</p> - -<p>“You will do well, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>The conversation was interrupted by a noise in the next room.</p> - -<p>“Ah! here’s our dear Dalville at last, no doubt,” said Monsieur -Destival.</p> - -<p>Madame said nothing, but she prepared a little pouting expression which -would surely imply what she thought. Meanwhile the person whom they had -heard did not enter the room, but continued to rub his feet on the -doormat. Monsieur Destival threw the door of the salon open, and found, -instead of Auguste, a little man of some fifty-five years, with a light -wig, broad-brimmed straw hat, coat cut almost square, short breeches, -and fancy stockings, who was rubbing and rerubbing his feet on the mat -in the reception room.</p> - -<p>“Ah! it’s our neighbor, Monsieur Monin!” said Monsieur Destival, at -sight of the little man.</p> - -<p>At the name of Monin, Madame Destival made an impatient gesture, -muttering:</p> - -<p>“What a bore! why need he have come!”</p> - -<p>“Hush! be still, madame! He still has a drug store to sell, and he wants -to buy a house. I propose that he shall dine with us.”</p> - -<p>With that, Monsieur Destival turned back toward the door, where Monsieur -Monin was still rubbing his feet on the mat.</p> - -<p>“Well, aren’t you coming in, my dear Monsieur Monin? What in the deuce -are you doing there all this time? It’s a fine day; you don’t need to -wipe your feet.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! but I’ll tell you: as I came across the courtyard I looked up at -the sky to see if we were going to<a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a> have a shower, and I stepped into a -dung-heap that I didn’t see.”</p> - -<p>“That’s Baptiste’s fault; it should have been taken away.”</p> - -<p>“There, that will do.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Monin left the mat at last, and looking up at Monsieur Destival -with a pair of big eyes level with his face, wherein one would have -looked in vain for an idea, smiled a smile which cut his face in halves, -although it was still dominated by a nose of enormous dimensions, always -stuffed with snuff, like an unlighted pipe.</p> - -<p>“How’s your health, neighbor?”</p> - -<p>“Very good, my dear sir. Pray come in; my wife is here and will be -delighted to see you.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Monin entered the salon and removed his hat, making a low bow -to Madame Destival, who acknowledged the salute by a smile which might -have passed for a grimace; but Monsieur Monin took it most favorably for -himself, and began his inevitable question:</p> - -<p>“How’s your health, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Passable, monsieur; not very good at this moment; my nerves are -unstrung, I have palpitations.”</p> - -<p>“It’s the weather, madame; the heat is intense to-day: twenty-six -degrees and three-tenths.”</p> - -<p>“Twenty-seven, neighbor,” said Monsieur Destival, glancing at his -thermometer.</p> - -<p>“That’s surprising! it isn’t so high at my house, and yet mine’s in the -same position. My wife says that I’ve made it too low lately.”</p> - -<p>“Why did not Madame Monin come with you, neighbor?”</p> - -<p>“She’s making pickles, and it will take her all day. My! but she takes a -lot of pains with ‘em! She won’t go out to-day.<a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I am deeply indebted to the pickles,” whispered Madame Destival, while -Monsieur Monin continued, doing his utmost to force another pinch into -his nose:</p> - -<p>“My wife said to me: ‘I don’t need you, Monin, take a walk.’ So I came -to see you.”</p> - -<p>“That was very agreeable of you, neighbor. Will you pass the whole day -with us?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, if it don’t put you out, I should like to, because I’ll tell -you—when my wife’s making pickles, she don’t like to bother with -cooking.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, then you will stay. You will meet Monsieur Dalville, a -delightful young man, full of fun. His servant, who is an old soldier, -is to give me a lesson in drilling, for I am appointed general——”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, in the <i>battue</i> we’re going to have.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I was saying——”</p> - -<p>“Won’t you take part in it, Monsieur Monin?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I’ll tell you: when I had my rifle, it was all right—”</p> - -<p>“Madame, madame, a lovely calèche is just driving into the courtyard,” -said Julie, rushing into the salon.</p> - -<p>“A calèche?”</p> - -<p>“With Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière.”</p> - -<p>“What! have they come? How kind of them!” cried Monsieur Destival, -running to the window. Madame Destival did not share her husband’s -delight; however, she rose to satisfy herself concerning the arrival of -her new guests, and went out to receive them; for persons who have a -calèche and a livery deserve the very greatest consideration. Thus, -Monsieur Destival flew at his wife’s heels, leaving Monsieur Monin, who -was just about to tell him how many times he had hunted, and who, -finding himself abandoned in the salon, turned to his ordinary<a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a> -resource, and succeeded, by dint of perseverance, in forcing two dainty -pinches of snuff into his nostrils.</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière, for whom they ran downstairs so eagerly, -was a man of about forty years of age. When he arrived in Paris, at -eighteen, his name was Thomas simply, and he did not blush then for his -mother, who kept a little wine-shop in her village. But residence in the -capital had wrought an entire change in Monsieur Thomas. First a shop -clerk, then a government clerk, then a money-lender, then a man of large -affairs, Monsieur Thomas had seen Fortune smile constantly upon him. He -speculated with his consols and was lucky; after that he forgot his -village and adopted the tone and manners of a man in the first society. -That a person should start from very low and rise very high—there is no -objection to that; on the contrary, the man who wins success by his -work, who makes his own fortune, leads us to believe that his merit is -greater than his who attains the highest honor without exertion of his -own. But the thing for which a parvenu is never forgiven is an -affectation of pride and insolence, and the belief that by assuming the -airs of a grand seigneur, he can lead people to forget the name and the -clothes that he used to wear. Monsieur Thomas was such a one. He began -by changing his too vulgar name for that of La Thomassinière. Then, -instead of urging his mother to leave her village and enjoy his fortune, -he contented himself with sending her a sum of money which would enable -her to take down the sign of the <i>Learned Ass</i>, and to stop selling -wine. But he forbade her to come to Paris, where, he said, the air was -very unhealthy for elderly women. Then Monsieur de la Thomassinière set -up an establishment,—carriage, servants, livery—bought a magnificent -country estate and a very pretty<a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a> wife of eighteen, who was turned over -to him with a dowry of one hundred thousand francs, and who did not so -much as ask whether her husband was handsome or ugly, because, having -been perfectly educated, she knew that a husband who owns a carriage is -always comely enough, and, besides that, a woman is supposed to look at -nobody but her husband.</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière, dressed like a dandy and aping the manners -of good society, but always affording a glimpse of the days of the -<i>Learned Ass</i>, was forever talking about “my estate, my property, my -servants, my horses.” His wife was his only possession as to whom he did -not use the possessive pronoun. As for madame, a lively, volatile, giddy -creature, with no thought for anything save dress and amusements, she -never spoke to monsieur except to ask him for money, or to talk about -some festivity that she proposed to give.</p> - -<p>“Ah! here are our dear friends!” said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward to offer his hand to Madame de la Thomassinière to help her -alight, while monsieur gazed admiringly at his horses and gorgeous -livery.</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, Destival.—Lapierre, be careful of the horses.—Madame, -allow me to offer my respects.—Cover my calèche, you fellows, it may -rain in.—We have come without ceremony. It doesn’t put you out to have -me bring a few of my people, does it?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not! I have enough to board and lodge them,” replied Monsieur -Destival, biting his lips, because his modest cabriolet was completely -eclipsed by the superb calèche, and Baptiste and Julie, who composed his -whole staff of domestics, would be hidden by a single one of the tall -rascals whom Monsieur de la Thomassinière carried in his train. But -these reflections did not prevent the exchange of the usual courtesies, -they simply made him<a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a> ambitious to enlarge his household; and so, as he -led the young woman into the house, our business agent said to himself:</p> - -<p>“I must find a wife for Dalville, sell Monin’s drug shop, and buy a -house for him; then I will have a little groom—a negro—and dress him -in red, so that he can be seen a long way off.”</p> - -<p>The two ladies embraced.</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, my dear girl.”</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, dear.”</p> - -<p>“How sweet of you to come to see us!”</p> - -<p>“We are going to stay until to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“How lovely your hats always are!”</p> - -<p>“Do you think so?”</p> - -<p>“Fascinating. I like that style of dress ever so much.”</p> - -<p>“It’s the latest—not quite low enough in the neck.”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes. I must have some of that material; it’s very stylish.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it’s very simple; the dress cost only two hundred francs. But for -the country, and for calls on one’s friends—I’ll give you my -dressmaker’s address.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival allowed Madame de la Thomassinière to go upstairs first, -continuing to lavish compliments upon her, and counterfeiting the most -extravagant delight in order to conceal her secret annoyance; for the -new arrival was genuinely pretty, her manners were charmingly vivacious, -and Monsieur Dalville, whom Madame Destival was still expecting to see, -had never met her. Monsieur Dalville, who was so quick to take fire, was -very likely to make love to Madame de la Thomassinière, who was no less -likely to listen to him. All this caused Madame Destival much secret -anger; but she affected the greater amiability on that account; for in -society one must know how to make believe, to speak<a name="page_045" id="page_045"></a> otherwise than one -thinks; that is the great secret of social success.</p> - -<p>Madame de la Thomassinière entered the salon, where Monsieur Monin had -remained; he was on the point of attempting the introduction of another -pinch of snuff, but checked himself at sight of the young woman, stepped -back, removed his hat, and although he had never seen her before, began -his inevitable question:</p> - -<p>“How’s your health?”</p> - -<p>But the petite-maîtresse did not give the ex-druggist an opportunity to -speak; she stifled with her handkerchief the outburst of laughter -inspired by Monsieur Monin’s unique countenance, and turned to Madame -Destival, saying:</p> - -<p>“Who is this?”</p> - -<p>“A neighbor of ours, very rich, but as stupid as he is ridiculous.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! so much the better; we will have some sport with him. We may as -well laugh a bit. Do you expect anybody else?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, we expect a young man, a great friend of Monsieur -Destival—Monsieur Auguste Dalville. Do you know him?”</p> - -<p>“No, but I’ve heard a great deal about him; he is noted in society for -his <i>bonnes fortunes</i> and his conquests. I shall be very glad to make -his acquaintance. As a general rule, these naughty fellows are very -agreeable—don’t you think so, my dear?”</p> - -<p>“Why, sometimes—not always. However, you shall judge for yourself.”</p> - -<p>“They say he’s very good-looking?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! so-so; a passable face, that’s all; rather fine eyes, but his mouth -is a little too large and his lips are very thick. I don’t like that -type of face at all.<a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a>”</p> - -<p>“For my part, I don’t like thin lips. Is he light or dark?”</p> - -<p>“I can hardly remember; he is dark, I think.”</p> - -<p>“I had an idea that I had heard that Monsieur Dalville came to your -house very often?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! he goes to my husband’s office, on business.”</p> - -<p>“Is he musical?”</p> - -<p>“A little.”</p> - -<p>“I have brought a nocturne that I am crazy over; he must sing it with -me.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville will certainly be delighted to sing with you.—Excuse -me, my dear, but I have some orders to give. In the country we don’t -stand on ceremony.”</p> - -<p>“I should hope not! I will go out and see your garden.”</p> - -<p>“Do; I am going to order luncheon, and I will come and call you.”</p> - -<p>The petite-maîtresse tripped lightly down the stairs leading to the -garden, and Madame Destival went to her bedroom, where she threw herself -on a lounge, saying to Julie as she came in:</p> - -<p>“Oh! Julie! I am so annoyed! I cannot stand any more, I am choking!”</p> - -<p>“I should think as much, madame; I don’t see how you can help it! To -wait in vain for those whom you expect, and have to receive a lot of -people that you don’t expect!”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Destival is perfectly brutal, with his mania for inviting -everybody he sees. If he had a château, he would not do any more!”</p> - -<p>“That old Monin, who can’t do anything but eat and drink!”</p> - -<p>“And yet, if he were the only one, I shouldn’t mind him, I promise -you.<a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Is his wife coming?”</p> - -<p>“No, thank God! she is making pickles.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very lucky! Madame Monin has a wicked tongue in her head; and -inquisitive—why, she always comes into the kitchen to see what’s going -on.”</p> - -<p>“In spite of that, I should have preferred her to those Thomassinières, -who put on so much style and assume the most unendurable airs and -pretensions!”</p> - -<p>“And then, who ever heard of bringing three servants to be fed! Those -big rascals will eat everything in the house.”</p> - -<p>“What time is it, Julie?”</p> - -<p>“After twelve, madame.”</p> - -<p>“He won’t come. I am very glad of it now. Order luncheon. We will not -dine until half past six.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right; in that way they won’t get any supper, at all events.”</p> - -<p>Julie went downstairs. Madame stood in front of her mirror, looked at -herself a few moments, arranged a few locks of hair, then left the room, -saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“I look well enough for these people.”</p> - -<p>She went to the garden and joined Madame de la Thomassinière, whose -husband, immediately on arriving, had asked Monsieur Destival for a pen -and some ink, so that he might at once write an urgent letter on a -matter of great importance. Monsieur Destival ensconced the speculator -in his study.</p> - -<p>“Make yourself perfectly at home,” he said; “I will leave you.”</p> - -<p>And Monsieur de la Thomassinière, left to himself at the desk, scratched -his head, looked at the pens, and wrote nothing at all, for the reason -that he had nothing to write and no letter to send. But a man involved -in great speculations should always seem preoccupied, and pretend<a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a> that -he needs a writing desk; that impresses fools and credulous folk, and -sometimes people of good sense even; the professional schemers are the -only ones who do not allow themselves to be gulled by such petty wiles, -because they often use them themselves.</p> - -<p>On leaving La Thomassinière, Monsieur Destival returned to Monsieur -Monin, who did not take offence because no attention was paid to him, -his wife having accustomed him to that.</p> - -<p>“Well, neighbor, have you sold that drug shop?” queried the business -agent, slapping Monsieur Monin on the shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Not yet, neighbor. It vexes me, because, I’ll tell you, those who have -taken my place temporarily aren’t used to it as I am, and——”</p> - -<p>“I’ll sell it for you. I hope to see you in Paris next winter, Monsieur -Monin, and to know you better.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“You must come to our house to play cards.”</p> - -<p>“Do you play loo?”</p> - -<p>“No, but écarté, and boston. I have a very pretty house to sell you.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s a great opportunity; the price is nothing at all.”</p> - -<p>“Is it insured?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know; we will talk about all those things later; go out and -take a turn in the garden. I am going to find out if they have any idea -of giving us some luncheon.”</p> - -<p>Monin left the room; as Monsieur Destival turned to do likewise he -confronted his wife, who exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur! you have asked Monsieur Monin to call on us in Paris?<a name="page_049" id="page_049"></a>”</p> - -<p>“To be sure, madame.”</p> - -<p>“It’s well enough in the country, because he’s a neighbor. But in town! -A man who can’t say anything or do anything, and who knows no game but -loo!”</p> - -<p>“He is rich, madame.”</p> - -<p>“What if he is? that doesn’t prevent his being as stupid as an owl.”</p> - -<p>“He won’t be the first stupid person who has been to my house, madame. -When one receives a great deal of company, it can’t be otherwise. And -besides, with your men of intellect, your authors and your poets, -there’s not a sou to be made.”</p> - -<p>“If you’re so fond of money, monsieur, why do you invite so many people -to your country house? It is ruinously extravagant, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Never fear, madame; I invite none but those who may be useful to me. -Oh! I am very shrewd, I look a long way ahead. La Thomassinière is a -valuable acquaintance, and I am very desirous to become intimate with -him. I know that he often makes himself very ridiculous, that he tries -to play the great man, and that the rôle isn’t suited to him; that he -occasionally makes blunders in speaking that smell horribly of his -origin; that he is tiresome beyond words with his carriage, his estates, -his property and his servants, whom he is forever throwing in one’s -face; but for all that, he’s a man for whom I have a peculiar esteem and -regard, because, as I told you just now, madame, I look a long way -ahead.—But how about luncheon?”</p> - -<p>“Speak to Baptiste, monsieur; I have given my orders to Julie.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival went into the garden, where the petite-maîtresse was -strolling about, gathering a bouquet.</p> - -<p>“I am picking your flowers, you see,” she said.<a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a></p> - -<p>“You are doing just right, my dear love; pray take all that you please.”</p> - -<p>“Your garden is lovely.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it isn’t very extensive; but there is plenty of shade, and that’s -what I like.”</p> - -<p>“So do I. I have had a forest planted on our estate at Fleury. It will -be delicious, I assure you.”</p> - -<p>“But before it grows——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we have set out nothing but large trees. I will send you an -invitation for next month. I am waiting for the painting and decorating -I am having done to be finished, before going there for a month. But I -shall take plenty of guests; for I don’t like the country except with a -lot of people about.”</p> - -<p>“For my part, I am rather fond of solitude.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! I should die if I were alone a single day!”</p> - -<p>“So you don’t like reading?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do, for a moment or two, in bed; but not long at a time; it -tires me.”</p> - -<p>“And music?”</p> - -<p>“I play and sing only when someone is listening to me.”</p> - -<p>“Drawing?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that was all right at boarding-school! I mean to have a little -theatre on my estate, and we will have theatricals there; that’s great -fun. I used to act often at boarding-school. I was particularly fond of -the parts in which I changed dresses.”</p> - -<p>“What a child you are!”</p> - -<p>“What would you have? one must pass the time somehow. If I had nothing -but my husband to amuse me, great heaven! where should we be? A man who -thinks of nothing but figures and exchange and heaven knows what. These -business men are very disagreeable.<a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a>”</p> - -<p>The ladies, having turned into another path, found themselves in the -neighborhood of Monsieur Monin, who had stopped and seemed to be in a -sort of trance before a plum tree laden with very large fruit. At sight -of the ladies he took off his hat and muttered: “How’s your—” But he -did not finish the sentence, because he remembered that he had already -paid his respects to them in the salon; so he turned and pointed to the -tree, saying: “That tree bears very fine fruit.”</p> - -<p>“Why, my dear, you don’t mean that you have fruit trees in your garden?” -cried the petite-maîtresse; “why, that’s the worst possible form; you -must take them all away and set out in their place ebony-trees, acacias, -and sycamores.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! our garden makes no pretensions,” rejoined Madame Destival, biting -her lips with anger; “it isn’t a park such as you have on your place, -and Monsieur Destival is very fond of fruit.”</p> - -<p>“He is quite right,” said Monin, who had walked nearer to the plum tree -when Madame de la Thomassinière spoke of taking it up. “Fruit is the -body’s friend when it’s good and ripe. But I was just going to say——”</p> - -<p>“And monsieur’s plums!” continued the younger woman. “Dear, dear! they -are very vulgar; they should be left for the servants.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! when Monsieur Destival has made a fortune, then we will have a -separate orchard; but meanwhile we are simple enough to be content with -a small country place. What would you have? We were not born in a -palace—in the lap of grandeur.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival uttered these last words with malicious emphasis; but -Madame de la Thomassinière seemed to pay no heed to them; as -hare-brained as she<a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a> was inconsequent, she said offensive things -unintentionally; and if she talked constantly of her dresses, her -diamonds and her estate, it was less from vanity than as a matter of -habit, whereas the wish to make a show of his wealth was the motive -behind every act of her husband.</p> - -<p>“Luncheon is waiting, mesdames,” said Monsieur Destival, hastening -forward gallantly to offer his arm to the petite-maîtresse; “come; it is -late, and you must be hungry. Faith, if Dalville comes, he will have to -eat alone, that’s all there is about it.”</p> - -<p>The master of the house walked away with the young woman. Monsieur Monin -had taken off his hat and was about to offer Madame Destival his arm; -but she, divining his purpose, vanished by another path, and the little -man, having lost sight of her, decided to betake himself alone to the -dining-room; but first he cast a last tender glance at the plum tree.</p> - -<p>They were seated at the table, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière was -still in the study.</p> - -<p>“Tell him that we are going to have luncheon,” said Monsieur Destival, -“and that we’re only waiting for him.”</p> - -<p>Baptiste went up to the study and called through the door:</p> - -<p>“Luncheon is served, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, very well, I will come down,” replied La Thomassinière, -continuing to roll little balls of paper; “I have only one more note to -write.”</p> - -<p>The valet withdrew and reported the answer that was made to him.</p> - -<p>“What a terrible man he is with his notes!” said Madame Destival; -“doesn’t he have a moment to himself, even in the country?<a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a>”</p> - -<p>“My husband?” replied the petite-maîtresse; “why, my dear love, he’s a -most insufferable creature with his endless writing! He is never ready -at meal-time; and even when we have twenty persons to dinner, which -happens quite often, I have to send for him three or four times.”</p> - -<p>After making balls of paper for another five minutes, Monsieur de la -Thomassinière concluded at last to go down to the dining-room.</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, here I am! It wasn’t my fault,” he said as he took his -seat; “you shouldn’t have waited for me. You see, I happened to think -about a certain speculation I am interested in.—Give me the wing of a -chicken and a glass of claret; that is all I take in the morning.—Well, -Athalie, have you devastated madame’s flower garden?”</p> - -<p>Athalie, who ate quite heartily for a petite-maîtresse, answered with a -laugh:</p> - -<p>“I have been doing what I chose, monsieur; you know perfectly well that -it doesn’t concern you.”</p> - -<p>“That is true, madame, that is perfectly true. I supply the money, I pay -the bills. Twelve hundred francs to a milliner seems a trifle expensive. -But madame must have the best there is.”</p> - -<p>“If you lose your temper, monsieur, the next bill will be twice as -large.”</p> - -<p>“You know well enough, madame, that when it’s a question of giving you -money, I never have to be asked twice. When one is rich, that’s -perfectly natural; we must help the tradesmen to make money; isn’t that -so, Destival?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure,” replied his host, “I have the same feeling.—Well, what do -you think of my claret? You don’t say anything about it.<a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a>”</p> - -<p>“It is very fair; but I have some better than this, oh! much better! I -will give you some when you come to my house, and you’ll see.”</p> - -<p>“And this cream—do you like it, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Very much,” replied the petite-maîtresse. But Monsieur de la -Thomassinière helped himself to three spoonfuls, saying:</p> - -<p>“Let’s taste the cream.” Then he made a slight grimace and added: “Oh! -my estate is the place for fine dairy products! This can’t be compared -with it; it’s an entirely different thing! And our fowls! ah! they are -delicious. To be sure, they are fed with such care! Now you people think -that you are eating something good when you eat a chicken like this. -Well, let me tell you that if you should see my poultry yard at Fleury, -you would look on this as rubbish.”</p> - -<p>“It is very fortunate then that we know nothing about it,” retorted -Madame Destival, with a meaning glance at her husband. He, to change the -subject of that pleasant conversation, turned to Monin, who had not said -a word since he had been at the table, being engrossed by the second -joint of a chicken, which he seasoned now and then with snuff, glancing -occasionally with the eye of a connoisseur at a magnificent pie that -stood in front of him, to which he seemed to be saying: “How’s your -health?”</p> - -<p>“Your appetite seems to be in good condition, neighbor?” said Destival.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, it’s the weather that does it. Do you take snuff?”</p> - -<p>And Monin offered his box to Destival, then to La Thomassinière, who, -after taking a tiny pinch, took from his pocket a gold snuff-box at -which he gazed for some time with a complacent expression.<a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a></p> - -<p>“This is Virginia,” he said, “the very best snuff there is; it’s very -expensive, but I don’t care for any other kind. Try it, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Monin, who never declined a pinch of snuff, was about to partake of the -Virginia, when they heard the wheels of a carriage entering the -courtyard, and Julie hurried into the dining-room, saying:</p> - -<p>“Here’s Monsieur Dalville; his cabriolet has just come in.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival smiled with satisfaction, and the petite-maîtresse -hastily ordered her plate to be changed, so that the débris of her -repast might not be seen in front of her. Monsieur Destival ran out to -receive his dear friend, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière thought: “This -Dalville must be a millionaire, to have his arrival make such a -sensation.”</p> - -<p>As for Monin, with his pinch of Virginia in one hand and his fork in the -other, confused by the bustle caused by Dalville’s arrival, he put a -dainty piece of ham to his nose and the superfine snuff in his mouth. He -discovered his mistake, however, and put each article in its proper -place.</p> - -<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V<br /><br /> -THE DRILL, THE SWING, THE STORM, AND THE MUSIC</h2> - -<p>Destival, having gone out to greet Dalville, looked about for him in -vain; he saw nobody near the cabriolet save little Tony and Bertrand, -the latter of whom gave him a military salute.<a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a></p> - -<p>“Well! where is he? which way did he go in?” inquired Destival. Bertrand -passed his tongue over his lips and scratched his ear, seeking a -suitable reply; at last he said in a firm voice:</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville will be here as soon as I am.”</p> - -<p>“But you seem to have got here before him; did he leave you on the way?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Does he know anyone in the neighborhood?”</p> - -<p>“It would seem so, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“At all events, he is really coming; that’s the main point.”</p> - -<p>Destival ran back to inform the ladies that his friend Dalville would -soon be there; that he had stopped to see a friend, but that he could -not be long.</p> - -<p>“Why, I didn’t know that he knew anyone in this vicinity,” said Madame -Destival in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! this gentleman keeps us on the anxious seat a long while,” -said the vivacious Athalie, leaving the table; while La Thomassinière, -annoyed that a thought should be given to anybody but himself, paced the -floor a few moments, then stamped violently, and put his hand to his -forehead.</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul!” he cried, “I had almost forgotten. What time is it? Not -one yet? Is there a post office<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> anywhere near?”</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> French <i>poste</i>; when used alone the meaning is ambiguous -and depends on the context. Hence the misunderstanding.</p></div> - -<p>“Do you mean a donkey post?” asked Monin.</p> - -<p>“No, for letters, of course!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! on the second street. By the way, I believe—I won’t say for -sure, but I’ll tell you——”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go there at once; I shall be in time.”</p> - -<p>And Monsieur de la Thomassinière rushed from the<a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a> room as if he would -overturn everybody, paying no heed to Destival, who shouted after him:</p> - -<p>“Stay here; I’ll send it for you. Besides, your own servants are here.”</p> - -<p>The speculator darted out across the fields, and having reached a dense -thicket, lay down on the grass and went to sleep, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“A man like me must never have a moment to himself.”</p> - -<p>The ladies returned to the salon. Monsieur Destival went down to -Bertrand, and Monin, seeing that everybody had left the table, concluded -to do likewise and followed his host.</p> - -<p>As soon as Bertrand had taken some refreshment, Monsieur Destival went -to him and begged him to give him a lesson in drilling and giving -orders. The ex-corporal was very willing to do anything that recalled -glorious memories. He repaired with Monsieur Destival to the terrace in -the garden, where the latter had his rifle brought to him, and a foil -which he used as a sword, and stood as straight as a ramrod as he -carried out Bertrand’s orders. Monin, who had followed them, thought -that it was courteous to do as his host did; he took a spade in lieu of -a musket, and, standing behind his neighbor, followed him through “right -shoulder,” “left shoulder,” “present arms,” etc., pausing only to use -his snuff-box.</p> - -<p>For more than an hour the gentlemen had been on the terrace with -Bertrand, who would gladly have passed the day in such a pleasant -occupation. Monsieur Destival, ambitious to outshine the rural -constables, began to carry himself like a Prussian grenadier; and Monin, -perspiring profusely in his efforts to do as well as his host, did not -notice that, while taking aim, presenting arms and grounding arms with -his sword, he had pushed back<a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a> his cap and wig, thereby giving himself a -most swaggering appearance.</p> - -<p>The drill was interrupted by roars of laughter from the effervescent -Athalie, who appeared on the scene with Madame Destival.</p> - -<p>Monsieur Monin paused in the act of presenting arms. It was high time; a -moment more and the wig would have fallen back and have exhibited the -ex-druggist as the Child-Jesus. As for Monsieur Destival, he turned -toward the ladies, with a martial air, weapon in hand, and said:</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you think of my set-up?”</p> - -<p>“Superb! But I prefer monsieur here with his spade; he is more amusing.”</p> - -<p>“What, neighbor, are you taking a lesson in the manual?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Monin, wiping his brow and pulling his wig forward; “I -followed you at a distance, and I’ll tell you——”</p> - -<p>“But what can have become of Monsieur Dalville?” said Madame Destival, -paying no attention to Monin; “he left you on the road, he said that he -would be here as soon as you, and you have been here two hours. At whose -house did you leave him, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“At whose house, madame? I didn’t say that I left him at anyone’s -house.”</p> - -<p>“But you must have seen him go into a house, didn’t you? Of course you -didn’t leave him on the highroad?”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, madame, but that’s just what I did: I left my lieutenant in -the middle of the road, about half a league from here.”</p> - -<p>“You do not tell the whole story, Bertrand: Monsieur Auguste wasn’t -alone on the road, I fancy.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see whether anybody was coming, madame.<a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! there must have been some peasant girl there, some rustic beauty, -who captivated Monsieur Dalville!”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean, my dear? Does he consort with that kind?” inquired -the petite-maîtresse disdainfully.</p> - -<p>“He consorts with all kinds, my dear. Bless my soul, a scullery maid, if -she has a little turned-up nose, a——”</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! oh dear! this goes far to destroy the good opinion I had -formed of this gentleman.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you,” said Madame Destival in a lower tone, drawing nearer to -her friend, “he’s a perfect libertine! If it weren’t for my husband, I -should never receive him. He’s a man whose acquaintance is likely to -endanger a woman’s reputation. But Monsieur Destival is daft over him. -He absolutely insists on entertaining him, and is forever inviting him -here. I don’t like quarrels, and I let my husband do what he chooses.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I am not so obliging; I do only what I like, and I receive only -those people who suit me. Ah! if Monsieur de la Thomassinière should try -to thwart me, I should instantly become subject to hysterics.”</p> - -<p>The ladies were about to return to the garden and Bertrand to continue -his lesson in drilling, when they heard loud laughter in the courtyard, -and in a moment Dalville made his appearance.</p> - -<p>“Ah! good-day, my dear friend,” said Monsieur Destival, going to meet -Auguste, rifle in hand; “we had about given you up. Shoulder arms, eh? -Isn’t this about right?”</p> - -<p>“I see that Bertrand will make something of you.”</p> - -<p>“Here is my wife, who has been in a temper because you didn’t come.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! how my husband does irritate me!” said Madame Destival to her -neighbor, assuming a frigid air to welcome Auguste, who said to her:<a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a></p> - -<p>“What, madame! have you been so kind as to be uneasy because of my -non-appearance?”</p> - -<p>“I have not said a word of that sort, monsieur. I cannot conceive why -Monsieur Destival delights in crediting me with statements the thought -of which I do not even entertain. I simply considered that when a person -promised to arrive in time for luncheon, it was ridiculous to put in an -appearance at the end of the day. However, I am not at all surprised, -and—But, bless my soul! what on earth has happened to you, monsieur? -What a plight you are in! A wound in the face—clothes all -disarranged—It would seem that you have had some thrilling adventure.”</p> - -<p>“In truth, madame,” said Auguste, bowing to Athalie, who returned his -salutation with a simpering air, “I did have an encounter——”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he met the wolf,” suggested Monin, walking up to Destival; “it -seems that there is one in the woods. The peasant woman who sold my wife -her cucumbers told her that the other day——”</p> - -<p>“Can it be that you have been fighting with a wolf, my gallant -Dalville?” cried Destival, presenting his bayonet to the company as if -he proposed to charge a hollow square.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no!” said madame, with a sly smile, “it was no wolf that made that -mark on monsieur’s face; it looks like something entirely different; -don’t you think so, my dear love?”</p> - -<p>“That looks to me exactly like the scratch of a finger-nail,” said -Athalie the vivacious, looking very closely at Auguste; “isn’t it that, -monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“You are not mistaken, madame.”</p> - -<p>“So you have been fighting, have you, monsieur?” said Madame Destival.<a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a></p> - -<p>“No, madame, I simply met a very pretty little boy, who had broken the -bowl in which he was carrying soup to his father. I gave him a piece of -money to console him; at that, in his joy he embraced me; he patted my -cheeks with his little hands, and he—he accidentally scratched me a -little. That is a faithful account of my adventure, mesdames.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival bit her lip and glanced at her companion, who smiled. It -was evident that they both doubted the truth of Dalville’s story; but he -cared very little what they might think. Taking advantage of this brief -pause in the conversation, Monin went to Auguste, whom he had met twice -at his neighbor’s and said to him in the most amiable manner:</p> - -<p>“How’s your health?”</p> - -<p>“Very good, Monsieur Monin, except for this scratch, which is not -dangerous.”</p> - -<p>“You are joking, monsieur! I tell you finger-nail scratches are not to -be trifled with.—Do you use snuff?”</p> - -<p>“Thanks.”</p> - -<p>“I know all about it, and I’ll tell you why: my wife has a——”</p> - -<p>Having no curiosity to hear Monin’s story, Dalville followed the ladies, -who had returned to the garden. Athalie’s presence aroused in the young -man a desire to be agreeable. He had not expected to find any other lady -than the mistress of the house, who was well enough, but with whom he no -longer took pains to be agreeable. Why? Was it because he was no longer -in love with her, or because he was sure of pleasing her, or—On my -word, you ask me too much.</p> - -<p>Madame de la Thomassinière’s vivacity and unconventionality harmonized -perfectly with Auguste’s lively humor and free-and-easy manners; and as -greater liberty<a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a> is authorized in the country, after a very short time -he and the petite-maîtresse were laughing and joking together as if they -had known each other for years.</p> - -<p>Madame Destival did not share their gayety; she was sulky, said little, -and contented herself with darting eloquent glances at the young man -from time to time; the more intimate her two companions became, the more -her ill-humor seemed to increase. Meanwhile they were strolling about -the garden; they sat down; then Madame de la Thomassinière went to look -at a pretty view, or pluck a flower, or chase a butterfly, and as she -sauntered back showed Auguste a double row of lovely teeth, and seemed -to say:</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you come with me?”</p> - -<p>But Madame Destival did not leave her, and although visibly annoyed, she -too ran after the butterflies.</p> - -<p>“What on earth is the matter with you, my dear love?” said Athalie, -good-humoredly; “you don’t seem very hilarious.”</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, I am satisfied; but a severe headache has just come on.”</p> - -<p>“Go in the house and lie down for a moment.”</p> - -<p>“No, my child, oh, no! I prefer to stay with you.”</p> - -<p>“You shouldn’t stand on ceremony in the country. Besides, monsieur will -bear me company. We will catch butterflies together.”</p> - -<p>“I will catch whatever you please, madame,” said Auguste, with a smile -which was instantly succeeded by a wry face, because Madame Destival -pinched his arm as she replied:</p> - -<p>“No, the air will do me good. But I thought that you intended to have -some music?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we shall have time enough this evening, as I am to pass the night -here. Is monsieur to remain?<a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a>”</p> - -<p>“If madame will kindly allow me to do so?” said Auguste, glancing at his -hostess, who replied angrily:</p> - -<p>“As you please, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>After walking for some time longer, they stopped beside a swing, and the -sprightly Athalie sprang to a seat on the narrow plank, held in place by -two cords only, saying to Auguste:</p> - -<p>“Oh! do give me a push, please. I am wild over swinging; I have nearly -killed myself a dozen times, but it makes no difference, I always come -back to it. Not too high, monsieur, do you understand?”</p> - -<p>“As high or as low as you choose, madame.”</p> - -<p>Auguste stood near the swing and pushed gently, while Madame Destival -seated herself at a little distance, with her handkerchief at her eyes. -The young man was distraught; he looked at Athalie and Madame Destival -in turn; the former’s petulant ways attracted him, the other’s grief -seemed to cause him pain.</p> - -<p>“Oh! what fun! how lovely it is!” cried the petite-maîtresse. “Keep on, -monsieur, harder! Look out, you are jerking me.—Ah! my dear, you can’t -imagine how I like this!”</p> - -<p>Madame de la Thomassinière gave no sign of being tired of swinging; but -Madame Destival, who was not at all amused, resorted to the device of -fainting, and fell back in her chair with a hollow groan. Thereupon -Auguste left the swing and ran to Emilie, exclaiming:</p> - -<p>“What is the matter, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Leave me; you are a monster!” replied Madame Destival, her eyes still -closed.</p> - -<p>“What have I done, pray?”</p> - -<p>“Do you think that I have not noticed your conduct?”</p> - -<p>“My conduct has been perfectly natural, I should say——<a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Not content with coming here from—from I don’t know where, monsieur -presumes, in my presence, to make love to that flirt, who behaves in the -most indecent way! I should have hoped that you would at least respect -my house, monsieur!”</p> - -<p>“Really, madame, I cannot in the least understand your anger. I am -courteous, polite—nothing more.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think that I have no eyes? It is far too evident. The least that -you can do is to show some little self-restraint!”</p> - -<p>“But——”</p> - -<p>“Hush!”</p> - -<p>“Well!” said Athalie, noticing that the swing moved more slowly, “what -are you doing, monsieur? You are not pushing, you are letting me stop; -and I don’t want that. Are you tired already? Fie! a young man too!”</p> - -<p>At that moment appeared Monsieur Monin, who, seeing that his host was -determined to practise the manual until dinner, and feeling that he had -not the strength to continue, had dropped his spade and bent his steps -toward the garden, where, as he wiped his forehead, he sought to freshen -up his ideas by resorting to his snuff-box.</p> - -<p>“You have come in the nick of time, Monsieur Monin,” said Madame -Destival; “madame is sorely in need of somebody to swing her. Do her -that service, she will be overjoyed.”</p> - -<p>As she said this, Emilie rose, took Auguste’s arm and led him to another -part of the garden, leaving Monin agape with amazement at the task -assigned him, and Athalie still in the swing. Having her back to the -others, she had not noticed their departure and was still ignorant of -the fact that she had changed swingers.</p> - -<p>“Well! push me, monsieur!” she said, wriggling about in the swing to -make herself go.<a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a></p> - -<p>Monin fortified himself with a pinch of snuff and walked toward the -swing; but, having miscalculated the space that it covered in swinging -back, the seat came down upon him as he was turning up his sleeves in -order to push harder, and the young woman’s plump figure struck him in -the face.</p> - -<p>Dazed by the blow, Monin fell on the turf a step or two away; while -Madame de la Thomassinière gave a little shriek because his nose had -almost unseated her.</p> - -<p>“How awkward you are!” she cried; “if I hadn’t held on tight, I should -have fallen. Come and stop me, and help me to get down.—Well, monsieur, -do you propose to leave me here?”</p> - -<p>Monin was not quick to rise, and he was looking for his cap, which the -swing had knocked off, muttering:</p> - -<p>“I am at your service in a minute, madame. You see, if I should go home -without my cap, my wife would make a row.”</p> - -<p>Really vexed, Athalie turned her head and saw Monin trying to climb a -tree to reach his cap, which the swing had sent flying to a high branch. -The young woman laughed heartily, then jumped down from the swing and -walked away, seeking Auguste and Madame Destival in every thicket.</p> - -<p>After scouring the garden to no purpose, she returned to the place where -she had left Monin; he was still at the foot of the tree, which he had -tried vainly to climb, gazing despairingly at his cap, lodged on a -branch, which he could not reach, and seeking in his snuff-box some -inspiration as to the means of recovering it.</p> - -<p>“Which way did they go, monsieur?” asked Athalie, stopping beside him. -He looked stupidly about and said:</p> - -<p>“Who, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville and Madame Destival.<a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I can’t tell you—unless they’ve gone to drill too.”</p> - -<p>Athalie went toward the house. Destival was still with Bertrand on the -terrace. The young woman entered the salon; it was empty.</p> - -<p>“This is very polite,” said Athalie; “a perfect gentleman that! It seems -that there is no standing on ceremony here. I would like right well to -know if Monsieur Dalville is with Madame Destival. She had a -sick-headache; I am curious to know how she gets rid of it.”</p> - -<p>The young woman left the salon and passed through several rooms without -meeting anybody, for Julie and Baptiste were busy in the kitchen, and -Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s three servants had gone to the village to -play goose. She went up to the first floor, where Madame Destival’s -bedroom was; but the door was closed and locked.</p> - -<p>“She is in her room,” thought the petite-maîtresse; and she knocked -gently. There was no reply; she knocked louder. At last Madame Destival -asked who was there.</p> - -<p>“I, my dear,” Athalie replied. “I came up to have a chat with you.”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, I had dropped asleep; my headache is so much worse——”</p> - -<p>“I have one too, and I will lie down in your room a moment; it will do -me good.”</p> - -<p>“Hasn’t Julie shown you your room?”</p> - -<p>“No, my love; let me in, pray.”</p> - -<p>Madame de la Thomassinière was determined not to go away, and after some -little time she was admitted. Madame Destival appeared with her clothes -no more disarranged than was natural in a person who had been lying -down. As she went in, Athalie glanced about the room, and her eyes -longed to pierce the walls of a small closet<a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a> at the foot of the bed, -the mirrored door of which was tightly closed.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! how my head jumps!” said Madame Destival, putting her hand to -her forehead.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it any better?” asked Athalie, seating herself on a couch.</p> - -<p>“No; quite the contrary.”</p> - -<p>“Lie down again, my dear; I will stretch myself out on this couch; I -shall not be sorry for a little rest myself. This hot sun affects my -nerves.”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival seemed disinclined to return to her bed; she walked -about the room impatiently, and said:</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I don’t want to go to sleep again, it’s almost dinner-time.”</p> - -<p>“How on earth did you ever succeed in sleeping here? Your husband makes -such a noise with his ‘present arms,’ and his ‘ready, aim!’”</p> - -<p>“It didn’t disturb me at all.”</p> - -<p>“What did you do with Monsieur Dalville?”</p> - -<p>“What did I do with him? Why, nothing.”</p> - -<p>“I thought he was with you.”</p> - -<p>“With me?”</p> - -<p>“When you left me in the swing, didn’t you take him away with you, and -leave in his place the charming Monsieur Monin, whose society is so -entertaining?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Auguste left me immediately; he must have gone for a walk to -the village.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know, my dear, that I should not have recognized Monsieur -Dalville from the picture that you drew of him. In the first place, you -said that he wasn’t good-looking, that he had a common look.”</p> - -<p>“I did not say common, I swear.”</p> - -<p>“That he hadn’t good style, that he was a rake, a ne’er-do-well, a man -whose visits might compromise a woman.<a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you exaggerate, my dear!”</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon, but you said all that, you drew a shocking portrait -of him! For my part, I think him very good-looking, and I like his -manners very much.”</p> - -<p>“That is very fortunate for him, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Well! what on earth are you doing? You are putting on your belt inside -out.”</p> - -<p>“Why, so I am! I have fits of absent-mindedness.”</p> - -<p>“Shall I fasten your dress for you, my dear?”</p> - -<p>“Thanks; I can dress myself.”</p> - -<p>At that moment the sound of something being placed against the window -made Emilie jump.</p> - -<p>“What is that?” she said.</p> - -<p>“It was in that closet, I think; something fell.”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, the noise didn’t come from the closet; it was at the -window.”</p> - -<p>The ladies went to the window and saw Monsieur Destival, who had just -placed a ladder against the outer sill.</p> - -<p>“What in the world are you doing, monsieur?” exclaimed Madame Destival -in alarm; “what is the meaning of this ladder and all this confusion?”</p> - -<p>“My dear love, I know now all the evolutions there are; the only thing -left for me to learn is to storm a fort; that’s the bouquet, so Bertrand -says, and he’s going to show me how. You, mesdames, are inside the -fortress, you represent the enemy; you must try to keep us out, but we -will enter the citadel in spite of you.”</p> - -<p>“What is the meaning of this absurd nonsense, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“It’s the bouquet, madame, I tell you.—Come, Bertrand; one! two! At the -double-quick, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I am not willing that you should storm my room, monsieur.—Take away -that ladder, Bertrand, I beg you.<a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a>—You are mad, monsieur! Do you have -to storm a fort to catch a wolf?”</p> - -<p>“Nobody knows what may happen, madame.”</p> - -<p>“I know that you won’t happen to reach my room, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>As she said this, Madame Destival closed her window with a bang, and led -Madame de la Thomassinière from her room, saying:</p> - -<p>“Let’s go down, my dear, let’s go down, I beg you, for they’ll turn -everything topsy-turvy with their drilling.”</p> - -<p>They went out on the terrace, where Monsieur Destival still held his -ladder, which Bertrand tried in vain to take away from him. The business -agent was determined to raise it somewhere.</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! monsieur, if you absolutely must lay siege to something,” -said Madame Destival, “let it be a tree in the garden, and not my -bedroom.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand grasped at this idea, and Athalie suggested to them that they -should attack the tree in which Monsieur Monin’s cap had lodged. They -went toward the swing and found the ex-druggist there, with his short, -fat arms around the tree, trying to climb it, but unable to raise -himself more than three inches from the ground.</p> - -<p>At sight of the ladder, Monin uttered a cry of delight, and outdid -himself in thanks when Monsieur Destival ascended it at the -double-quick, having no suspicion that the manœuvre had any other -purpose than the recovery of his cap. But alas! Monsieur Destival -thought it best to capture the trophy with his bayonet, and the point of -his weapon pierced the top, which was of thin straw. Bertrand shouted -“Bravo!” Monin made a wry face, the ladies laughed, and Auguste arrived -in time to witness the tableau.<a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a></p> - -<p>Auguste bestowed a sweet smile on Madame de la Thomassinière and a -rather cold bow on Madame Destival. I do not know whether you can guess -the cause, but the ladies had no difficulty.</p> - -<p>“Are you just from the village, monsieur?” said the petite-maîtresse, -showing her pretty teeth.</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, I have had a most instructive walk; I have acquired some -new knowledge, and I hope to make good use of it.”</p> - -<p>“Dinner is on the table,” said a thin, yellow little man, with a napkin -on his arm. It was Baptiste, the one male servant, who acted as -scrubber, cook, footman, errand-boy and butler all at once, pending the -time when Monsieur Destival should establish his household on a more -extensive scale. So that poor Baptiste was worked to death, and told -Julie every day that he did not propose to remain in a place where they -made him do the work of a horse.</p> - -<p>“Say that dinner is served, Baptiste. That fellow will never be -trained!—Come, mesdames, to the table! Ouf! I have well earned it. I -have drilled terribly hard to-day.—Here, Monin, here’s your cap. Did -you see how I picked it up?”</p> - -<p>“You made a hole in it,” said Monin, gazing at the crown with a piteous -expression.</p> - -<p>“Bah! in the heat of the action; charge, bayonets! one, two! eh, -Bertrand?—But the ladies have gone already. Let’s go now and attack the -dinner; I expect to make a tremendous breach in it. Go to Julie, -Bertrand; she’ll look after you.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand betook himself to the servants’ quarters, and Monin, after -trying to bring the straws nearer together and conceal the hole in his -cap, followed his host to the dining-room.<a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a></p> - -<p>They were all seated at the table, when Monsieur Destival cried:</p> - -<p>“Well! how about Monsieur de la Thomassinière? He’s missing again.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so, I had forgotten all about my husband,” said Athalie, smiling -at her right-hand neighbor; and that neighbor was Auguste, who was -seated between the two ladies. “Oh! you mustn’t wait for him.”</p> - -<p>“It’s very annoying! Where can he have gone? Do you suppose he has lost -his way in the Forest of Bondy?”</p> - -<p>“It’s a very dangerous place,” said Monin, fastening his napkin to his -buttonhole; “they say there’s a band of robbers there just now, who——”</p> - -<p>“Suppose I tell your three servants to beat up the neighborhood? What do -you think, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! no, monsieur; don’t worry about my husband, I beg. I assure you -that he will turn up. I am not in the least anxious.”</p> - -<p>“So long as madame is not disturbed,” said Madame Destival, pursing her -lips, “it seems to me that we should do wrong to be. After what she -says, we may venture to dine.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, let us dine. One, two, at the soup, and by the left flank at -the beef.”</p> - -<p>“For heaven’s sake, monsieur, are we going to hear nothing now but ‘one, -two’?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, madame, this day has given me a great liking for the military -profession. What a fine thing is a man who holds himself perfectly -straight, with his body thrown back!—Pass me the beans.—Your man -Bertrand is a terrible fellow; he knows his business root and branch. -Deuce take it! what a fellow he is! How he handles a musket! He told me -that he was satisfied with me. Three or four lessons more, and I -hope——<a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I hoped that you knew quite enough, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Madame, a man cannot know too much about managing weapons. I wish now -that we might be attacked by robbers!”</p> - -<p>“Would you set them to drilling, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, but I would make the most of my advantages; I can fire four -shots in five minutes now.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know that, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! there are still more surprising things. Just look at Monin; he did -nothing but listen to us a moment, but see how much better he carries -himself than he did this morning.”</p> - -<p>“It is certain,” said Monin, raising a turnip on his fork and putting it -in his mouth as if the latter were a gun barrel, “it is certain that -drilling is good for a man; and I’ll tell you what——”</p> - -<p>Monin was interrupted by the arrival of La Thomassinière, quite out of -breath, for he had taken a long nap under his tree, and, on waking, had -reflected that they might dine without him.</p> - -<p>“Ah! here you are at last, you terrible man!” said Destival.</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon; I am late, I know, but I have written at least ten -letters since I left you.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you write them here?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, I was in such a hurry that I went into the first place I saw.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sit down beside Madame Destival.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll soon overtake you, for, you see, I don’t eat beef; it’s poor -stuff, is beef! it isn’t worth eating.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière took his seat, gazing at Auguste with some -surprise, because he had given him only a slight nod, and continued to -eat without apparently paying any attention to the parvenu, which was a<a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a> -sore trial to that gentleman, who always wanted to make a sensation.</p> - -<p>But Dalville had seen on the instant what manner of man Monsieur de la -Thomassinière was. Fools enjoy the advantage of being accurately judged -in a very short time, whereas it often requires a long time to form a -just appreciation of men of sense.</p> - -<p>The dinner was lively enough, thanks to Auguste and his neighbor on his -left, who talked all manner of nonsense and seemed very much inclined to -suit their actions to their words. The mistress of the house ate little, -and Monin ate a great deal. Monsieur Destival attacked each dish in -measured time, and stuck his fork into a radish as if it were a bayonet. -As for Monsieur de la Thomassinière, when he found that Dalville was -determined not to take any notice of him, he decided to make himself -prominent by holding forth concerning the various dishes. He declared -the chicken cooked too much, the peas too large, the salad too sour, and -the beaune too new. An exceedingly agreeable guest was Monsieur de la -Thomassinière; but a very rich man must never seem content with what is -put before him. The idea! that would make people think that he had never -eaten anything good.</p> - -<p>It was dark when they reached the dessert, because it was late when they -sat down. The sky was heavily overcast; the heat became more intense, -and the flashes that rent the clouds from time to time indicated an -impending storm.</p> - -<p>Monsieur Monin made haste to eat his cheese, because his wife was afraid -of the thunder, and his orders were to go home to her whenever a storm -was brewing. La Thomassinière asked if the house was provided with -lightning rods. Monsieur Destival ordered all the windows<a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a> closed at the -first clap of thunder, and the sight of the lightning made him forget to -present arms with his glass. As for the petite-maîtresse, she declared -that she was terribly afraid of a thunder storm, and she hid her face -upon Auguste’s shoulder at every flash.</p> - -<p>“The deuce! the deuce! the weather is very threatening!” said Monsieur -Destival. “Come, messieurs, a glass of champagne; that will scatter the -clouds and make us forget.—Baptiste, have you shut everything tight?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Be very careful that there’s no draught.”</p> - -<p>“But you are stifling us, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Windows must be closed when it thunders, madame; that is only prudent.”</p> - -<p>“Then why don’t you have a lightning-rod?” said La Thomassinière; “I -have three on my country-house, two on the house I live in in Paris, and -one on my other fine house on Rue de Buffaut.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I shall have one put on at once.—Come, messieurs, your glasses, -there goes the cork.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! mon Dieu!” cried Athalie, pressing against her neighbor; “how you -frightened me with your cork!”</p> - -<p>“The storm seems to frighten you terribly, my dear love,” said Madame -Destival, with a sneer.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! terribly!”</p> - -<p>“My wife’s nerves are extremely sensitive.”</p> - -<p>“Look out, you’re not pouring into the glass, Destival.”</p> - -<p>“That confounded flash dazzled me. Will your charming wife have some?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’m very fond of champagne. Please make it foam a lot, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Here you are, belle dame.—Come, Dalville, drink with madame.<a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That is just what monsieur is doing,” said Madame Destival spitefully.</p> - -<p>“And you, Monin, pass your glass.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I was just going to say that I must go; my wife’s afraid of -thunder.”</p> - -<p>“Why, your wife’s making pickles, you know; she’s busy.”</p> - -<p>“But when it thunders she drops everything and crawls under a woolen -quilt, and if I shouldn’t go to see how she is—Oh! what a crash! it -came very soon after the lightning, so the storm can’t be far away.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose we have a little music?” said Monsieur Destival, helping -himself to a third glass of champagne, in order to recover his courage; -“it seems to me that that wouldn’t be a bad idea. What do you say, -Dalville?”</p> - -<p>Auguste had stooped to pick up his knife, which he had dropped under the -table for the second time.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur is awkward to-day,” said Madame Destival, rising from the -table with a gesture of impatience; “I believe that we shall do well to -go up to the salon.”</p> - -<p>At that moment the clouds broke, the rain fell in torrents, and the -fields assumed a novel aspect. Everybody rose; the petite-maîtresse -leaned heavily on Auguste’s arm, because the storm had taken away all -her strength. Monsieur de la Thomassinière, desirous to play the -scholar, because he thought that his companions were no more learned -than he, went to one of the windows and declared that the storm would -not be <i>consequential</i> because the atmosphere was very beautiful at -sunset.</p> - -<p>Auguste could not restrain a slight laugh, which caused the trembling -Athalie to press his arm all the harder. Monsieur Destival, who had -recovered his spirits in some measure since the rain began, which made -the storm much<a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a> less dangerous, executed a half wheel to the left of the -company, and charged up the stairs at the double-quick. Monin was left -alone in the dining-room, folding his napkin as a matter of habit, and -muttering as he listened to the rain:</p> - -<p>“It’s coming down hard, and I haven’t any umbrella, and they’ve made a -hole in the top of my cap! so what am I going to do?”</p> - -<p>Having taken snuff two or three times, our friend decided to address -Julie, who had just passed through the room. He followed her, calling -after her:</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, mademoiselle, but couldn’t you——”</p> - -<p>As Julie did not reply, Monin followed her to the kitchen, where -Bertrand was drinking with Baptiste and Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s -three tall footmen, who did not agree with their master that the beaune -was too new.</p> - -<p>“Could you lend me an umbrella?” asked Monin.</p> - -<p>“We haven’t any here,” Julie replied curtly.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense! an umbrella!” said Bertrand, in whom the beaune had already -aroused a tendency to talk. “As if a man should use such a thing! Is -that what I taught you this morning—to handle an umbrella?”</p> - -<p>The guests began to laugh, and Julie elbowed Monin gradually toward the -door, saying:</p> - -<p>“I don’t like to have so many people in my kitchen, monsieur; they get -in my way. Besides, you don’t belong here.”</p> - -<p>Julie closed the door; and Monin, finding himself expelled from the -kitchen, decided to go up to the salon and wait until the storm should -have subsided. Dalville and Athalie were at the piano, singing a -nocturne. Monsieur Destival was playing écarté with Monsieur de la -Thomassinière; and Madame Destival, while pretending<a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a> to watch the game, -lost nothing of what took place at the piano.</p> - -<p>“I have the honor to wish you good-evening,” said Monin, noiselessly -entering the salon.</p> - -<p>“Why, haven’t you gone, neighbor? I supposed that you were at home -before this.”</p> - -<p>“No, I’ll tell you—the rain——”</p> - -<p>“In that case, you must take a hand. Come, bet on me and you will win.”</p> - -<p>“Can I bet now?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it isn’t too late.”</p> - -<p>“All right; then I’ll bet two sous.”</p> - -<p>“What sort of bet is that—two sous!” exclaimed La Thomassinière -contemptuously; “do you suppose that I play for copper? It’s vulgar -enough to play for a crown. Take that away, monsieur, it’s covered with -verdigris.”</p> - -<p>“It’s my two sous, monsieur; I bet them.”</p> - -<p>“No one wants them, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“What! have I won already?”</p> - -<p>“Here, I’ll fix that,” said Destival, taking a ten-sou piece from his -pocket; “I’ll add eight sous to make up Monin’s bet. So I stake three -francs forty, and you, my dear fellow, three francs ten. My neighbor is -prudent, you see, and yet he is very rich, in very comfortable -circumstances. His nest is well feathered, the rascal!”</p> - -<p>“Then how can he propose to bet two sous?” said La Thomassinière; “it’s -beyond belief.—Ace, ace, and ace. You are robbed.”</p> - -<p>“What! does he admit that he has robbed us?” Monin asked his neighbor in -an undertone.</p> - -<p>“That means that we have lost.—Well, now for our revenge.—Aren’t you -betting, Madame Destival?”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur, I prefer to listen to the singing.<a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Betting won’t prevent you, madame; I don’t lose a note while I am -playing.”</p> - -<p>“Nor I,” said La Thomassinière. “I am like Cato, I can easily do four -things at once!”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you any duets of Rossini’s here, my dear?” inquired Athalie, -running her fingers over the keys.</p> - -<p>“Why, I don’t know, but I think not.”</p> - -<p>“I think, madame, that I have had the pleasure of singing some of them -with you here,” said Dalville.</p> - -<p>“Ah! you remember, do you, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Here’s a duet from <i>La Gazza</i>,” said Athalie, after upsetting all the -music on the piano; “let’s try it, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Ace, and <i>passe carreau</i>!” cried Monsieur de la Thomassinière -triumphantly, taking up the money that was on the table.</p> - -<p>“What does <i>passe carreau</i> mean?” Monin asked Destival in a whisper.</p> - -<p>“It means that we have lost, as you see.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know the terms of the game. That makes four sous that I’ve lost -already.”</p> - -<p>“Make your bet.”</p> - -<p>“Allow me to see what the weather is, first. Oh! it’s still raining very -hard. I am in the game.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur is lucky!”</p> - -<p>“And then, too, I am pretty good at this game!” said La Thomassinière, -leaning back in his chair.</p> - -<p>“I believe that I play it rather well too,” rejoined Destival, biting -his lips angrily.</p> - -<p>“Be quiet, messieurs! we can’t hear each other sing!” said the sprightly -Athalie, while Auguste sang: “<i>Il certo il mio periglio</i>.”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière beat time falsely with his foot, murmuring, to make -believe that he understood Italian:<a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a></p> - -<p>“Very pretty! exceedingly pretty! bravo! bravo! bravissimo!”</p> - -<p>Whereupon Monin stooped and whispered to Destival:</p> - -<p>“Does that mean that we have lost, too?”</p> - -<p>“No, no! don’t you hear them singing Italian? It’s a duet by La Pie.”<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> <i>Pie</i> in French means magpie.</p></div> - -<p>“Oho! it’s by La Pie!” Monin repeated, rolling his eyes about and taking -out his snuff-box. “How does it happen, neighbor, that a <i>pie</i> writes a -duet?”</p> - -<p>“My dear Monin,” said Destival testily, “please don’t talk to me all the -time; you see, you make me lose.”</p> - -<p>“What! I make you lose, although I am not playing?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, it confuses me. Bet again. I certainly am not a poor player, -but when a person talks like that——”</p> - -<p>“You see we’ve got a <i>pie</i> at home that talks finely, and I wanted to -know—That makes eight sous I’ve lost.”</p> - -<p>“And I sixteen francs!”</p> - -<p>“Bah! what does that amount to, messieurs?” said La Thomassinière; “if -you played for handfuls of gold as I do, it would be all very well; -that’s what you can call gambling! I am very sorry to waste my luck for -such small stakes.—Bravo! bravissimo! <i>Certo pio pio piu! Atoussimo!</i>”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière insisted on mixing Italian into everything that he -said, and Destival forced himself to smile, as he felt in his pockets; -but his gayety was forced, and his smiles were grimaces. The two singers -exchanged melting glances as they executed together roulades and -flourishes, which they prolonged inordinately, and during which Madame -Destival coughed impatiently in the hope of disturbing the harmony that -was rapidly becoming established between them.<a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a></p> - -<p>Suddenly the door of the salon was thrown open; a stout woman of fifty -or thereabouts, wearing a straw hat whose brim barely overpassed her -forehead and upon which nodded a wreath of faded roses, entered the room -with the air of a person in a towering rage, holding an umbrella in one -hand, and in the other a reticule large enough to hold a ten pound loaf -of sugar. At sight of her Monin started back, lost his wits, upset his -snuff-box, and acted as if he proposed to hide himself under the table.</p> - -<p>“Ah! so you’re here, are you, monsieur?” cried Madame Monin, for it was -that lady in person who had entered the salon. “I find you gambling. I -suspected as much. I wish you good-evening, neighbors. While it’s -thundering and a frightful storm is raging, monsieur sits here gambling -instead of coming home to comfort me; and yet he knows how afraid I am -of thunder storms! Excuse me, neighbor, for venturing to scold him -before you, but you must agree that his conduct is unpardonable.”</p> - -<p>During this sermon, poor Monin, who had no idea what he was doing, -staked a forty-sou piece instead of two sous, and stuffed his fingers -into his snuff-box, in which there was nothing at all, stammering the -while with a contrite air:</p> - -<p>“How’s your health, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>“My health! a lot you worry about it, on my word! To leave me alone -during the storm! Catherine had to keep me company under the quilt.”</p> - -<p>“It was the rain that——”</p> - -<p>“As if a man should be afraid of the rain! for shame! You make me -blush!”</p> - -<p>Madame Destival did not like Madame Monin; but, being overjoyed by her -arrival at that moment, she gave<a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a> her a seat near the piano and -overwhelmed her with attentions, to which Madame Monin replied by -repeated curtsies, at the same time handing her husband the umbrella. He -stepped forward to take it, and, forgetting that he was interested in -the game, murmured so low that she could hardly hear him:</p> - -<p>“Whenever you’re ready, Bichette.”</p> - -<p>But Bichette, who was comfortably seated and was already beginning to -criticise Madame de la Thomassinière, replied sharply:</p> - -<p>“Now that I’ve come, do you think I propose to go right away again? That -would be polite, wouldn’t it? that would be worthy of you! I shall have -the pleasure of chatting with my neighbor a minute, and listening to the -music. I’m very fond of music.”</p> - -<p>“You sing, I believe—do you not, Madame Monin?” inquired Madame -Destival eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I used to sing; I had rather a good voice, too; but I’ve forgotten -almost everything now except the duet from <i>Armide</i>: ‘<i>Aimons-nous! -aimons-nous! tout nous y convie!</i>’ That’s so lovely! it will never grow -old.”</p> - -<p>“I have the score of <i>Armide</i>; you must sing that for us with Monsieur -Dalville.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! really, neighbor!”</p> - -<p>“Do you hear the present that’s to be given you?” whispered Athalie to -Auguste.</p> - -<p>“I am much obliged,” replied Dalville; “upon my word, I don’t know what -I have done to Madame Destival to make her play such a trick on me.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be alarmed; if she forces you to sing the duet, I’ll be your -accompanist, and I promise you that three or four chords will be broken -before the tenth measure.”</p> - -<p>“How good you are, and how deeply indebted I shall be to you!<a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a>”</p> - -<p>Monin, seeing that his wife had softened somewhat, made bold to say to -her:</p> - -<p>“You sing very nicely too that song about sheep: ‘<i>Margot filait -tranquillement, ne pensant, ne rêvant qu’à son p’tit, p’tit, p’tit.</i>’”</p> - -<p>“Hush, monsieur, and attend to your game, as you’re so fond of gambling. -Is it piquet they’re playing there?”</p> - -<p>“No, Bichette, écarté.”</p> - -<p>“What? écarté? And how long have you known écarté, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know it, but I was just going to tell you, I’m betting on it.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you’re betting, are you? Well, I trust that you are modest at -least, and don’t play for big stakes?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! never fear, Bichette!”</p> - -<p>“You have lost your forty sous, Monsieur Monin!” exclaimed Destival at -that moment, heaving a deep sigh.</p> - -<p>“Forty sous!” shouted Madame Monin, jumping from her chair with a -violence that made all the furniture in the room tremble; “what’s that? -Monsieur Monin betting forty sous! Why, that is horrible! For heaven’s -sake, neighbor, what did you give him to drink at dinner?—What is the -meaning of such extravagance, Monsieur Monin? Have you gone crazy?”</p> - -<p>“No, Bichette, it’s a mistake; I assure you that I didn’t bet but two -sous.”</p> - -<p>“You put forty sous on the table, monsieur,” said La Thomassinière, “and -they’re lost.”</p> - -<p>“I had won a lot, you see,” whispered Monin to his wife; “that was just -my winnings.”</p> - -<p>“You must admit that I am playing in hard luck,” said Destival; “that -makes seven times that I have been responsible for Monin’s losing.<a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Seven times, monsieur! have you bet seven times in succession?” cried -Madame Monin, glaring at her husband with the expression of a cat about -to pounce upon a mouse.</p> - -<p>“Why, no, Bichette; you know perfectly well that I am incapable of such -a thing!”</p> - -<p>“Here’s the duet from <i>Armide</i>,” said Madame Destival; “come, Monsieur -Dalville, sing it with madame.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know it,” said Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense! you are enough of a musician to sing it at sight.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll prompt you in your passages, monsieur,” said Madame Monin, -removing her hat lest it should interfere with her voice.</p> - -<p>Madame Monin began. Her voice was almost enough to set one’s teeth on -edge. Monin applauded every measure. Suddenly a chord broke. The -vivacious Athalie ran her fingers over the keys and seemed excited by -the fire with which she was playing. Soon a second chord broke, then a -third, and it was impossible to go on. Athalie left her seat, saying:</p> - -<p>“What a pity! it was going so well!”</p> - -<p>“That’s the disadvantage of your pianos,” said Madame Monin testily, as -she put on her shepherdess’s hat; “Monsieur Monin’s little flute’s the -thing; there’s no danger of that ever breaking, at all events.”</p> - -<p>“Do you want me to go and get it, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>“Upon my word, this is a pretty time of night to make such a suggestion! -We must go home to bed, monsieur; that will be much better than your -little flute.”</p> - -<p>Destival left the card-table, red as a turkey-cock.</p> - -<p>“I can’t stand it any longer!” he cried. “That makes twelve times that -he has passed! I’ve lost at least forty francs!<a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! how can anyone risk so much money?” said Madame Monin. “If you -should ever lose forty francs, Monsieur Monin, I’d have a separation at -once.”</p> - -<p>“Here’s a fine to-do over a trifle!” said La Thomassinière, rising from -his chair; “I’ll stake it on a single hand to-morrow, at a notary’s, -who’s a friend of mine. That’s where they play écarté! The table is -covered with gold and bank-notes! Ah! there’s some fun in that! But -otherwise écarté’s a very stupid game.—Well! are we going to bed?”</p> - -<p>“Go to bed, monsieur, who’s preventing you?” said Athalie; “we don’t -need you.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, I am terribly sleepy.”</p> - -<p>“Baptiste will show you to your room, which is over this.”</p> - -<p>“And where is mine, my dear, if you please?” queried the -petite-maîtresse, as her husband went up to bed without bidding anyone -good-night, because it was bad form.</p> - -<p>“Yours, my dear?” rejoined Madame Destival; “why, with your husband; we -have only one room to offer you.”</p> - -<p>“What! can it be by any chance that you are going to make me sleep with -him?”</p> - -<p>“Why, of course.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that is absurd! Such a thing never occurred to me. I never sleep -with Monsieur de la Thomassinière. I have my own suite, as you know.”</p> - -<p>“For once, belle dame,” said Destival, with a sly expression, “our dear -husband will not complain.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! how amusing!” exclaimed Athalie, sulkily. Meanwhile, Madame -Monin, who had succeeded at last in tucking up her dress and putting on -her shawl, said to Madame Destival with a simper:</p> - -<p>“For my part, I sleep with my husband, and I should just like to hear -him mention a separate room! Ha! ha!<a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You know perfectly well, Bichette, that I have no desire to——”</p> - -<p>“All right, Monsieur Monin, I know what I know.—Good-night, -neighbors.—Well, monsieur, why don’t you put on your cap? What sort of -way is that to act?”</p> - -<p>Monin was afraid that his wife would discover the hole in his cap. He -finally decided to wear it over his left ear, so that the top would be -less visible to the eyes of his better half. And Madame Monin led her -spouse away, promising him that she would never again let him dine out -without her, because he was not careful of himself at the table, and -wine made him plunge into all sorts of extravagance.</p> - -<p>When his neighbors had gone, Monsieur Destival admitted that the -drilling had fatigued him terribly, and he speedily vanished.</p> - -<p>The music had cemented the intimacy between Dalville and the brilliant -Athalie. With those who are capable of enjoying the charms of harmony, -there is nothing that brings two hearts together so quickly as a sweet -or tender ditty, or a passage overladen with passion, which the -performers often address to each other. Music is a very potent auxiliary -in love; it stirs the emotions, it speaks to the soul. Thank heaven, -almost all our ladies know how to play the piano now.</p> - -<p>But Athalie rose, and Madame Destival escorted her to her apartment. -Before going in, the petite-maîtresse laughingly said to her friend:</p> - -<p>“My dear, I must tell you something in confidence: I believe I’ve made a -conquest of Monsieur Dalville.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think so?”</p> - -<p>“I am almost sure of it; he has been talking to me in that veiled -way,—you know what I mean; and then he squeezed my hand very -tenderly.<a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I congratulate you!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you understand that I mean to have a little sport with him, that’s -all.”</p> - -<p>“But I must tell you frankly that the conquest is of little value, for -he is a man who falls in love with every woman he sees.—Adieu, my dear, -good-night.”</p> - -<p>“Until to-morrow, my love! I shall get up early for a walk in the -fields.”</p> - -<p>“I will go with you, my dear.”</p> - -<p>The ladies parted. Madame Destival went down to the salon, but Dalville -was no longer there; he too had retired. So madame did the same and -summoned Julie to undress her.</p> - -<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI<br /><br /> -THE COMPANY RETURNS TO PARIS</h2> - -<p>The night passed. Did its protecting darkness banish Madame Destival’s -irritation and her husband’s fatigue? Did Dalville determine to be -virtuous, and Bertrand to be sober? Did the sprightly Athalie become -reconciled to the necessity of sharing her husband’s bed, and did -Monsieur de la Thomassinière sleep well beside his wife? These are -mysteries which I am unable to solve.</p> - -<p>All I know is that Madame Destival rose with her friend’s pleasant -confidence of the night before still in her mind, and that she said to -herself as she dressed:</p> - -<p>“The flirt did everything that she could to assure the conquest of -Auguste. I saw all her simpering and smiles while they were singing. No -doubt she hopes to receive<a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a> a declaration in due form this morning; but -I am sorry for you, madame, for I shall be on the spot, I shall not let -you out of my sight, I will not allow such intrigues to be carried on in -my house. Oh! women are such coquettes nowadays!—I think I will put -this rose in my hair; it’s more becoming than a ribbon. Mon Dieu! how -badly my curl-papers work to-day!—And then they complain because men -think unfavorably of our sex. Why, don’t they justify them in that -opinion by acting as they do? At the very first meeting, to let a man -see that one is attracted by him—shocking! And a woman of twenty, -married two years at most! Ah! Monsieur Auguste, you don’t deserve any -friends.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Destival, on laying aside the silk handkerchief that covered -his head at night, took his stand in front of his mirror and presented -arms with a vessel which he had forgotten to replace in the night-table. -Forgetting that he was in his shirt, Destival, who had dreamed of -exterminating all the beasts in the district, made the circuit of his -chamber at the double-quick, and took aim at his bolster with the tongs. -But in that martial posture the remembrance of the forty francs he had -lost at écarté the night before presented itself to his mind, and as one -cannot attend to business while practising the manual of arms, our -friend recurred to more peaceable ideas and proceeded to dress, thinking -of nothing but the best means to become as rich as La Thomassinière, so -that he might be able to lose a few crowns at play without losing his -temper.</p> - -<p>Dalville dreamed a little of the fair Athalie, a little of the young -milkmaid, a little of Madame Destival, also of some other persons; like -one who has no exclusive sentiment in his heart, but allows himself to -be led by all the sensations, all the illusions, all the whims of his<a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a> -imagination. He rose without any well-defined plan of operations, -without a determination to be more virtuous or more enterprising, -without any intention of beginning a new intrigue. Chance should decide, -he would act as circumstances might suggest, he would obey the dictates -of his heart, or rather of pleasure. For a heedless fellow, that line of -conduct was not devoid of wisdom; if to abandon oneself to the course of -events, to lay no plans in advance, but to seize on the wing every -opportunity to be happy—if that is heedlessness, it bears a strong -resemblance to philosophy; in which there is nothing surprising, since -extremes meet.</p> - -<p>Bertrand had risen before dawn, always ready to carry out his master’s -orders, even when he did not approve of his conduct. The ex-corporal was -well pleased with his repast of the preceding night, because the beaune -was not spared, and Baptiste and Tony and the tall lackeys, while -drinking with him, listened with respectful attention to his stories of -his campaigns. He was walking on the terrace, ready to give Monsieur -Destival a lesson in the manual, and perfectly reconciled to the life -that people lead in the country.</p> - -<p>The petite-maîtresse, whose head was as light as her heart, had risen -very early, before her husband was awake. She had slept badly; -innumerable thoughts crowded into her mind, but the principal one was as -always the desire to attract, to make a sensation; that was the fixed -point about which her other sentiments revolved by the force of -gravitation, without disturbing the course of the planet whose -satellites they were.</p> - -<p>As for Monsieur de la Thomassinière, he had slept without waking, and in -his dreams had imagined himself the <i>seigneur</i> of a department, -decorated with three crosses, a broad ribbon and a star, and richer, -more<a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a> conceited and more insolent than ever. Then he had found himself -abruptly transported to the wine-shop of the <i>Learned Ass</i>, serving wine -to peasants who treated him most cavalierly. That infernal sleep has no -respect for anything; it displaces the most powerful men, and effects -strange revolutions; it transforms a king into a shepherd, and sometimes -raises the plowman to a throne; it confounds the great lord with the -humblest plebeian; it makes of a minister of state a poor devil without -bread or work or resource, starving in a garret; it transforms the -banker into a petty clerk working fourteen hours a day to earn three -francs; the poet who sells his pen, into a juggler employed to perform -tricks before an audience which pays and despises him. To the kept woman -it shows the hospital, to the public harlot, La Salpêtrière, to the -young men who frequent roulette tables, the galleys or the nets of -Saint-Cloud. It reminds the parvenu of his birth, the public official of -the acts of injustice he has committed, the man without sense of honor -of the insults he has endured. And all these people do as Monsieur de la -Thomassinière did: they awake shrieking that they have a nightmare, and -they ascribe those horrid dreams to a bad digestion. They would be very -sorry to seek therein a memory of the past and a lesson for the future.</p> - -<p>There was no trace of the storm of the preceding evening. The sky was -clear, and the country seemed lovelier than ever; the trees glistened -with a brilliant green undimmed by dust, the flowers were fresher, the -brooks more noisy; everything invited one to enjoy the charms of nature; -and that doubtless was the reason that Auguste was already in the -garden, standing in the gateway leading into the courtyard, undecided -whether he should go for a walk in the fields or remain on the<a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a> -premises. Meanwhile, Athalie had taken a seat under a clump of trees at -the end of the garden; she was occupied in arranging some flowers, but -her glance constantly wandered to right and left to see if someone was -coming to bear her company; while Madame Destival strolled along an -adjacent alley ready to join the persons whom she expected to meet in -the garden.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Auguste heard a voice that was not unknown to him crying:</p> - -<p>“Whoa, White Jean! whoa, I say! Have you forgotten that we stop here?”</p> - -<p>And at the same instant a milkmaid with her tin cans entered Monsieur -Destival’s courtyard. Auguste uttered an exclamation of delight when he -recognized Denise, and hurried across the courtyard to meet the pretty -milkmaid.</p> - -<p>“It is really you, lovely Denise!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, it’s I. Didn’t I tell you yesterday that I came here -every morning to bring milk? I’m very glad to see you again, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Really, Denise, did you want to see me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, I wanted to ever so. Oh! that was such a nice thing you -did! it was so generous! and even if you do have a little too much -blarney with us girls, no matter—I let it go on account of that.”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul! what on earth have I done, Denise, to bring down all -these compliments on my head?”</p> - -<p>“What about Coco, and his soup-bowl, and his old grandmother—don’t you -remember them?”</p> - -<p>“How do you know so much, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Pardi! as if everything wasn’t known in the country! The old grandma’am -came to the village to buy some things. Coco came with her, and he told -everybody that a fine gentleman had given him money to buy another<a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a> -bowl. The grandmother described you, and I knew you right away. It’s too -bad that Père Calleux is such a drunkard; he passed the whole night in -the wine-shop drinking up the crown piece you gave him, and he’ll soon -get away with the money you left for Coco too. But that ain’t your -fault, and you were mighty kind to ‘em.”</p> - -<p>“I did nothing except what was perfectly natural, Denise, and I am well -rewarded at this moment.”</p> - -<p>Denise had become more and more animated as she told Auguste what she -knew, and the young man’s glances made her blush more than ever. She -lowered her eyes and smiled, and stood for some moments before the man -who was gazing at her, her arms hanging at her sides. Her awkwardness, -her embarrassment and her coarse woolen skirt made the charms of her -pretty face even more alluring.</p> - -<p>At last she took up her cans, which she had placed on the ground, and -said:</p> - -<p>“I must take this milk to Mamzelle Julie; she’s generally up by this -time.”</p> - -<p>“One moment, Denise, I beg you.”</p> - -<p>“Have you got anything to say to me, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! In the first place, you look even prettier this morning than -you did yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! if that’s all it is, I may as well go.”</p> - -<p>“One instant, Denise, please; I feel that the more I see you, the more I -love you!”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, you mustn’t see me any more, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Does it make you angry to have me love you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh no! for I’m pretty sure it ain’t dangerous.”</p> - -<p>“If you would listen to me——”</p> - -<p>“Adieu, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>And Denise started to walk away. But Auguste took her hand and stopped -her, gazing tenderly at her,—too<a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a> tenderly for a fickle youth who gazed -so at all pretty women. A seducer’s eyes should express nothing but -inconstancy; unluckily, the eyes lend themselves to every sort of -scheme. But perhaps Dalville was moved at that moment by genuine -feeling, who knows? Who can read the human heart?</p> - -<p>At this juncture Bertrand entered the courtyard; he approached his -master, unseen by him, and said:</p> - -<p>“Did I hear monsieur call me?”</p> - -<p>“Why, no! I didn’t call you,” replied Auguste angrily, dropping Denise’s -hand; “you always appear at the wrong time. Is it proper to interrupt -people when they are talking together?”</p> - -<p>“Pardon, lieutenant, I didn’t hear you say anything; I didn’t know -people talked without speaking.”</p> - -<p>“Leave us, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand made a half wheel to the left and went toward the garden; but -as he passed Denise, who, although she said that she was going, did not -go, and seemed very busy with her little cheeses, the corporal said to -her in an undertone:</p> - -<p>“Look out for yourself!”</p> - -<p>Auguste once more approached Denise, who had started in surprise at -Bertrand’s words.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Nothing, monsieur, but I must go.”</p> - -<p>“Will you do me a favor, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! with pleasure, monsieur, if it’s anything I can do.”</p> - -<p>“I have taken a liking to that child I met on the road yesterday. His -pretty face, his little honest way, everything speaks in his favor.”</p> - -<p>“You mean Coco Calleux?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.<a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I’m fond of him, too, but the poor little fellow’s had a hard time -since he lost his mother. His grandmother’s rough and cross, and his -father’s a drunkard, and they want that child, only six years old, to go -to work so soon! Can you imagine such a thing? Why, he often has nothing -but bread to eat, and he’s lucky when he doesn’t have a beating for his -supper. So we in the village don’t like that drunken pig of a Calleux, -and if the cottage wasn’t some distance from the village, Coco would be -at our house more than he’s at home, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Denise, be good enough to keep an eye on the child and buy him -whatever he needs—in short, take my place with him, will you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! with pleasure, monsieur!”</p> - -<p>“Here, take this purse, and use the contents to the best advantage for -my little protégé. When that is gone, I’ll give you more. I shall always -approve whatever use you may make of it.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you’ve got a kind heart, monsieur! How glad I am! But such a lot of -money as this will last a long time.”</p> - -<p>“You will do me this favor, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Will I! Pardi! I should say so! Don’t you think it’s pleasant to be -employed to do good? Who could refuse such a commission?—I say, -monsieur, I must kiss you for this—do you want me to?”</p> - -<p>“Do I want you to, Denise!”</p> - -<p>Auguste already had his arms around the girl, and had deposited more -than one kiss on the plump cheeks which she offered him with pleasure, -when an exclamation and a burst of laughter reached their ears -simultaneously. Dalville turned: Madame Destival and Madame de la -Thomassinière stood behind him.<a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a></p> - -<p>“Oh! this is too much!” cried Madame Destival, walking forward with a -wrathful glance at Denise, while Athalie continued to laugh, albeit her -laughter seemed slightly forced.</p> - -<p>“Delicious!” she said. “What! even with milkmaids? I shall remember -this! the picture was truly rural.”</p> - -<p>Denise was not disturbed, for she had no thought that she could be -blamed; so she looked at the two ladies in amazement, trying to divine -the cause of the merriment of the one and the anger that gleamed in the -eyes of the other, and still holding in her hand the purse that the -young man had given her.</p> - -<p>“What are you doing here?” demanded Madame Destival, with a contemptuous -glance at the young milkmaid.</p> - -<p>“As you see, madame, I have brought cheese and milk as usual.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t order any cheeses of you; in fact, yours are bitter, and I -don’t want any more of them. As for your milk, you put water in it, and -I propose to take mine of somebody else.”</p> - -<p>“Water in my milk!” cried Denise, whose eyes filled with tears when she -heard her merchandise thus vilified. “You’re the first person that ever -said that, madame, I tell you! And I swear——”</p> - -<p>“All right, mademoiselle, that’s enough; I don’t want you ever to set -foot inside my doors again. I thought that you were a decent, virtuous -girl; I don’t like little hussies.”</p> - -<p>“Hussies! Mon Dieu! what have I done to madame?”</p> - -<p>“We saw it all, mademoiselle. And that purse in your hand is proof -enough.<a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That purse, madame,” said Auguste, walking to Denise’s side, “is -destined for a charitable purpose, to relieve an unfortunate person. But -I see that an evil interpretation is always put upon everything.—Poor -Denise! I am responsible for your being made wretched! And when, by -chance, I attempt to do a good deed, they think that I am trying to -seduce you.—Do you suppose, mesdames, that one wins the love of a -milkmaid with money? Remember, please, that this is not Paris.”</p> - -<p>While Auguste was speaking, Denise became calm; she wiped her eyes with -the corner of her apron, and recovered sufficient assurance to say to -Madame Destival:</p> - -<p>“I ought not to cry at what you said to me, madame, for I haven’t done -anything to be ashamed of.—Adieu, monsieur; I’ll take your money and -try to carry out your kind intentions.”</p> - -<p>With that, Denise curtsied to the company, and, still choking back her -sobs, returned to White Jean and left the business agent’s house.</p> - -<p>Madame Destival, conscious of some embarrassment, returned to the -garden. Athalie walked up to Auguste and said, with a laugh:</p> - -<p>“You must admit, monsieur, that you kissed her at least six times in -succession.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t count, madame.”</p> - -<p>“You seemed to like it.”</p> - -<p>“Very much, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur is frank, at all events.”</p> - -<p>“That is, perhaps, my one good quality.”</p> - -<p>“But why did you kiss her?”</p> - -<p>“Is she not very pretty, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Pretty! perhaps; as coarse, rustic beauties go.”</p> - -<p>“No, no! on the contrary, her features are extremely delicate.<a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a>”</p> - -<p>“But she’s a milkmaid!”</p> - -<p>“What difference do you see between a pretty country girl and a pretty -city girl?”</p> - -<p>“Why, an enormous difference, monsieur. What about education, good -manners, and refinement—do you count all those as nothing? Would you go -out in Paris, or even in the country, with a milkmaid on your arm?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, I admit that I should not be enough of a philosopher for -that. But just put on Denise——”</p> - -<p>“Who is Denise, pray?”</p> - -<p>“This little milkmaid, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! so monsieur knows her name?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Well, monsieur, what do you propose to put on Mademoiselle Denise?”</p> - -<p>“A pretty hat, a stylish dress, a handsome shawl——”</p> - -<p>“Ah! she would cut a strange figure in all those things!”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu, madame, habit is everything. You yourself, despite all your -charms, might be awkward in a milkmaid’s cap. Those things that can be -acquired, madame, are of little worth; but the things that are innate -are beauty, grace, intellect, a sweet voice and glance and smile—in a -word, the charm which takes us captive and which you possess in such -abundant measure, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you did well to end in that way; if you had not I should have been -angry. Madame Destival is right; you are a ne’er-do-well, a dangerous -man. By the way, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in Paris, -monsieur; I often give balls, and I have a reception every Thursday in -winter.”</p> - -<p>“Madame is too kind; but your husband has said nothing to me.<a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! has he any time to think to invite people? He is so -distraught, so engrossed by his speculations, that I alone attend to the -invitations. Will you come?”</p> - -<p>“Is it not absolutely necessary for me to see you again? If I should -yield to my inclinations, I would never leave you.”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul! I believe that we are dropping into sentiment. Are you -going to make me a declaration?”</p> - -<p>“Is it possible to see you without loving you?”</p> - -<p>“Look out! you are becoming serious, and I like none but merry people. -That melancholy air doesn’t suit you.”</p> - -<p>“Have you no pity, then, for the pain you cause?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! not the least! Sighs do not move me an inch; to please me, it is -necessary to keep me laughing constantly.”</p> - -<p>While they talked, Auguste and his companion had strayed into the shaded -portion of the garden. He had taken the young woman’s arm and was -pressing it tenderly. Athalie was still laughing, but was making no -effort to avoid Dalville’s gentle caresses, when Bertrand appeared -before them at a bend in the path.</p> - -<p>“They are waiting for you and madame at breakfast, lieutenant,” said the -corporal, putting the back of his hand to his forehead.</p> - -<p>Auguste stamped on the ground impatiently; but the vivacious Athalie had -already dropped his arm and was frisking away.</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! you are exceedingly awkward, Bertrand!” said Auguste, glaring -at the corporal, who still stood before him.</p> - -<p>“What have I done, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“You seem to have made it your business to disturb me when I am engaged -in an interesting conversation with a pretty woman.<a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, lieutenant, but I can’t tell what you’re saying.”</p> - -<p>“A shrewd man can guess it at a glance. Once for all, when I am alone -with a woman, I forbid you to interrupt me.”</p> - -<p>“That settles it, lieutenant; if the house should burn down, I wouldn’t -disturb you.”</p> - -<p>The whole party had assembled in the dining-room; even La Thomassinière, -having waked with a tremendous appetite, had not devised any previous -business which would have vexed his stomach, and he bestowed a most -affable nod upon Dalville, which meant that his wife had informed him -that she proposed to receive the young man at their house. Madame -Destival too seemed desirous to be reconciled to Auguste, who had -treated her coldly since the scene in the courtyard.</p> - -<p>“I must be in Paris before noon,” said La Thomassinière, shuffling a -mass of papers that he took from his wallet; “I have ten appointments -for to-day. I am sure that at least twenty people have called at my -house before this. A little more coffee, if you please. It isn’t -Mocha——”</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon,” said Destival, as he poured out some for him.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I assure you that isn’t; I know what I am talking about. I laid -in lately a <i>consequential</i> supply; it’s very different from this.”</p> - -<p>“I must be in Paris this morning,” said Destival, puffing himself out; -“I have numerous matters on the carpet, some of great importance! Monin -wants to buy a house, and I have just what he wants.”</p> - -<p>“Who’s he? that little man who bet two sous at écarté?”</p> - -<p>“The very same.<a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What! that fellow buy houses! I shouldn’t have suspected it; his coat -was very threadbare—and patched on the elbows.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that means nothing in the country.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind! you must admit that a man in a threadbare coat doesn’t -promise great things—it doesn’t give you a very exalted idea of his -wit. Oh! I have a keen glance, I have; and then, being used to seeing -only rich and well-dressed people,—I say, footman, just tell my people -to harness up, to put my horses to my calèche.”</p> - -<p>“I expect my milliner this morning,” said Athalie; “she is to bring me -the sweetest bonnet. We must go at full speed, monsieur, for I am very -anxious to try on that bonnet.”</p> - -<p>“You are aware, madame, that my steeds do not travel like cab-horses. I -feed them rather well, and they cost me so much that I can afford to -make them gallop.”</p> - -<p>“Baptiste,” Monsieur Destival called to his servant, who was leaving the -room, “you will hitch up too, do you understand?”</p> - -<p>“That’s the way,” muttered Baptiste, “no sooner out of the kitchen than -I must go to the stable!”</p> - -<p>“I say, Baptiste, while you’re about it, tell my little Tony to put the -horse to my cabriolet,” said Dalville, smiling at the pompous air of La -Thomassinière, who said, rubbing his hands:</p> - -<p>“On my word, it’s very pleasant for each to have his own carriage; it’s -very genteel; one is certain at all events that one is with <i>comme il -faut</i> people. To be sure, you have only cabriolets, but everybody can’t -have a calèche, a coupé and a landau, like me.”</p> - -<p>“What, are you going too, Monsieur Dalville?” asked Madame Destival, -with a most expressive glance at the young man; “this is polite, -everybody abandons me!<a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a>”</p> - -<p>“It is a fact, my dear fellow,” said Destival, “that my wife relied on -you to keep her company, and——”</p> - -<p>“I never said that I relied on monsieur; most assuredly I should not -have dreamed of saying such a thing!” said Emilie, interrupting her -husband; “but as everybody else is going to Paris, I don’t see why I -should stay here. Besides, you are to give a dinner this week, aren’t -you, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, a large dinner. I shall have some influential -people,—government officials and distinguished artists. I count upon -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière, and upon friend Dalville too.”</p> - -<p>Dalville bowed simply, but La Thomassinière replied:</p> - -<p>“We will see. I can’t promise beforehand, because I may be invited to -other dinners by people high up on the ladder, and you must see——”</p> - -<p>“So we are all going to Paris,” said Madame Destival. “My husband will -take Baptiste and Julie with him. Will Monsieur Dalville be kind enough -to give me a seat in his cabriolet?”</p> - -<p>“Why can’t you come in our calèche?” hastily inquired the -petite-maîtresse.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I am afraid that I should keep you waiting. I have several matters -to attend to, and you are in a hurry to see your milliner. Monsieur -Dalville will not object, I trust, to give me another half hour.”</p> - -<p>Auguste realized that it would be discourteous to refuse; moreover, -although that arrangement upset his plans, although the fascinating -Athalie made an enticing little pout at him, and although Madame -Destival had said many unkind things about him, still, Emilie was a -good-looking woman none the less, and one forgives a good-looking woman -many things, even when one is no longer in love with her.<a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a></p> - -<p>They left the table. The carriages were ready. Madame de la -Thomassinière entered her calèche, with a malevolent glance at Auguste -and Madame Destival. The speculator called his two servants, who -assisted him to climb in; then he threw himself back on the seat, -crying:</p> - -<p>“To my house in the Chaussée-d’Antin, and go at full speed; drive -<i>furiously</i>, do you hear, Lafleur? But look out and not run into -anything.”</p> - -<p>The calèche flew away like an arrow. Madame Destival had hurried her -domestics to such purpose that Julie and Baptiste were soon ready to -start with their master. But madame still had divers matters to attend -to, for which she did not need Julie. Monsieur Destival shook hands -cordially with his friend and urged him not to drive his wife too fast, -because it was bad for the nerves; then he took his seat in the -cabriolet beside Julie, ordering Baptiste to mount behind, which he did, -muttering because they made him do all sorts of things.</p> - -<p>Bertrand and Tony stood by Dalville’s cabriolet, awaiting the latter and -Madame Destival. But the little matters which the mistress of the house -had to arrange took nearly two hours. Bertrand fretted and fumed at -having to stand beside the cabriolet; but his master had ordered him to -await him there, and he did not leave his post.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps monsieur thinks we’ve gone,” suggested little Tony.</p> - -<p>“No, no, he knows we’re here.”</p> - -<p>“But perhaps he don’t mean to go back to Paris to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Then he’ll come and tell us so.”</p> - -<p>“And suppose he don’t think of it?”</p> - -<p>“We will stay here until somebody comes to relieve us from duty. I’ve -got my orders, that’s enough for me.<a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a>”</p> - -<p>At last, about noon, Auguste appeared with Madame Destival on his arm. -She leaned tenderly upon him and her face expressed nothing save -satisfaction and the most amiable unconstraint.</p> - -<p>“It’s strange!” thought Bertrand, “here’s a lady that changes her face -three or four times a day. However, I ought to be used to it. I’ve seen -so many women like that. Everyone that comes to see monsieur as angry as -you please, rolling her eyes, and talking loud, is as mild and gentle as -a lamb when she leaves him; she hasn’t the same face, nor the same eyes, -nor the same voice.”</p> - -<p>“Come, Bertrand, get in,” said Auguste, who was already in the cabriolet -with Madame Destival.—“You will be a little crowded, madame; but my -faithful Bertrand isn’t built to ride behind.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I shall be very comfortable,” said Emilie, bestowing a soft glance -on Auguste, and on Bertrand an affable smile; for nobody can be so -amiable as our fair friends when things are going to suit them! But when -you thwart them——</p> - -<p>They drove away. When they passed the little path leading to -Montfermeil, Auguste put out his head and looked, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“I shall not always have a lady to drive to Paris.<a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII<br /><br /> -THE VILLAGE</h2> - -<p>Denise started to return to her village; but she did not sing as her -custom was, as she walked behind White Jean. Her heart was still heavy -because of what had taken place at Madame Destival’s; and although she -had tried not to seem distressed, she did not forget the -word—<i>hussy</i>—that had been applied to her. To be called by such a name -as that, when she was virtuous, when she had nothing for which to -reproach herself, seemed very hard to the little milkmaid. It is said -that unmerited insults do not wound; but how can an honest and sincere -heart fail to feel outraged on receiving epithets usually reserved for -vice? It might much better be said that it is the vicious person who -does not blush and who laughs at anything that may be said to her, -because she retains no sense of shame. In my opinion the proverb “Only -the truth gives offence” is essentially false.</p> - -<p>“How unkind those city people are!” thought the girl; “the idea of -calling me a hussy! That sounds well from them! What did I do to deserve -it? I kissed that gentleman because he’s got a kind heart, and because -he’s going to look out for Coco; it seems to me that was no more than -natural, and I ain’t ashamed of it. That Madame Destival, who came -rushing at me with such a scowl! I thought she was going to hit me.—The -idea of telling me that my cheeses are bitter, and that I put water in -my milk! Ah! I felt just like crying, but I did well to keep<a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a> the tears -back, she’d have been too pleased to see them. And that other one, who -did nothing but laugh and make all sorts of faces and monkey tricks at -that young man! Mon Dieu! as if I had done anything to make such a fuss -about! Should I have refused that money when it was to help that poor -boy? No, indeed! and it would have made the gentleman angry, and I’d -much rather make the lady angry. He isn’t wicked, he’s only a flatterer. -Well! that ain’t a crime—all one has to do is not to listen, that’s -all. And he’s very nice and polite. I clawed his face and he didn’t get -mad. By the way, he didn’t tell me his name. Why should he? I don’t need -to know it. Perhaps he told Coco—I must ask him.—Go on, White -Jean!—Shall I show my aunt this purse? Yes, I’ll tell her the whole -thing. But I didn’t tell her yesterday about my fall, and what that -gentleman saw. When I think of that, it troubles me, and I want to cry -again. And that other gentleman, who calls him lieutenant, and who -whispered ‘Look out for yourself!’ when he passed me. His name’s -Bertrand, I remember that. He looks like a good fellow, that Bertrand; -but what in the deuce did he mean with his ‘Look out for yourself’?”</p> - -<p>Meditating thus, Denise arrived at Montfermeil, a pretty little village -where the people are not badly off; where there are several comfortable -bourgeois houses, and nothing to indicate want, because the occupant of -the humblest cottage works instead of begging.</p> - -<p>Denise’s cottage was at the end of the village, on the bank of a little -stream that followed a winding course between rows of willows. It was of -two stories; the walls were sound, and the roof was covered with tiles, -which gave the cottage a certain air of elegance. There was a yard in -front, separated from the street by a low wooden fence; the stable was -at the right, and hens, chickens and<a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a> ducks wandered about the yard, -which they seemed to look upon as their property, giving vent to all -sorts of cries when any other person than Denise or her aunt ventured to -enter. The garden was behind the house; it was about two acres in -extent, but there was no semblance of order; fruit and vegetables grew -in confusion, according to the custom of the peasant, who thinks first -of the useful. There were not many flowers, but as Denise was fond of -them, there were a few rose-bushes among the potatoes, and now and then -a syringa, its branches enlacing the trunk of a plum or an almond tree.</p> - -<p>It will be evident from these details that the cottage did not belong to -poor people. Everything about it indicated the possession of a -competence; and in fact Mère Fourcy, Denise’s aunt, was one of the -richest peasants in the neighborhood; she owned two pieces of land, one -of which was on the other side of the stream that flowed by her house; -and Denise, who was her sole heir, was able by her activity and her -little trade in milk and cheese, to add to the income of her aunt, who, -although she was a worthy woman, was a little inclined to be miserly. -That is said to be a failing of the rich; indeed, how can you expect -those who have nothing to exhibit such a failing?</p> - -<p>White Jean entered the yard without guidance, and headed for his stable. -Denise was a little distance behind, having been stopped by some of her -neighbors, who, as the custom is in villages, talked with every -passer-by, because everybody knew everybody else. But the little -milkmaid, who was in no mood for talking, hastened after White Jean, and -relieved him of the baskets containing the milk and cheese that she -brought back.</p> - -<p>“What will my aunt say when she sees that I’ve brought these things -back?” Denise asked herself; and<a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a> she could not restrain a sigh. But -Denise did not fear her aunt, for Mère Fourcy, knowing her niece’s -virtue, and considering that she knew more than all the other people in -the village, always approved what she said and did, except when it was a -matter of lending money. That is why Denise, despite her fondness for -Coco, had been able to do very little for him.</p> - -<p>“His father’s a drunkard,” Mère Fourcy would say; “to give the child -money is just giving that good-for-nothing Calleux the means of -drinking.”</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy was a stout woman of fifty-five, who, despite her -corpulence, was active and alert; she heard her niece come in, and came -downstairs to help her unload her ass.</p> - -<p>“What have you got there, my child?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“The cheeses I made for Madame Destival.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t she take ‘em?”</p> - -<p>“Because—because she didn’t want ‘em.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s different.—What! all this milk too?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear! yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“And I wouldn’t let Monsieur Brichard have any this morning!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we’ll use it up, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Has Madame Destival taken her trade away from you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what makes you look so cut up then. Where does she expect to get -better milk?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it ain’t on account of the milk, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“On account of something else, is it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“That makes a difference. Tell me about this other thing, my child.”</p> - -<p>Denise thought a moment, then replied:<a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a></p> - -<p>“You know, aunt, I told you yesterday that I met a fine gentleman who -asked me the way to Monsieur Destival’s?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“And that it was the same man who gave a lot of money to Coco’s -grandmother, because Coco broke the soup-bowl?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I know. That sot of a Calleux will drink it all up.”</p> - -<p>“Well, aunt, I saw that young man again this morning, at Monsieur -Destival’s.”</p> - -<p>“So he’s a young man, is he? You said a gentleman yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“Bless me! so he is, a gentleman who is young.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that makes a difference.”</p> - -<p>“He was very pleasant and friendly with me, and when he learned from me -that Père Calleux spent all the money, he gave me this purse and told me -to see that poor Coco has everything he needs. I took it, aunt; did I do -wrong?”</p> - -<p>“Of course not, my dear; as if you didn’t always do right, dear Denise. -Well! you’re a good girl too, and you don’t let the men talk nonsense to -you.”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed, aunt; but I let that gentleman kiss me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that makes a difference. What did he want to kiss you for?”</p> - -<p>“To thank me for agreeing to look after Coco, for he’s very fond of -him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t see any harm in all that, my child.”</p> - -<p>“But Madame Destival did, for she came up to me in a rage and called -me——”</p> - -<p>“She called you——?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I don’t want to repeat the horrid word.—Well! she called me -a—a—hussy.<a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a>”</p> - -<p>“God in heaven! my niece, my Denise, a hussy! the virtuousest girl -within ten leagues! And you didn’t jump at her face?”</p> - -<p>“No, aunt; I just said that it was horrible to believe—to think—then I -came home with my milk and my cheese.”</p> - -<p>“You did right, my child, you did right; those folks don’t deserve to -eat such good things.”</p> - -<p>Denise did not tell her aunt what Madame Destival had said about her -milk and cheese, because Mère Fourcy would be just the woman to go to -the business agent and demand satisfaction for such an insult. The girl -did not like quarrelling and she wished never to hear Madame Destival’s -name again. Mère Fourcy went to the village to try to find customers for -the milk and cheese. When she was alone, Denise took out the purse and -counted its contents in her apron. There were twelve twenty-franc -pieces, and six of five francs.</p> - -<p>“Two hundred and seventy francs!” exclaimed Denise, throwing up her -hands in amazement; “why, that’s quite a lot of money. That gentleman -must be very rich to give away so much all at once. Perhaps I ought not -to have taken it all. But still, as it’s for Coco—there’s enough to -send him to school, to have him learn to read. Yes, but his father don’t -want him to learn to read. That’s a pity, I should like so much to make -Coco a gentlemanly, well-taught boy; it would please that gentleman when -he comes back—for he’ll come to see his little boy; at least, he said -he would. Never mind, I’ll be very careful of the money; and while I -have the time, I think I’ll go to the cottage and see if they’ve done -what that gentleman intended they should.”</p> - -<p>By taking crossroads, one could go in a quarter of an hour from -Montfermeil to the home of the Calleux<a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a> family. Denise walked rapidly -along the paths, which were well known to her. She entered the wretched -hovel. Coco was seated at a table with old Madeleine. They were dining -without Père Calleux, who, finding himself in funds, preferred the -wine-shop to his house.</p> - -<p>At sight of Denise, the child gave a joyful cry and ran to her. Denise -was so good to him! she always brought him something nice; she often -prevented his being beaten; in short, she showed great affection for -him; and children love those who love them; it is not always so with -men.</p> - -<p>“Good-day, little Denise!” said Coco, opening his arms to the girl.</p> - -<p>“Take care, good-for-nothing!” said old Madeleine; “you almost upset the -table and spilt my soup! I’d have given you a good licking, if you had!”</p> - -<p>Denise glanced about the hovel, and saw that the only change that -Dalville’s money had wrought was the presence of a large new bowl, which -was in front of the fire. The child’s bed was no softer than before.</p> - -<p>“See how fine I am, Denise!” cried the child, exhibiting the trousers -and the little brown jacket which replaced the ragged garments that -covered him on the preceding day.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I see,” said Denise, scrutinizing the garments, “but none of these -things are new.”</p> - -<p>“Pardi!” cried old Madeleine, “do you s’pose we was going to have ‘em -made to order for him? The things are good enough for a brat as plays -all the time like him. You’ll see in a day or two! they’ll soon be full -of holes! Ah! he’d wear out clothes made of iron.”</p> - -<p>“But why didn’t you buy him a mattress, Mère Madeleine? I thought that -gentleman told you to when he gave you the money.<a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Because his father wouldn’t have it; he says a boy hadn’t ought to be -coddled so, because it keeps ‘em from getting strong.”</p> - -<p>“Still, when the money was given for Coco——”</p> - -<p>“For Coco? yes, and for us too, my girl; hadn’t the parents ought to -come before the children?”</p> - -<p>“Is Père Calleux in the field?”</p> - -<p>“In the fields! oh, yes! in the fields indeed! He’s at Claude’s -wine-shop. He took all there was left of the money that gentleman give -me, and told me he was going to put it into some great undertakin’. Oh, -yes! I know all about that; he’ll undertake to drink it all up in a day, -if it’s possible.”</p> - -<p>“Would you like to have me take Coco away with me till night, Mère -Madeleine?”</p> - -<p>“No, my girl, no; I’m an old woman, and I don’t want to be left alone. -Coco’s got to stay with me.”</p> - -<p>Denise kissed the child, who ran off to play and roll on the ground with -his goat; then she returned to the village, asking herself:</p> - -<p>“How shall I go to work to do what that gentleman wants done?”</p> - -<p>The next day was Sunday. No work in the village. The women paid more -attention to their toilet, they donned their prettiest gowns, and in the -evening the whole population assembled on a beautiful greensward shaded -by oaks and walnuts. There a wretched violin and a huge tambourine -played for the young men and women to dance; they considered the -orchestra divine, because it gave the signal for their enjoyment. Denise -was the favorite among the young men, and aroused some jealous pangs in -the hearts of her companions. The passions insinuate themselves -everywhere; there are envious and evil-speaking folk in the village as -well as in<a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a> the city; but they are less skilled in disguising their -sentiments.</p> - -<p>Denise was the prettiest girl in the village and in the country -roundabout; that was what all the men said; but all the women did not -agree. Denise was no coquette, but she was a woman; and what woman is -there who is not conscious of a secret pleasure in the certainty that -she is attractive, that she can prevail over her companions? But Denise -did not play the coquette with the young men; she did not bestow a smile -upon this one, a glance upon that one, a word of hope upon the other; -but she laughed and joked and was pleasant to one and all alike; for she -was very fond of dancing, and she liked to have everyone invite her to -dance.</p> - -<p>On the Sunday in question, however, Denise, who had gone to the green -with her aunt, as usual, did not seem to enjoy herself so much as she -ordinarily did; she laughed less with the young men and seemed not to -take any pleasure in dancing. And finally, a thing that had never been -seen before, Denise, after four contradances, declared that she was -tired and would like to rest a while.</p> - -<p>“Is it because you’re sick, my child?” Mère Fourcy asked her niece, when -she came and seated herself by her side.</p> - -<p>“No, aunt, I ain’t sick, but I’m tired.”</p> - -<p>“Tired! you! the greatest dancer in the whole country!”</p> - -<p>“Well! I guess one gets tired of everything, aunt. I don’t feel in the -mood to-day.”</p> - -<p>“That makes a difference.”</p> - -<p>“Come on, Mamzelle Denise, come and have a dance,” several young men -said to the little milkmaid. And one of them pulled her arm until he -almost dislocated it, another struck his palm against hers with all his -might,<a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a> and a third, while saluting her, trod on her feet. With such -delicate attentions it is customary to pay court to a village belle, who -sometimes retorts by a ringing slap on the gallant’s face, thereby -indicating that he is in her good graces.</p> - -<p>But Denise distributed no slaps among the youths who surrounded her; she -simply sent them away, saying:</p> - -<p>“Let me alone, when I tell you that I don’t want to dance.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, you do! oh, yes! She’ll dance—you’ll dance—she’s joking when -she says that.”</p> - -<p>But Denise held her ground, and when the dancers had taken their leave, -she said to her aunt:</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul! how stupid they all are!”</p> - -<p>“Who, my girl?”</p> - -<p>“Why Gros-Jean and Lucas and Bastien.”</p> - -<p>“They’re the sharpest fellows in the village! What are you thinking -about, to say that? Gros-Jean, who’s so funny when he dances and always -mixes up the figures on purpose! Lucas, who’s taken the prize at <i>goose</i> -three years running! And Bastien, who’s been to Paris twice and learned -to play at quarter-staff! And you call those boys stupid!”</p> - -<p>“Bless me! aunt, it seemed to me that they didn’t say anything to me but -things that didn’t amuse me.”</p> - -<p>“But you used to laugh so loud with ‘em! I tell you you’re sick, my -child; when we go home, I’m going to make you eat a good dish of peas -and pork before you go to bed; that’ll do you good.”</p> - -<p>Denise did not feel sick; she did not herself know why she was not -enjoying herself. At last the hour for retiring arrived, and the girl -was secretly well pleased to return to the cottage and leave her -companions, who glanced sneeringly at her and said to one another:<a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a></p> - -<p>“Something’s the matter with Denise, that’s sure! At all events, if -she’s always the way she is to-day, the fellows will soon give up liking -her and making love to her.”</p> - -<p>In spite of, or perhaps because of, the dish of peas and pork, Denise -slept little. She thought, not precisely of the fine gentleman who had -flattered her and kissed her and picked her up after her fall, but of -the one who proposed to take care of poor Coco; of the money of which -she was the depositary, and of the means of making the child happier.</p> - -<p>At daybreak she left her bed. After completing her morning chores, she -made her escape and hurried to the Calleux cabin. She saw the child -playing in front of the door and was delighted to speak to him without -witnesses.</p> - -<p>“Where’s Madeleine?” she asked.</p> - -<p>“She’s asleep, my little Denise,” the child replied, throwing his arms -about the girl’s neck.</p> - -<p>“And your father?”</p> - -<p>“Papa Calleux, he didn’t come home last night. Grandma says he slept at -the wine-shop.”</p> - -<p>“Coco, do you love that gentleman who came here and left money for you, -and kept you from being beaten for breaking the bowl?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I do love him, just. He’s got a pretty vest and a pretty -ribbon hanging on it. He’s coming to play with me again, ain’t he?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he said he’d come again. Do you know his name?”</p> - -<p>“He’s my dear friend.”</p> - -<p>“But his name—did he tell you that?”</p> - -<p>“No, but he knows my name’s Coco, and Papa Calleux——<a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You must love that gentleman dearly, for he means to do ever so much -for you. Would you like to learn to read and write?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! so’s to read pretty stories in the books with pictures in ‘em, -like you’ve got. But papa won’t let me go to school.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll speak to him and try to make him consent——”</p> - -<p>At that moment old Madeleine’s shrill voice was heard, calling the -child. He kissed Denise and went into the cabin, while the girl walked -rapidly back to the village.</p> - -<p>Père Calleux, after passing three days at the wine-shop, resumed his -spade and watering-pot; but he would not consent to let Coco go to -school, although Denise told him that it would cost him nothing; and old -Madeleine would not allow the child to go any farther than the field -where his father worked. Denise went to the hovel every morning; she -always carried something secretly to the child, but she did not touch -Dalville’s money.</p> - -<p>“He won’t come back,” said Denise to herself; “here’s a week gone -already! Psha! he’s forgotten all about—Coco; still another reason for -saving that money. Some day the little fellow will be very glad to have -it. And yet that gentleman seemed to want to come again. Of course he’s -been to Madame Destival’s, and he didn’t go through our village! What -liars they are, those young men from Paris! Still that one has some good -qualities. But why did that Monsieur Bertrand tell me to look out for -myself?”</p> - -<p>The dancing days came around in due course, but Denise’s good spirits -did not return, although she did her utmost to appear as of old, and -often danced when she felt no desire to do so, and tried to joke with -the young men. Her greatest pleasure now was to sit alone under a great -oak in her garden, or to go to the cabin and<a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a> embrace Coco, to whom she -talked constantly of the handsome gentleman, who meant to do so much for -him.</p> - -<p>A month had passed since Auguste’s meeting with Denise, when one -morning, as she was about to start for the cabin, a peasant informed her -that old Madeleine had died during the night. The little milkmaid ran to -the child at full speed. The old woman’s remains had not been removed; -and as Calleux was poor and was not liked in the neighborhood, the child -was watching alone by the body, while his father made the necessary -arrangements for the burial.</p> - -<p>Denise halted in front of the solitary hovel, the aspect of which seemed -to her more wretched than ever, because Death casts a dark pall over -everything wherever he passes. The girl was surprised to find nobody -about; she drew nearer and bursts of laughter fell upon her ears. She -concluded that the person was mistaken who had told her of the -grandmother’s death, and she put her head in at the door. She saw the -death bed, beside which a lamp cast a dim light; and close by she saw -the child playing with his goat on the straw, and greeting with shouts -of laughter Jacqueleine’s antics and caresses.</p> - -<p>That picture caused Denise a peculiar sensation. She entered the cabin -and walked toward the child, saying:</p> - -<p>“What’s this, my dear? playing beside your dead grandmother?”</p> - -<p>“Will that make her mad?” queried the child, with an artless glance at -Denise.</p> - -<p>“No, for she can’t hear you; but you ought to be sorry for her death.”</p> - -<p>“Someone told me she wouldn’t whip me again.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you cry when she died?”</p> - -<p>“No, Denise.”</p> - -<p>“Then you didn’t love her?<a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I was awful ‘fraid of her!”</p> - -<p>“My dear, it isn’t nice not to have any feeling.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! if my goat died, Denise, I’d cry hard enough; Jacqueleine’s so good -and she loves me so!”</p> - -<p>Denise could think of no answer to make to the child; she sent him -outside with his goat. On Père Calleux’s return, she obtained his -permission to take Coco with her for a few days, and Coco took with him -his darling goat, from which he refused to part.</p> - -<p>Denise was anxious to keep the child with her; Mère Fourcy was -kindhearted, and Denise showed her that as he grew up Coco would be of -use to them, and that the money left by the gentleman from Paris would -be more than sufficient to educate him. Père Calleux, who realized that -his son could not make his soup, consented to leave him with Denise for -the present, and the girl was overjoyed.</p> - -<p>Behold, then, Coco a member of the little milkmaid’s family, and leading -a pleasant life. Denise, who knew how to read,—not a rare -accomplishment in our villages nowadays,—determined to educate her -little protégé, and did not fail to speak to him every day of the -handsome gentleman who had paid so generously for his bowl.</p> - -<p>But another month passed, and the gentleman from Paris did not come -again. Denise, who still loved to muse beneath the great oak, often said -to herself:</p> - -<p>“It was quite right to think that he didn’t mean a word of all those -fine things he said to me. But, when he wasn’t coming back, it wasn’t -worth while for that Monsieur Bertrand to say: ‘Look out for -yourself!<a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a>’”</p> - -<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII<br /><br /> -A BACHELOR’S MORNING RECEPTION</h2> - -<p>“Is Auguste in, Monsieur Bertrand?” inquired a young woman of -twenty-four, slender and graceful, with fine brown eyes, very black -hair, pale complexion, white, even teeth, and a somewhat fatigued -expression; a face, be it said, which was enlivened and made most -attractive by a mischievous smile. This young woman was a certain -Virginie, of whom mention was made in the cabriolet on the way to -Monsieur Destival’s; she had just rung the bell at the door of Auguste’s -apartment, although it was only eight o’clock in the morning.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville has gone out,” replied Bertrand, with a very slight -nod to Mademoiselle Virginie, which did not deter her from entering the -apartment.</p> - -<p>“That’s impossible, Bertrand; you say that because there’s somebody -here, I suppose, and those are your orders. We know all about that. But -I must see him; I have something very important to say to him. Really, -my little Bertrand, I’m not joking.”</p> - -<p>“I give you my word, mademoiselle, that Monsieur Dalville has gone out; -or, rather, that he hasn’t come in. He went to a grand ball last night, -and it seems to have lasted a long while.”</p> - -<p>“Great heaven! what actions! Why, it’s shocking. That young man is -destroying himself. Bertrand, you don’t keep a sharp enough lookout over -him; it isn’t right. You ought to preach at him.<a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a>”</p> - -<p>“In the first place, mademoiselle, Monsieur Dalville’s the master; in -the second place, when I try to talk reason with him, he refuses to -listen to me, or sends me to the devil.”</p> - -<p>“That’s very wrong! Ah! if I were only his mother or sister, you’d see -how good I’d make him! I’m going to wait for him, Bertrand, for he must -come in soon. Still at a ball at eight in the morning! Oh! I don’t take -any stock in that yarn.”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Virginie, who was perfectly familiar with the apartment, -opened a door leading to a small salon in which she installed herself, -placing her hat on one chair, her shawl on another, and throwing herself -on a couch. Bertrand quietly followed her, and as if accustomed to such -performances from her, continued to eat the bread and cheese which he -had in his hand when she rang the bell.</p> - -<p>“I certainly do not care for Monsieur Auguste any more,” said Virginie, -after a moment; “I must be a confounded fool to care for a man who has -thirty-six mistresses; hasn’t he, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! mademoiselle, I can’t say——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, he has thirty-six! I don’t say all at once; he would have to -be a northern Hercules. And yet—if it could be—It isn’t worth while; -one man’s no better than another. I know them so well! Don’t you think -I’m right, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! as for that, there have been men who—the great Turenne, for -instance.”</p> - -<p>“Bah! what an ass the man is with his great Turenne! Does he take me for -a sentry-box? I don’t know ancient history, Bertrand; I don’t care about -anything except my own time, and I tell you Auguste’s a rake. In the -first place, he played me a shameful trick three weeks ago.<a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a> Think of -it! he made an appointment with me, and we were to pass the day together -and go to Feydeau in the evening; and monsieur left me to cool my heels -and went off into the country, to his Monsieur Destival, business agent. -He’s another fox, that fellow! He’d better attend to what goes on in his -own house, eh, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“In his own house, mademoiselle? Do you mean——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you understand well enough! That is, unless he likes it. Bless my -soul! there are husbands whom that sort of thing just suits! Did you -spend the night at that place?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! how rural! Did you stay there several days? Come, Bertrand, -speak out—you have time enough to eat; you know that I haven’t set foot -inside this door for an age, and Monsieur Auguste hasn’t so much as had -the decency to come to inquire for my health. And yet I’ve been very -ill; I nearly died! I am ever so much changed, am I not, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Why, no, mademoiselle, I don’t see that——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! the whites of my eyes are yellow yet. To be sure this dress -isn’t becoming. It’s too high, it cramps me.—Well, Bertrand, what did -you do in the country?”</p> - -<p>“I taught Monsieur Destival the manual, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! is he going to enlist in the voltigeurs? How about his wife—does -she do the manual too? She ought to learn to drum so that she can march -in front of her husband when he goes out to fire his gun.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what madame was doing, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“Of course not; it was your business to keep the husband busy, while -Monsieur Auguste dallied with<a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a> madame in the thick shrubbery! I can see -that man firing at crows while his wife hunts strawberries! Ha! ha!”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Virginie laughed so heartily that it was several minutes -before she could speak again. Meanwhile Bertrand paced the salon floor, -continuing his breakfast.</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! it hurts to laugh like that.—Tell me, Bertrand, when did you -come back?”</p> - -<p>“The next day, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“And Auguste hasn’t been there again since?”</p> - -<p>“No, mademoiselle; he’s often wanted to go, but he hasn’t had time.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! of course not; he has so much to do! And he hasn’t been to see me -once in the last fortnight! He leaves me sick, almost dying! And I am -not well yet. Oh, no! I am still suffering terribly.—What’s that you’re -eating, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Just plain Roquefort cheese, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“It’s queer to watch another person eat; it makes me want to eat too; -you see, I always have to do what I see others do. You may as well give -me some breakfast, my little Bertrand, because, you see, if I should -whine and cry till to-morrow, it’s all nonsense, and my calf wouldn’t be -any bigger for that; would it, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Mademoiselle, if you——”</p> - -<p>“He’s a good fellow, this Bertrand; I love him a lot, I do; yes, I’m -very fond of him, although he’s a bit of a traitor, like his master.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! as for that, mademoiselle, when you talk about being honest, I -flatter myself——”</p> - -<p>“All right, Bertrand; I only said that for fun. But I’m not going to -breakfast on honesty. What are you going to give me?<a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a>”</p> - -<p>“If mademoiselle would like coffee, I’ll go down and have some sent up.”</p> - -<p>“Coffee! oh! that makes a hole in my stomach, it’s no good. Haven’t you -got anything to eat here?”</p> - -<p>“We have the remains of a pie, a bit of fowl, and some Lyon sausage.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! I like those better than coffee; bring ‘em all, my little Bertrand; -just to pass the time till Auguste comes back.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand moved a small tea-table to the couch, and lost no time in -laying it for Mademoiselle Virginie’s breakfast, who assisted him by -going to the sideboard herself for whatever she needed, saying:</p> - -<p>“I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“You are joking, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“Where’s little Tony?”</p> - -<p>“He’s with monsieur; he has to have somebody on account of the -cabriolet.”</p> - -<p>“That boy’s a sly little rascal; he’ll never tell me anything, whereas -you, Bertrand, you do at least talk; to be sure, I know that you don’t -tell me everything. After all, you’re right; there are some things I -ought not to know, they’d make me too unhappy. Meanwhile, I’ll have my -breakfast.”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Virginie took her place before the breakfast, and, while -repeating from time to time that she was still sick, speedily caused the -cold fowl to disappear, and made a vigorous assault on the pie and the -sausage, washing them down with claret, in which she did not deem it -necessary to put water.</p> - -<p>But, while she was eating, Virginie glanced at a clock in front of her -and cried:</p> - -<p>“The rascal! Why doesn’t he come home? You must admit, Bertrand, that -people don’t stay at a ball till nine<a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a> o’clock in the morning. I know -myself that bourgeois balls always end by five; my aunt used to give one -sometimes. Poor aunt! I shall have to make up with her now!—I say, this -pie isn’t half bad.—You see, Bertrand, my aunt’s a woman of your sort.”</p> - -<p>“I understand—a tall woman, five feet six inches, like me, eh?”</p> - -<p>“No, no! what a donkey you are with your six inches! Still, it would be -rather nice<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> if my aunt had six of ‘em. When I say of your sort, I -mean a fine woman, a respectable woman. Oh! she preaches to me, I tell -you, she does! She used to say such touching things to me that I wept -like a Magdalen while I was listening; but once outside—prrr!—I forgot -all about it.—A body could eat a two pound loaf with this devilish -sausage!—That wretched Auguste! Ah! he shall pay me for this. In the -first place, I don’t propose to go till he comes back, if I have to stay -here till to-morrow. It don’t make any difference to me, I’m my own -mistress.”</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> The joke consists in the fact that the same -word—<i>pouce</i>—means “inch” and “thumb.”</p></div> - -<p>At that moment the bell rang softly.</p> - -<p>“Ah! there he is!” cried Virginie; “don’t tell him I’m here, Bertrand, -do you hear? I want to surprise him. Shut the door of the salon.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, mademoiselle; but I have an idea that it isn’t monsieur; I -didn’t recognize his ring.”</p> - -<p>Having closed the door of the salon, Bertrand opened the one leading to -the hall; whereupon, instead of Auguste, he saw the pretty neighbor of -the third floor to whom he had restored the poodle.</p> - -<p>The pretty neighbor was a blonde, with blue eyes and a pink complexion; -her voice was low and sweet, her manners and her bearing savored of -affectation; but she<a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a> was pretty, and her natural charms won forgiveness -for those which she tried to impart to herself.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t my little Lozor in your rooms, Monsieur Bertrand?” asked the -young blonde in an undertone, with a furtive glance about the apartment.</p> - -<p>“I have not had the honor to see him, madame,” replied Bertrand, still -holding the door only partly open; which fact did not prevent the -neighbor from stepping farther into the room.</p> - -<p>“That is strange; he went out this morning; my maid is at market, and I -hoped to find him here.”</p> - -<p>“If the deserter appears, madame, I shall have the pleasure of bringing -him back to you at once.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Lozor! I am really anxious about him.”</p> - -<p>And the neighbor, advancing step by step, found herself in the centre of -the reception room, while Bertrand still held the door ajar, hoping thus -to induce her to go away.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville went out last night in full dress, didn’t he, -Monsieur Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame.”</p> - -<p>“I happened to be at my window and I saw him. I would have liked to say -a word to him, to ask him for a book that he promised to let me have -to-day. But he went away so fast! If it wasn’t so early, I would ask him -to be kind enough to give it to me now. But that would disturb him -perhaps?”</p> - -<p>The neighbor seemed to await a reply, but Bertrand kept silent and -contented himself with swinging the door back and forth.</p> - -<p>“Is Monsieur Dalville still in bed?” inquired the pretty blonde at last, -bestowing upon the ex-corporal a glance as tender as her voice was -sweet. He was about to reply when the door of the small salon was -abruptly<a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a> thrown open, and disclosed Virginie, who came forward with an -air of deliberation, saying:</p> - -<p>“Well! is it coming off to-day, Bertrand? Are we playing hide-and-seek?”</p> - -<p>When Virginie appeared, Bertrand closed the hall door and sat down, -muttering between his teeth:</p> - -<p>“Fight it out; it’s none of my business.”</p> - -<p>At sight of Mademoiselle Virginie, the neighbor turned a little pinker -than she was, and her eyes lost their usual soft expression. Virginie, -for her part, scrutinized the neighbor from top to toe, contracting her -dark eyebrows, and allowing a scornful smile to play about her lips. -Bertrand alone seemed unmoved; and while the two ladies eyed each other -from head to foot, he calmly swallowed a glass of wine, to wash down his -Roquefort.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t tell me, Monsieur Bertrand, that Monsieur Dalville had -company,” said the neighbor at last, in a voice which she strove to make -as soft as usual, but in which one could detect a note of something -resembling anger. “If I had known, I certainly would not have ventured -to disturb him.”</p> - -<p>“Does madame want to see Auguste, Bertrand?” inquired Virginie -carelessly, smiling with a sly expression.</p> - -<p>The familiar manner in which the pretty brunette referred to her -neighbor seemed to confound Madame Saint-Edmond, who did what she could -to conceal her agitation, saying:</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, I wish to see Monsieur Dalville.”</p> - -<p>“If it is anything that someone else can say to Auguste, I will -undertake to do so, madame.”</p> - -<p>“You are too kind, madame, but I wish to speak to Monsieur Dalville in -person.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! I understand. Auguste is already acquainted with madame, I -presume?<a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, I have the honor of Monsieur Dalville’s acquaintance.”</p> - -<p>“As Auguste tells me all his business, I might be able to answer madame, -if she cared to explain the purpose of her call.”</p> - -<p>“Am I to understand that madame is now commissioned to receive the -persons who may call on Monsieur Dalville?”</p> - -<p>“That may be, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Bertrand, you ought to have told me—to have spared me—But I -absolutely insist on speaking to Monsieur Dalville. Let him know that I -have just a word to say to him. Then I will leave him at peace with -madame.”</p> - -<p>“If I had had a chance to answer sooner, madame, I’d have told you -before this that my lieutenant hasn’t come home from the ball yet; -that’s why madame was waiting in the small salon.”</p> - -<p>“Very well! I am going to wait for him too,” said the neighbor, whose -voice was no longer of the most honeyed kind; and as she passed Bertrand -on her way to the salon, she whispered to him:</p> - -<p>“I don’t know who this woman is, but she’s very bad style!”</p> - -<p>Virginie stayed behind in the reception room a moment, to say to -Bertrand:</p> - -<p>“Who’s that little jackdaw? Don’t lie to me, my little Bertrand, or I’ll -make a row.”</p> - -<p>“She’s a lady who lives in the house.”</p> - -<p>“Aha! lives in the house, does she? That’s very convenient! She looks -like a regular slut! Has Auguste known her long?”</p> - -<p>“Why, no; about six weeks.”</p> - -<p>“Does he love her?<a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a>”</p> - -<p>“How do you expect me to know that? Do you suppose I ask my lieutenant: -‘Do you love So-and-So, or Such-a-One?’”</p> - -<p>“All right! you’re a villain. I can only say that Auguste shows poor -taste! She’s a homely creature, that woman; she has red rims about her -eyes, just like a rabbit’s, and she has an ugly mouth, hasn’t she, -Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I don’t think so.”</p> - -<p>“As if you knew anything about it! I tell you that she’s a horror, with -her princess’s airs! Ah! if she expects to impose on me, she’s very much -mistaken. The sinner, to insist on speaking to Auguste in private! Just -to tease her, I’m going to eat some more pie, even if I die of -indigestion.”</p> - -<p>Virginie returned to the salon, resumed her seat on the couch and -attacked the breakfast once more. The neighbor seated herself on a chair -at the other end of the room, and while making a pretence of looking out -into the street, watched Virginie’s every movement from the corner of -her eye. Bertrand meanwhile remained in the outer room, leaving the -ladies to adjust matters as they chose. As she ate, Virginie hummed -snatches of comic opera airs; Madame Saint-Edmond did not make a sound. -This situation lasted for some time. At last Virginie, beginning to lose -patience, called Bertrand and said to him:</p> - -<p>“Your pie isn’t at all nice; the last time I breakfasted with Auguste, -we had a much better one.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand simply removed the scanty remains of the pie, saying to -himself:</p> - -<p>“I’d have sworn that she found it good!”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand,” said Virginie, after a moment, “will you give me a little -water and some sugar, please? It will do me a lot of good.<a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a>”</p> - -<p>“She must need it,” said the neighbor to herself, with a sarcastic -smile.</p> - -<p>“By the way, my little Bertrand, you have some orange flower water, -haven’t you? It will allay nervous excitement.”</p> - -<p>Virginie laughed when she said this, and was evidently making fun of -Madame Saint-Edmond; but that lady seemed to pay no heed to what she -said.</p> - -<p>“Upon my word, I am very sorry that I disturbed you, Bertrand,” resumed -Virginie, preparing some sweetened water for herself; “I might just as -well have gone to get it myself, for I know where everything is. I am -perfectly at home here. But you are so good-natured!”</p> - -<p>“I do my duty, mademoiselle,” said Bertrand, with a military salute.</p> - -<p>“I know, Monsieur Bertrand, how attached you are to Auguste,” said -Virginie, assuming a sentimental tone. “And so, whenever I mention you -to him, I am very glad to speak in terms of praise. That’s no more than -justice, that’s sure. Auguste, who has every confidence in me, will -follow my advice, I trust, and you’ll find, Monsieur Bertrand, that I am -not capable—of—of never doing——”</p> - -<p>Virginie always became entangled when she tried to talk sense or to be -sentimental. Bertrand confounded himself in reverences, awaiting the end -of a speech which he did not comprehend; but luckily for Virginie, the -bell rang.</p> - -<p>“There’s Auguste!” she cried, while Bertrand went to the door.</p> - -<p>Thereupon there was a great commotion in the salon. Virginie rose, all -ready to rush to the door, glaring at the blonde lady with an expression -of defiance. The latter, too, had risen; but she did not look at -Virginie,<a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a> and did her utmost to maintain a calm and indifferent -attitude.</p> - -<p>But their hopes were blasted once more. It was not Dalville who had -rung, but Tony, his diminutive groom, who came to inform Bertrand that -after the ball, which was at Madame de la Thomassinière’s, the -resplendent Athalie had carried away a part of the company to breakfast -at her country estate. Auguste was among the number; his hostess had -refused to allow him even a moment to return home and change his -clothes. But, as Auguste had emptied his purse at cards during the -evening, he sent his little jockey, with the cabriolet, to obtain some -money, which he was to deliver to his master at Madame de la -Thomassinière’s estate.</p> - -<p>As Virginie had held the salon door ajar, both ladies heard what the -little groom said to Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“You see, mesdames, it is useless for you to wait any longer,” said -Bertrand, returning to the salon; “monsieur’s off to the country; he has -sent for something and that means that he isn’t likely to return very -soon.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he has sent for money,” said Virginie, with a sigh. “God! how the -man does throw it away! It’s frightful! If he only gave me a quarter of -what he——”</p> - -<p>Virginie checked herself; she realized that she had made a mistake. -Madame Saint-Edmond cast a contemptuous glance at her and left the room, -saying to Bertrand:</p> - -<p>“All that I ask you, monsieur, is to be kind enough to let me know when -Monsieur Dalville returns.”</p> - -<p>“I shall not fail, madame,” replied the corporal, escorting the neighbor -to the door. In the reception room she said to him:</p> - -<p>“I don’t know who this hussy is that I found installed in Monsieur -Dalville’s apartment; but she acts like a<a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a> fishwoman, and her manner is -so insolent that I wouldn’t have her for my cook.”</p> - -<p>When the neighbor had gone, Virginie concluded to resume her hat and -shawl.</p> - -<p>“Well,” she muttered, “I may as well go, as that good-for-nothing isn’t -coming home. It’s a nuisance, though, for I really needed to see him. I -wanted to ask him—That idiot of a landlord is always in my rooms! Oh! -how he tires me! He’s furious because he tried to make love to me and I -wouldn’t listen to him. Think of it—a little seducer of fifty-five! -What do you suppose he did, Bertrand, in the hot weather? He came to see -me in the morning in his dressing gown; but one day, when the wind blew, -I saw that my gentleman was dressed underneath like—like a -Scotchman!—‘Come, come,’ said I to myself, ‘this is too free and easy! -If he comes here that way for the purpose of seducing me, just a -minute!’—He wouldn’t go away, so I called the concierge and had the -landlord put out of my room. Since then, he’s as ugly as sin. Well, I’ll -come back very soon.—Ah! I know where I’ll go. Yes, that fat -Englishman, who was willing to set me up in business, on condition -that—Good! I’ll go and tell him that I’ve found a linen-draper’s shop. -After all, I am tired of living this way; I mean to have a shop. I -wouldn’t look so bad behind a counter, would I, Bertrand?—I say, the -neighbor was pretty well stirred up, wasn’t she? She went before I did; -in fact, she’d have had to carry me to make me go first, because when I -take a thing into my head, I don’t—Adieu, my little Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Virginie slipped through the door and downstairs, humming.</p> - -<p>“Gad!” said Bertrand to himself as he looked after her, “if my -lieutenant had come home, I don’t quite<a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a> know how things would have -turned out. This one’s a regular demon, and the other, with her die-away -voice, was beginning to make eyes like pistol shots, too! Never mind, I -got out of it pretty well; at all events nobody fainted this time, and -that’s what I am always afraid of. Thunder and guns! I’d rather have ten -raw recruits to lick into shape than one fainting woman to bring to. In -fact, there are some of ‘em that are quite obstinate about it.”</p> - -<p>“Whenever you’re ready, Monsieur Bertrand,” said little Tony, following -the ex-corporal into the salon.</p> - -<p>“Ah! to be sure, my boy; I forgot all about it. He must have money, -always money! Well, come with me, and we’ll go to the strong-box. -Sacrebleu! it makes me feel bad to keep taking out and never putting -back. When I tell monsieur so, he says: ‘Go to my notary.’—That’s all -right; I know that the notary always gives me money; but by giving and -giving—However, the lieutenant’s the master, and I must obey.—How much -does he want, Tony?”</p> - -<p>“Fifty louis, Monsieur Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Fifty louis! he had that much in his purse yesterday when he started -for that ball! What in the devil do they do at these swell parties, to -get rid of so much money in one evening? It seems that he’s no luckier -at these Thomassinets—Thomassinières’—than he is anywhere else!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it was very fine, Monsieur Bertrand!”</p> - -<p>“Ah! so you saw it, did you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I went up to the servants’ quarters. They gave me ices and punch -and cakes.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! I can understand that you liked that! But do you know that with -the twelve hundred francs that monsieur lost at cards, we could have had -some famous cakes<a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a> here?—Here, my boy, here’s the yellow boys; look out -not to lose them.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! don’t be afraid, Monsieur Bertrand, the cabriolet’s waiting for me -at the door.”</p> - -<p>“And don’t drive Bébelle too fast, d’ye hear?”</p> - -<p>The little groom had already gone. Bertrand was still standing in front -of the strong-box, which was open. He counted the remaining contents, -and frowned; he seemed terrified by the rapidity with which Dalville was -spending his money. He closed the desk at last, with a shake of the -head, saying: “It’s his; he has the right to dispose of it.” And to -dispel his melancholy thoughts, Bertrand went down to the cellar and -brought up a bottle of old burgundy, because, being entrusted with the -duty of watching the wine, he wished to be sure that it did not run -away.</p> - -<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX<br /><br /> -MADEMOISELLE TAPOTTE AND THE MARQUIS</h2> - -<p>We have heard little Tony say that his master was at Madame de la -Thomassinière’s ball; whence we must conclude that, since the day at -Madame Destival’s country house, Dalville and the wealthy speculator had -become more intimate. Auguste, being invited by the gushing Athalie, had -not failed to accept her invitations, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière, -seeing that Dalville joined in all the pleasure parties without -calculating the expense, that he played for high stakes, and lost with -the best grace imaginable, agreed with madame that the young man was of -the sort to go all lengths.<a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a></p> - -<p>Madame Destival was secretly furious to see Dalville amid the throng of -Madame de la Thomassinière’s adorers; but that did not prevent her from -continuing to call that lady “my love” and “my dear,” because she would -have been sorry not to be invited to the gorgeous parties given by the -capitalist; and although she went to his house solely to seek subjects -for criticism, and although Monsieur Destival could not eat his dinner -for wrath at seeing a table much better served than his own, they were -very glad to subject themselves to these vexations.</p> - -<p>Is it surprising that Dalville, in that whirlpool of dissipation, and -constantly in the company of charming women who chose him for their -escort—is it surprising that he should have forgotten the milkmaid of -Montfermeil? However, the memory of Denise was not altogether effaced -from his mind, and on several occasions he had formed the plan of going -to the village to see the child and the young woman; but when he was on -the point of carrying out his plan, some new invitation, some festivity -that he could not miss, detained him in Paris, where the time passes so -quickly for happy people.</p> - -<p>It was to her country estate, at Fleury, that the charming Athalie -conveyed Auguste and three other gentlemen who had been at her ball. -Madame had devised the party while dancing a quadrille, and had -determined that they would eat fresh eggs on the grass, while walking -through the “ladies’ chain.” Auguste and the other three young men were -invited and they instantly accepted. Madame de la Thomassinière, who -displayed no less activity in her amusements than variety in her -costumes, issued her orders at once. Her husband alone knew nothing of -the excursion; and at eight o’clock in the morning, when the four -gentlemen were finally induced to leave the écarté table, madame gave -them seats<a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a> in her calèche, laughing like a madwoman at the idea of -abducting thus four cavaliers in full dress. Monsieur de la -Thomassinière was in bed, but his valet was instructed to inform him -when he woke where he could find madame, in case he should desire to -join her.</p> - -<p>A word or two that Madame Destival had heard during the night had -apprised her of the delightful project for the morning; and as she and -her husband were not of the party, they returned home in very ill humor.</p> - -<p>“Always some new form of dissipation!” said Madame Destival, with a -bitter smile. “That Madame de la Thomassinière is at her wits’ end to -invent something that will ruin her husband.”</p> - -<p>“If she only would ruin him!” exclaimed Destival; “but no; that man has -the greatest luck! Everything succeeds with him. However, he doesn’t -shine by his wit, that’s sure enough! But he has just made sixty -thousand francs in a transaction that I had in view.”</p> - -<p>“Well, monsieur, why didn’t you carry it out?”</p> - -<p>“I hadn’t funds enough to buy the debt, madame.”</p> - -<p>“You should borrow, find the money. Really, monsieur, you ought to blush -for shame when you see the show of magnificence that that Thomassinière -makes, and you do not outshine him. Those people have eight servants, -and I have just one wretched maid and an ill-tempered footman who does -everything!—I want a lady’s maid, monsieur; I insist upon having one!”</p> - -<p>“Before long, madame, I hope——”</p> - -<p>“They have a calèche and a landau and a coupé, and we have only a very -shabby cabriolet! But monsieur must needs learn to drill, instead of -giving his attention to making money!”</p> - -<p>“I have several affairs under way, madame. If I sell Monin that -house——<a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Well, come to some conclusion about it, monsieur. I tell you that I -can’t live like this any longer; I must have two new cashmeres, a lady’s -maid, a calèche, and a country house where I can give parties; not like -that old barrack at Livry, which I can’t endure now.”</p> - -<p>“Never fear, madame. I must have a clerk, a man cook, and a negro -servant. I am going to venture into some new schemes, and you will see -that we will soon crush that miserable parvenu, who murders the language -with an assurance that suffocates me.”</p> - -<p>The calèche, drawn by two spirited horses, bore away Athalie and the -four young men of fashion, among whom was Dalville. Each of the four -paid court to the petite-maîtresse, who had the art of distributing a -word, a smile, a glance, to each in turn, and revelled deliciously in -the homage that was laid at her feet. Is there a greater joy for a true -coquette than to be surrounded by men who wear her chains? Athalie was -vivacious and playful; they knew that, to please her, they must be -overflowing with hilarity, and the four gentlemen vied with one another -in doing and saying the most extravagant things. Among all the <i>bons -mots</i> that were made, there were some very bad ones; for the more one -tries to be witty, the less success one has. But Athalie, grateful for -the efforts they made to entertain her, greeted them all with bursts of -laughter; and the gentlemen zealously followed suit, although they would -have been sorely puzzled sometimes to say what they were laughing about. -In the midst of this running fire of nonsense, the light vehicle arrived -at the country house.</p> - -<p>Madame de la Thomassinière’s property at Fleury was a charming abode, -which, in truth, left the little country house at Livry a long way -behind. There, everything witnessed to luxury and elegance: spacious -courtyards,<a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a> cardrooms, ballrooms and banquet-halls; peristyles of a -severely simple style of architecture led to daintily furnished -apartments; nothing had been forgotten that could increase the comfort -and pleasure of the occupants of that charming abode. In the gardens, -which were of vast extent, you found summer-houses for reading, for -work, or for repose; cool grottoes, shady walks, dense shrubbery, -labyrinths where one could lose oneself, delicious nooks where the -rippling murmur of a brook invited one to dream or to do something else; -and over that enchanting spot a lovely woman of twenty years reigned -supreme and gave no thought to anything save the invention of new forms -of amusement.</p> - -<p>While the mistress of the house gave orders for an out-of-door -breakfast, the gentlemen strolled about the gardens and admired their -manifold beauties. Auguste walked alone toward a hedge between the -garden and the orchard. It was a part of the garden where no one ever -walked. Why, then, did Auguste turn his steps in that direction? Because -he had caught sight of a short skirt and a little cap beyond the hedge, -and an irresistible fascination drew the young man toward whatever -suggested anything feminine.</p> - -<p>Auguste entered the orchard, therefore, and saw a young woman picking -apricots. She had neither the refined features nor the charm of Denise. -She was simply a rosy-cheeked, fresh, buxom damsel; but there are men -who prefer that to waterfalls, grottoes and labyrinths constructed at -vast expense; Auguste was one of them. Who would believe that a simple -petticoat may be awarded the preference over the marvelous creations of -art; that it may disturb the peace of an empire, overturn a republic, -crush a whole people, astound the universe, ordain laws, and cause half -of mankind to lose their<a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a> senses? O Cleopatra, Elizabeth, Delilah, -Judith, Ninon! your petticoats wrought all these miracles! To be sure, -it was not your petticoats exactly to which your thanks were due.</p> - -<p>The stout girl was standing on a ladder that rested against the tree, -and was plucking the ripest fruit. Auguste walked to the ladder and -looked up; I presume that he was looking at the apricots.</p> - -<p>“I say! what are you doing there, monsieur?” said the girl, when, upon -turning her head, she discovered the young man.</p> - -<p>“My dear girl, I am admiring. I am a great lover of the beauties of -nature, and I am as well able to appreciate them in sackcloth as in -silk.”</p> - -<p>The stout girl, who did not understand this language, concluded that the -gentleman was fond of apricots, and offered him one, saying:</p> - -<p>“Here, monsieur, here’s one that’s good and ripe.”</p> - -<p>Auguste took the apricot and walked still nearer the ladder.</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid that you’ll fall,” he said to the gardener; “I’ll hold the -ladder.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it ain’t worth while, monsieur, thanks; I know how to do it; anyway -I can cling to the branches.”</p> - -<p>However, Auguste remained at the foot of the ladder, and as the girl was -on the fourth rung, the young man’s hand naturally found itself in close -proximity to her leg, and, naturally again, that hand caressed a woolen -stocking encasing a calf with which a dancer at the Opéra would have -been content.</p> - -<p>The gardener continued to gather fruit while Auguste patted her calf.</p> - -<p>“On my word!” he thought, “here’s a peasant who knows what’s what, who -is learned in the ways of the<a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a> world. She is not precisely one of -Florian’s shepherdesses. This leg reminds me rather of Teniers’s Flemish -women; but at all events, it doesn’t scratch, and that’s very lucky, for -with such calves as these, the scar would be lasting.”</p> - -<p>“When I heard someone coming behind me,” said the girl, “I thought at -first ’twas monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur! what monsieur?” inquired Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Pardi! monsieur le bourgeois, my master.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! Monsieur de la Thomassinière?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes.”</p> - -<p>“So he comes into his orchard sometimes, does he?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he comes here.”</p> - -<p>“Does he like apricots?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! apricots, and something else.”</p> - -<p>“Does he take hold of your leg too, my child?”</p> - -<p>“Does he! pardi! rather! Catch him holding back!”</p> - -<p>The stout girl chuckled, and Auguste said to himself:</p> - -<p>“It seems that Monsieur de la Thomassinière, who talks of nothing but -the duchesses, countesses and baronesses he courts, dances attendance on -and deigns to be tender with his gardener. How many men try to take -credit in society for brilliant conquests, when they have triumphed over -nobody but their cook! However, there are many baronesses whose calves -aren’t as firm as these.”</p> - -<p>While he indulged in these reflections, the young man continued to pat -the leg, and the stout girl to laugh. Her basket being full, she began -to descend the ladder, and, as Auguste did not lower his hand, that -member necessarily found itself above the calf, where there was still -much to pat, and the stout girl laughed louder than ever.</p> - -<p>“Does Monsieur de la Thomassinière permit himself to embrace you also?” -Auguste asked, looking the gardener in the face.<a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a></p> - -<p>“Well, I say! well, pardié! Well, well, but you make me laugh!”</p> - -<p>At that moment Auguste saw Athalie’s pretty cap over the hedge, as that -lady approached the orchard. He ceased instantly to make the stout girl -laugh, and asked her hastily:</p> - -<p>“Your name?”</p> - -<p>“Tapotte.”</p> - -<p>“And your room?”</p> - -<p>“Over there, at the end, by the shed where they keep the hay.”</p> - -<p>“Good; adieu—I’ll see you again.”</p> - -<p>With that the young man walked quickly to the entrance to the orchard -and passed through at the very moment that Athalie reached the hedge.</p> - -<p>“Where have you been hiding, monsieur?” she asked, with a smile.</p> - -<p>“Why, madame—I went in here, you see, not knowing that it was the -orchard, and, to tell you the truth, I have been eating your fruit.”</p> - -<p>“Before breakfast? that is very wrong. I am a wee bit selfish; I don’t -like anybody to take any pleasure without me. I supposed that you had -found some milkmaid here on my place, some peasant girl, whose—ruddy -complexion had taken your fancy.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, madame!”</p> - -<p>“I do not think, however, that this establishment contains any rustic -beauties worthy of your homage; for I assume that you still have some -taste, and I agree that the little milkmaid was not bad-looking.”</p> - -<p>“True, true, she was very pretty; and you remind me——”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense, monsieur; give me your arm and come to breakfast; everything -is ready on a plot of greensward<a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a> shaded by honeysuckle. The other -gentlemen are waiting for us, and it is an unheard-of thing that I -should have to come in search of you.”</p> - -<p>“If you would allow me to find you sometimes, madame, you would not have -that trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! no sentiment, monsieur, I beg; remember that we came here only to -be foolish.”</p> - -<p>They reached the shady nook where a dainty repast was spread. A -petite-maîtresse puts coquetry into everything, and the open-air -breakfast, although it consisted simply of milk, eggs, butter, fruit and -excellent wine, seemed far richer when served by a lovely woman, in -china decorated with lovely landscapes. Daintiness never spoils -anything; it often enhances the value of the simplest things, and a -certain wine which has a most delectable flavor in an artistically cut -glass, might seem poor stuff in a beer mug.</p> - -<p>They had been at table a quarter of an hour, talking, laughing, and -eating heartily, because dancing, enjoyment and the fresh air sharpen -the appetite, when they heard Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s voice in a -path near by.</p> - -<p>“There’s my husband,” said Athalie; “I was sure that he’d come; he’s -very fond of this place. But he has brought somebody with him.”</p> - -<p>“Let us pray that it isn’t some horrible bore,” said one of the young -men.</p> - -<p>“Oh! what does it matter? If it’s anyone who bores me, I shall pay no -attention to him, and you must do as I do, messieurs.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière appeared with a man of mature years, but -dressed in the latest fashion, whose gait and manners, and even his -voice, were affected. He had a distinguished face, but his look was a -little deceitful; he smiled almost constantly, and frequently raised to<a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a> -his eyes an eye-glass, through which he admired the flowers, trees and -shrubs.</p> - -<p>“Here they are!” said Monsieur de la Thomassinière, when he caught sight -of the little party. “My valet did not deceive me, and my concierge’s -information was accurate. This way, monsieur le marquis, this way.”</p> - -<p>“What’s this? my husband has brought a marquis to see me!” exclaimed -Athalie; “come, messieurs, we must make a little room for him. Really, -Monsieur de la Thomassinière is as rattle-brained as I am! The idea of -not letting me know!”</p> - -<p>“This is exquisite, enchanting! It is all in the most perfect taste!” -exclaimed the marquis, going into ecstasies over everything he saw. When -he caught sight of the little party of five, he made a very low bow to -the mistress of the house, who had risen to receive him; while Monsieur -de la Thomassinière, who felt two feet taller since he had brought home -a marquis, bestowed a patronizing nod on the young men, and said to his -wife, taking his companion’s hand:</p> - -<p>“Madame, this is Monsieur le Marquis de Cligneval, who has been kind -enough to condescend to allow me to bring him to call upon you. He came -to see me at my house this morning about a <i>consequential</i> matter. I -said to him: ‘We can talk about this just as well at my place in the -country.’ That suited him, and gad! I had my dapple-grey horse put in -the cabriolet, monsieur le marquis got in with me, I gave the beast a -cut with my whip, and zeste! we were off like the wind.—My dapple-grey -goes prettily, eh, monsieur le marquis?”</p> - -<p>“Like an angel, my dear fellow.—Pray excuse me, madame, for appearing -in morning dress.”</p> - -<p>“One is always suitably attired in the country, monsieur; and these -gentlemen, you will observe, are dressed<a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a> just as I brought them away -from a ball, without giving them time to change their clothes. But you -will breakfast with us, I trust?”</p> - -<p>“With pleasure, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes!” said La Thomassinière, shaking Monsieur de Cligneval’s hand; -“oh, yes! the marquis will have some breakfast; he promised. I’ll have -some, too.”</p> - -<p>“Take your seats then, messieurs, and be content with what I have to -give you.”</p> - -<p>Madame gave the marquis a seat by her side; Monsieur de la Thomassinière -would have liked to sit on the marquis’s other side, but he was obliged -to be content with a seat opposite him. Monsieur de Cligneval did full -justice to the breakfast; he declared everything excellent, delicious, -exquisite, although La Thomassinière exhausted his breath saying to him:</p> - -<p>“Oh! I usually have much better things to eat. But we didn’t know, -madame was not notified. I hope to treat you much better another time. -This is an unpretentious repast; but when I choose, I do things very -nicely.”</p> - -<p>While praising the food, Monsieur de Cligneval found time to bestow -compliments on the hostess. The marquis was well bred; he carried a -little too far perhaps the determination to make his good breeding -apparent; but he was agreeable and witty, and the whole party was soon -in high spirits, even Monsieur de la Thomassinière, who never laughed -because he thought it bad form, but who laughed very loud now in order -to copy monsieur le marquis.</p> - -<p>When she passed the fruit, Athalie found several that were not ripe.</p> - -<p>“These apricots are good for nothing,” she said to a servant.<a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a></p> - -<p>“We must have some better ones than these,” cried La Thomassinière. -“Tell the gardener to bring some at once—the best she can find.”</p> - -<p>The servant obeyed, and Mademoiselle Tapotte soon arrived with a basket -filled with superb fruit, which she handed to Athalie, keeping her eyes -on the ground as if she dared not look at the guests; whereas, on the -contrary, the young men scrutinized the buxom creature, making comments -in undertones, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière cast furtive glances at -her.</p> - -<p>“That is right!” said Athalie, as she took the basket, “these are fine. -See, messieurs, they have just been picked; they look much -better.—Another time, Tapotte, don’t send me green fruit.”</p> - -<p>“No, madame,” said the gardener, with a very awkward curtsy; then she -took her leave, much redder than when she came.</p> - -<p>“What did you call that stout damsel, madame?” inquired one of the young -men.</p> - -<p>“Tapotte, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! that’s a queer name.”</p> - -<p>“It’s amusing,” said the marquis.</p> - -<p>“Yes, very amusing,” rejoined La Thomassinière. And Auguste reflected -that the name was well deserved.</p> - -<p>“She’s not a bad-looking girl,” said one of the young men.</p> - -<p>“Oh! what can you see that’s attractive in that creature?” cried -Athalie; “she’s heavy and awkward and vulgar.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! she’s a huge mass of flesh that moves, and that’s all,” said -the marquis.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes,” assented La Thomassinière, blushing slightly, “she moves, -she moves, and, as monsieur le marquis says, she knows how to do nothing -else.<a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What are you laughing at, Monsieur Dalville?” Athalie asked Auguste; -“at Mademoiselle Tapotte? You have said nothing about her.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet that monsieur agrees with me,” said the marquis, “and that he -sees nothing about her that deserves to be looked at a second time.”</p> - -<p>“He!” rejoined Athalie; “oh! you don’t know him, monsieur; he detects -charms under round caps and calico dresses.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t deny it, madame, and I do not think that it is necessary to -wear fine clothes in order to be beautiful. As for your gardener, -certainly she has neither pretty features nor a pretty figure; but, for -all that, her freshness and bloom, her good-natured appearance——”</p> - -<p>“Fie, fie, monsieur! fie! hold your tongue! for you are quite capable of -perverting these gentlemen. But we have devoted quite enough time to -Mademoiselle Tapotte; I hope that monsieur le marquis will do me the -honor to come and look at my garden; and if he could be induced to give -us this day——”</p> - -<p>“Madame, I am too pleasantly situated here to summon courage to refuse, -and although I am expected to dine with a Bavarian prince, I cannot -resist your charms.”</p> - -<p>“I count upon you also, messieurs,” said Athalie, addressing her other -guests; “you must pass the whole day here. Oh! no refusals! you must do -it, or you and I will have a falling-out. I have rooms to give you -to-night, and to-morrow morning I will drive you back to Paris in my -calèche.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said La Thomassinière, “as the marquis is to stay, you other -gentlemen must stay too. There will be more of us, and it will be more -amusing. I have some matters to attend to; but, faith, when one has the -honor<a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a> of having a marquis under one’s roof, the devil may take the -rest.”</p> - -<p>The young gentlemen attempted to raise some objections on account of -their clothes; but the fascinating Athalie once more announced: “I -insist upon it!” at the same time bestowing upon them one of the smiles -which it is so hard to resist; and that levelled all obstacles. Auguste -made no objection at all, being by no means ill pleased to pass a night -at Fleury, and smiling already at certain thoughts that passed through -his mind.</p> - -<p>They left the table. La Thomassinière seemed determined not to leave the -marquis’s side for an instant; but that nobleman offered his arm to -Athalie for a stroll about the garden, and La Thomassinière, as he could -not take the marquis’s other arm, walked on the other side, keeping -close at his elbow, and talking constantly to him, although most of the -time the marquis made no reply because he preferred to talk with madame. -Auguste took a seat in a grotto made of shells, not daring to return to -the orchard during the day. The other young men had taken possession of -the billiard room.</p> - -<p>But Athalie, having arrangements to make for the entertainment of her -guests, and being determined that the dinner should make them amends for -the frugality of the breakfast, soon left Monsieur de Cligneval with her -husband. La Thomassinière instantly seized the marquis’s arm and walked -on with him, saying:</p> - -<p>“Now, let us talk business, monsieur le marquis, for that is my strong -point,—business,—especially large affairs, speculations, and—What do -you think of my labyrinth?”</p> - -<p>“Charming!”</p> - -<p>“And my pond?”</p> - -<p>“Superb!<a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a>”</p> - -<p>“The waterfall is mine, I invented it. Formerly the water used to fall -straight down. That was too commonplace! I had rocks arranged -zigzag—that’s very much prettier.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it does you credit.”</p> - -<p>“You are very kind. Now I am going to take you into my woods, thence -into my fields, where I have some thoroughbred merino sheep. Another -invention of mine. Then we will go into my desert; you shall see my -deer—ah! they are superb creatures, my deer! almost like stags.”</p> - -<p>“Have you no stags?”</p> - -<p>“No; I wanted one, but Madame de la Thomassinière declared that it was -unnecessary, that we had enough tame beasts. I will take you to my -summer-house too; we have enough fine things to see to take up two or -three hours.”</p> - -<p>The marquis, who was beginning to be weary of the tête-à-tête, announced -that he was fatigued, and as they were then near the grotto where -Auguste was seated, they took seats beside him, La Thomassinière having -said that he was tired as soon as Monsieur de Cligneval spoke of -resting.</p> - -<p>“I have an estate of this sort,” said the marquis, reclining on a mossy -bank, “in Bourgogne, a very fertile province. I have another in Berry, -where my grandfather owned a very handsome château.”</p> - -<p>“I have three farms in the department of Seine-et-Oise,” said La -Thomassinière quickly, smoothing his chin; “I own two houses in Paris, -and I am on the point of buying a third.”</p> - -<p>“My grandparents were enormously rich!” said the marquis. “I haven’t a -very clear idea how much I have left! I worry very little about it. When -a person has<a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a> credit and is in favor at court—Why, if I wanted half a -dozen offices, I should only have to say the word!”</p> - -<p>“My credit is unlimited! My paper is eagerly sought after at the Bourse! -I am swamped with business. I receive the very best society at my house, -and my guests play for infernally high stakes!”</p> - -<p>“Pardieu! that reminds me that I lost three thousand francs at écarté -the day before yesterday,” said the marquis carelessly.</p> - -<p>“I won four thousand two days ago, at the house of a banker, who’s a -friend of mine,” replied La Thomassinière instantly.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s a mere trifle! When I play, I do it for the sake of doing -something!” said the marquis.</p> - -<p>“To be sure,” said La Thomassinière; “I am not sure that I didn’t forget -to take the four thousand francs from the table, I pay so little -attention to money!”</p> - -<p>“But a month ago,” said the marquis, “I was in a really serious -game—the stakes were no less than eighty thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“I staked a house last winter,” rejoined La Thomassinière; “it was not -built, to be sure, and unluckily the contractor failed the next day, for -the third time.”</p> - -<p>Auguste listened in silence to his two neighbors, as they tossed the -ball back and forth. But at last La Thomassinière, fearing that he might -be unable to think of anything with which to cap the marquis’s next -boast, changed the subject.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of this view?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Very pretty,” the marquis replied; “but why not have embellished it -with some picturesque ruins—<i>fabriques</i>—here and there?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I didn’t want any factories—<i>fabriques</i>—on my property! The idea! -Workmen are noisy, always<a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a> singing, and I don’t choose to have anything -to do with that sort of people.”</p> - -<p>The marquis glanced at Auguste with a smile, and they left the grotto -for the billiard-room, where Monsieur de la Thomassinière missed every -shot, and exclaimed after every stroke that he misplayed:</p> - -<p>“The trouble is that I’ve got a crooked cue; I can’t see straight -to-day; it’s the fault of the table; my head aches; something’s the -matter with me; I’m not in the mood for playing; but if I were, you -would be nowhere.”</p> - -<p>Little Tony had arrived long before and had handed his master the fresh -supply of funds. When the marquis saw that Dalville had a cabriolet, he -manifested great friendliness for him, and declared that there was -sympathy between Auguste’s tastes and his—a sympathy which Auguste had -not observed, although that fact did not prevent his responding to -Monsieur de Cligneval’s advances.</p> - -<p>The dinner-hour arrived, and they went to the table, where Athalie did -the honors with much grace. Not to depart from his custom, La -Thomassinière did not appear in the dining-room until the soup had been -removed; but he was delighted to say before the marquis that he had ten -important letters to write.</p> - -<p>The dinner was even more agreeable than the morning repast, because they -knew one another better, and delicious wines heated their brains and -urged them on to folly. Athalie had the knack of keeping the party in -good humor by her sallies. The marquis thought her divine, entrancing, -and confounded himself in compliments. The petite-maîtresse was not -ambitious to fascinate a man of fifty, but she was very glad to earn the -praise of a marquis; and the young men were not jealous of the marquis; -so that there was nothing to mar the<a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a> general jollity. They allowed La -Thomassinière to talk endlessly of his farms, his wealth, his -speculations; but they applauded him when he extolled his wines and his -cook.</p> - -<p>They left the table as merry as well-bred people can be. Athalie went to -see if her harp was in tune. The men went into the garden for a breath -of fresh air. It was not dark as yet, but the light was fading.</p> - -<p>The marquis had sauntered away, and Auguste was left alone with La -Thomassinière, who also claimed to be congenial to him, when, as they -strolled along a shaded path which was quite dark, and which skirted the -orchard, they heard the report of a hearty kiss. Auguste halted, curious -to know what was going on. La Thomassinière followed suit, with an air -of amazement.</p> - -<p>“Did you hear?” he asked Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” was the reply, “I heard very distinctly.”</p> - -<p>“What was it?”</p> - -<p>“If you didn’t recognize the sound, it is useless for me to tell you -what it was.”</p> - -<p>“Why, it seemed to me—but in the dark one may be mistaken.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! do you think that one doesn’t hear as well by night as by day?”</p> - -<p>“The fact is that I can’t believe that anybody on my premises would -venture——”</p> - -<p>The sound of the second kiss interrupted him. The two gentlemen walked -toward a clump of shrubbery near by, and saw Mademoiselle Tapotte in the -marquis’s arms, defending herself very feebly, as her custom was; while -the marquis, with flushed face, gleaming eye and thick voice, said to -her:</p> - -<p>“On my honor, you are a rose-bud, and I will have an assignation.<a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a>”</p> - -<p>But the rustling of the foliage caused the marquis to release his hold; -Tapotte ran away, and Monsieur de Cligneval returned to the house, while -Auguste said laughingly to La Thomassinière:</p> - -<p>“It seems that your champagne changes the aspect of things: that mass of -flesh has become a rose-bud.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that is court language. The marquis was joking, no doubt. However, -I should have been terribly sorry to have him see us! A marquis, you -know! I ought not to have seen anything! Monsieur Dalville, I urge you -to maintain absolute secrecy about this matter; it is very important.”</p> - -<p>“Never fear!”</p> - -<p>“I ask you to promise me.”</p> - -<p>Having quieted his host’s fears, Auguste returned to the house with him. -Athalie took her place at the harp; the gentlemen seated themselves at a -card-table, and, while listening to the harmonious strains that the -young woman extracted from the instrument, they did their best to win -their opponents’ money. Tea was served, then punch. The marquis won from -everybody; but he was so courteous, his manners were so amiable, that -one was almost tempted to thank him for condescending to take one’s -money. Athalie, fatigued by the ball of the preceding night, retired -early; and ere long all the guests withdrew to their rooms.</p> - -<p>The weather was superb and the soft moonlight seemed to invite one to -enjoy the cool evening air. Auguste stole quietly downstairs, dressed in -an ample robe de chambre which he had found in his room, and walked -through the garden toward the orchard. I am not sure whether he went -there solely in search of coolness, but when he reached the grove of -fruit trees, where it was very dark, he vanished among the plums and -cherries. At last, after<a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a> wandering about for some time, he found -himself before the building which the gardener had pointed out to him. -He drew near; he heard voices and recognized La Thomassinière’s. The -young man concluded that he had arrived too late; however, he listened -to what his host had to say to Mademoiselle Tapotte.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur le marquis kissed you, my dear girl.”</p> - -<p>“Me, monsieur! oh, nenni! nobody didn’t kiss me.”</p> - -<p>“Remember, Tapotte, that I am your master, and that I have a right to -know everything.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what you want to know!”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur le marquis kissed you.”</p> - -<p>“What’s a marquis?”</p> - -<p>“A magnificent man! rather short and fat, almost bald, about fifty years -old, and with an eye-glass—<i>lorgnon</i>—on one side.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! he’s a marquis, is he? I don’t know whether he had an -onion—<i>ognon</i>—on one side, but he smelt pretty strong of liquor—I -know that.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t think that I mean to scold you, Tapotte; far from it! I simply -want to know what he said to you, so as to do it like a marquis, when I -have the opportunity.”</p> - -<p>“Why, bless me, he went about it the same way they all do. In the first -place, he squeezed me.”</p> - -<p>“Good.”</p> - -<p>“Then he squeezed me again.”</p> - -<p>“Good.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! good! good!—I yelled.”</p> - -<p>“You did wrong, he was a marquis!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care, when he hurt me. And then—well since it amuses you, why, -he kissed me.”</p> - -<p>“Good.”</p> - -<p>“He wouldn’t let me go; he swore I’d got to say I’d meet him; but I -wouldn’t.<a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You were wrong! You’re a fool, Tapotte! You shouldn’t have refused -monsieur le marquis.”</p> - -<p>“Bah! get along with you! He’s old and he’s ugly!”</p> - -<p>This conversation suggested an idea to our hare-brained youth; he -wrapped his head in his handkerchief, and began to cough and spit, -imitating the decidedly nasal notes of the marquis.</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! there’s some one outside!” cried La Thomassinière.</p> - -<p>“Yes, some old fellow coughing,” replied Tapotte.</p> - -<p>“Why! it’s he—it’s the marquis. Fool that you are! Why didn’t you admit -that you told him where you lived?”</p> - -<p>“I swear, monsieur, that I——”</p> - -<p>“Hush! hold your tongue! he’s there and he’s getting impatient.”</p> - -<p>“Jarni! he’s got the catarrh, that man has!”</p> - -<p>“Faith, I cannot hesitate.—Monsieur le marquis! What an honor! I will -jump out of this window in the rear.”</p> - -<p>“But don’t I tell you, monsieur, that I didn’t say I’d meet him——”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière was no longer listening; he had opened a window and -jumped out, and was in the garden. At the same moment, Auguste opened -the door, and entered the gardener’s abode. When she saw that it was not -the marquis, she uttered a cry of surprise; but Auguste whispered to her -to keep quiet, and Mademoiselle Tapotte did whatever the young man -wished, much preferring a tête-à-tête with him to one with monsieur le -marquis.</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière walked about under the apricot trees, presuming that -the marquis would not remain long with Tapotte; but after half an hour, -as his guest<a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a> did not leave the gardener’s house, our financier decided -to go to bed.</p> - -<p>“The deuce!” he said to himself; “the marquis seems to have had a long -story to tell her. I must try to make my interviews last as long as -monsieur le marquis’s.”</p> - -<p>The next day the company assembled preparatory to starting for Paris. -Athalie was fresher than on the evening before, the marquis less -flushed. Auguste seemed fatigued and La Thomassinière’s expression was -very sly as he looked at the nobleman. Mademoiselle Tapotte alone was -just as usual.</p> - -<p>They entered their carriages and left the charming retreat at Fleury. -Let us follow their example, and return to Paris.</p> - -<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X<br /><br /> -THE INN</h2> - -<p>To console himself in his master’s absence, Bertrand had sent for the -concierge to come up and keep him company. This concierge was an old -German named Schtrack, who had come to France to make trousers, and, -having found employment as a concierge, passed his time in drinking, -smoking, and in beating his wife. He was by no means capable of carrying -on a conversation, even with a cook; but he would drink, and listen with -imperturbable stolidity to Bertrand’s stories of his campaigns, and to -the minute details which the ex-corporal delighted to repeat, often for -the twentieth time. Schtrack always seemed to take the same deep -interest<a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a> in them, keeping his eye fixed on the narrator, moving his -head or frowning when the battle waxed hot, and emitting a cloud of -tobacco smoke and a <i>sacretié!</i> when Bertrand paused for breath.</p> - -<p>After assuring themselves that the burgundy was not spoiling, they had -subjected the claret and the madeira to the same test. The more Bertrand -talked, the thirstier he became; now he must have been exceedingly -thirsty, for he had talked steadily from the preceding evening; the two -worthies having passed the night doing what they called “tasting the -cellar,” and Schtrack having left Bertrand’s side but twice, to -administer chastisement after the German style to his wife, who presumed -to find fault because her husband did not come down to his lodge.</p> - -<p>Bertrand sometimes interrupted the narrative of his campaigns to talk -about Auguste, to whom he was devotedly attached, and to confide to -Schtrack his anxiety on account of his lieutenant’s senseless -extravagance and his penchant for women; and Schtrack listened to it as -he listened to the story of Austerlitz, ejaculating <i>sacretié!</i> from -time to time.</p> - -<p>Although his patience was tried by hearing nothing else all night, -Bertrand nevertheless said to Schtrack:</p> - -<p>“Tell me, old fellow, what can I do to keep Monsieur Dalville from -ruining himself?”</p> - -<p>Schtrack, who had never before been questioned by Bertrand, reflected -fully five minutes before he replied:</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! let’s take a drink.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, let’s take a drink, that’s well said,” rejoined Bertrand, touching -the concierge’s glass with his; “but it doesn’t answer my question. I -love and respect Monsieur Dalville; I would jump into the fire for him; -but, thunder and guns! it breaks my heart to see him<a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a> pay out money for -this one, lend to that one, play for infernally high stakes, spend money -in foolish extravagance, and, last of all, injure his health; for what -man could stand such a life? And most of those pretty hussies deceive -him, I’ll bet! But he won’t listen to me. The heart is all right, oh! -the heart is first-class, but the head——”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié!” said Schtrack, emptying his glass.</p> - -<p>“For instance, that little woman who lives in this house, for all her -soft voice and her eyes always on the floor, and although she’s fainted -three times on learning of my master’s perfidy, I wouldn’t swear—I have -imagined several times that I’ve seen a little man rushing upstairs as -if there was a squad of police at his heels.—Do you know who I mean, -Schtrack?”</p> - -<p>“Ya! ya!”</p> - -<p>“Well, who is that little man?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know.”</p> - -<p>“As concierge, you should know.”</p> - -<p>“You’d petter ask mein vife.”</p> - -<p>The sound of Dalville’s carriage wheels put an end to the conversation. -Schtrack went down to his quarters, and Bertrand tried to assume a -sedate air with which to receive his master.</p> - -<p>“Here I am, my dear Bertrand,” said Auguste, as he entered his -apartment; “I passed a delightful day yesterday. Oh! don’t scold me; I -was virtuous—that is, so far as circumstances allowed me to be. Has -anybody been here during my absence?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur: in the first place, Mademoiselle Virginie.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Virginie! she must be angry with me for neglecting her for more -than three weeks.”</p> - -<p>“She says that she shall die of grief.<a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! she has said that to me so often!”</p> - -<p>“She breakfasted here; she ate cold fowl and pie.”</p> - -<p>“Very good; evidently her grief isn’t dangerous as yet.”</p> - -<p>“While she was breakfasting, your neighbor, Madame Saint-Edmond, came to -ask me if I’d seen her poodle; she wanted also to speak to monsieur -about a matter that she said was important. She came in, and the two of -them waited a long while for you.”</p> - -<p>“What! were they here together?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Gad! that must have been amusing!”</p> - -<p>“Amusing, if you choose to call it so! I was afraid for a minute that it -was going to be serious.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you see the dark side of everything.”</p> - -<p>“I assure you, monsieur, that those ladies didn’t look at the bright -side, either of ‘em. They went away at last. Mademoiselle Virginie went -to see an Englishman, who is to buy a linen-draper’s shop for her.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, you’re a slanderer.”</p> - -<p>“I am simply repeating what she said, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“I will go up to-night and see Léonie. What next?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Destival came to see you; he seemed full of business.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he has spoken to me very often lately about an excellent -investment in which I can get ten per cent for my money.”</p> - -<p>“I advise you to get as large a per cent as you can, monsieur; for we -are running through the funds pretty fast.”</p> - -<p>“That is true; I must put my affairs in a better condition.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.”</p> - -<p>“I have been obliged to sell a farm already.<a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Poor farm! When I think of it, it makes me feel sad.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be alarmed, Bertrand, I propose to cut down my expenses after -this. I will see Destival, and if he can still find a profitable -investment for my money, I shall recover what I have thrown away. Come, -my old comrade, no moping; it does no good. I am young and rich. You -must agree that I have no reason to despair as yet.”</p> - -<p>“That is so, lieutenant; that’s what I said to myself when Schtrack and -I were inspecting the cellar, to make sure that everything was all -right.”</p> - -<p>“You did very well, Bertrand; inspect, superintend, manage everything to -suit yourself. I am going to change my clothes; then I will go up to see -my neighbor; and to-morrow I will attend to more serious affairs.”</p> - -<p>“Excellent young man!” said Bertrand, following Auguste with his eyes. -“He leaves me in control here. But tasting his wines isn’t the whole -thing; that isn’t enough; I propose to make myself useful to him in -spite of him, and I will go down and have a talk with Madame Schtrack -about the little man who goes up to our neighbor’s room.”</p> - -<p>Madame Saint-Edmond greeted Auguste with an offended air; she was -melancholy, her eyes were red, she still held her handkerchief in her -hand. It is true that, as she had learned of Auguste’s return, she was -expecting a call from him. Dalville inquired sympathetically what the -cause of her depression might be; she refused to confide in him; but she -let drop a word or two concerning the woman she had met in his rooms; -these words were followed by stifled sighs and sarcastic laughter, and -Madame Saint-Edmond added to each of her comments:<a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a></p> - -<p>“You are entirely at liberty, monsieur, to receive whomever you choose.”</p> - -<p>Auguste, touched by Léonie’s apparent suffering, succeeded in -tranquillizing the pretty blonde, who consented at last to make peace -with her neighbor on condition that she should never again meet in his -rooms that woman who had made impertinent speeches to her, and the mere -sight of whom would throw her into hysterics. Auguste promised; in love, -as in politics, one always makes more promises than one intends to keep.</p> - -<p>But Léonie was still pensive and preoccupied.</p> - -<p>“Something is troubling you,” said Auguste.</p> - -<p>“No; oh, no! nothing, I assure you,” replied the pretty blonde, in a -tone which meant the exact opposite.</p> - -<p>“But it is perfectly evident to me that you are concealing something -from me.”</p> - -<p>“Why, no, you are mistaken; at all events it doesn’t concern you at -all.”</p> - -<p>As we are always anxious to know what does not concern us, Auguste -became more insistent; he demanded that she should tell him all, -whereupon Madame Saint-Edmond confessed in a low, silvery voice that a -milliner, to whom she had owed two thousand francs for a long time, had -forced her to give him a note; that that note would come due in two -days, and that she was sorely embarrassed about paying it.</p> - -<p>Auguste regretted that he had been so inquisitive; but it was too late -to retreat; besides, he was too fond of obliging his friends not to come -to his neighbor’s assistance.</p> - -<p>“Send the holder of the note to my apartment,” he said; “Bertrand will -pay it.”</p> - -<p>Léonie refused; she was afraid of inconveniencing Auguste; she would be -terribly distressed to have him<a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a> think that her selfish interests had -any influence upon the sentiment he aroused in her. But Auguste -insisted, he did not choose that she should have recourse to others; and -Léonie consented at last to allow herself to be accommodated, on -condition that it should be considered a loan, which she would repay to -her friend.</p> - -<p>Bertrand leaped backward when Auguste said to him next day:</p> - -<p>“You will pay Madame Saint-Edmond’s note for two thousand francs which -the holder will present here.”</p> - -<p>“Two thousand francs for that little minx!” cried the ex-corporal, -beating his brow in desperation. “Ah! lieutenant, if this is the way you -put your affairs in order!”</p> - -<p>“No comments, Bertrand; I am only lending Léonie the money, and if I -ever find myself in difficulties, I am sure that there is no sacrifice -of which that woman would not be capable, to oblige me.”</p> - -<p>“You may believe that, monsieur, but I——”</p> - -<p>“You will pay the note, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“I will pay it, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>Auguste went out singing, and Bertrand went down to his friend -Schtrack’s, to question his wife.</p> - -<p>Bertrand paid the note and Léonie was more loving than ever with -Auguste. But one morning, when she did not expect him, Dalville found in -his neighbor’s room a little man, who instantly took his leave with a -very low bow, which Madame Saint-Edmond barely acknowledged, dismissing -her gentleman in a very curt tone.</p> - -<p>“Who is that man?” Auguste inquired when the stranger had gone.</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! that is a very ridiculous individual, whom one of my aunts -sent to me. He is fresh from the provinces and is seeking employment. -But, as he is a<a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a> terrible bore to me, I receive him in such fashion that -he soon brings his visits to an end. He’s as stupid as he is ugly.”</p> - -<p>“Why, he didn’t strike me as being so very ugly.”</p> - -<p>“Bah! how did you look at him? He is horrible! A hideous nose and sunken -eyes, and such an awkward, ridiculous figure! Oh! I can’t endure the -man.”</p> - -<p>Auguste pushed his questions no farther and said no more about the -little man; but he was secretly vexed to hear her speak so ill of him, -because he knew the tactics of ladies of her stamp, who often employ -that method to conceal their intimacy with a person.</p> - -<p>On returning to his own rooms, Auguste noticed that Bertrand looked at -him with a sly expression, and hovered about him as if he were seeking -an opportunity to speak to him.</p> - -<p>“You want to tell me or ask me something, I see, Bertrand,” said -Auguste, stopping in front of the corporal. “Speak, for heaven’s sake, -instead of prowling about me in this way. You have no comprehension, my -old friend, of the little wiles of the ladies, who, when they have -anything to say to us, have the art to force us to question them.”</p> - -<p>“True, lieutenant, you’re right; it’s better to go straight to the point -without countermarching. You must have met a certain little man at the -neighbor’s, for I saw him come down just after you went up.”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, I did see a gentleman there; what of it?”</p> - -<p>“What of it! Is this the first time you’ve met him?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“He goes there often, however.”</p> - -<p>“Who told you that?”</p> - -<p>“Madame Schtrack, the concierge.<a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What, Bertrand! do you chatter and talk gossip with a concierge?”</p> - -<p>“Gossip! no, lieutenant; ten thousand cartridges! I! gossip! Do you call -what I’ve just told you gossip, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Why, pretty nearly. Is not Madame de Saint-Edmond at liberty to receive -visits? Does she owe me an account of all her callers? What right have I -to set spies on her acts? and if anyone should give her a faithful -report of mine, do you think that she would have no reason to reproach -me?”</p> - -<p>“True, lieutenant; I am in the wrong. I’ll go on drinking with Schtrack, -but I won’t talk with his wife any more, because I don’t want it said -that an old moustache like me talks gossip.”</p> - -<p>Although he had scolded Bertrand, Auguste remembered Madame Schtrack’s -statement; and, when he thought of the abuse Léonie had heaped upon the -little man, he could not avoid conceiving some suspicions. We may agree -that we do not deserve a faithful mistress, but we can never forgive her -for her infidelity.</p> - -<p>“Léonie must be horribly false, horribly treacherous!” said Auguste to -himself. “Why need she pretend to love me, unless she retains her hold -on me for selfish reasons, or unless she loves two men at once? Such -things have been known.”</p> - -<p>As he walked down Boulevard Montmartre, Auguste felt a light touch on -his arm. He turned; Mademoiselle Virginie stood before him.</p> - -<p>“I am very lucky to meet you, monsieur,” she said, looking at Auguste -with a certain expression in which there was something most seductive; -indeed, Mademoiselle Virginie made many conquests, because she had -adopted the habit of imparting that alluring expression<a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a> to her eyes; -and although Auguste knew her glances by heart, he still took delight in -looking at her, especially when it was a long time since her lovely -black eyes had been fastened upon him.</p> - -<p>“Oh! although you look at me with a smile,” she continued, “that doesn’t -prevent me from being horribly angry with you.”</p> - -<p>“Really? you are angry with me?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, I beg you not to address me so familiarly! Have we ever been -on intimate terms?”</p> - -<p>As she spoke, Mademoiselle Virginie burst into a roar of laughter that -caused several passers-by to turn their heads; for in Paris very little -is required to attract the attention of the passers-by. In fact, there -was one man who stopped, and who, presumably because he had never in his -life heard anyone laugh, was about to ask Virginie what the matter was; -but a glance from Auguste led him to walk on.</p> - -<p>“You make me laugh, when I haven’t the slightest inclination to,” said -Virginie, suddenly assuming a most serious air.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with you? Come, tell me your troubles; you know very -well that I am your friend.”</p> - -<p>“My friend! oh, yes! You are just nothing at all! A pretty friend, to go -two months without seeing me!”</p> - -<p>“It wasn’t my fault—I have been busy.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! busy, eh? I know what kind of business. The blonde of the third -floor, and the lady in the country, and this one, and the other one! -It’s no use talking, you’re a thorough scamp, you’re not a bit agreeable -any more! You used to be agreeable to me now and then.”</p> - -<p>“Why didn’t you come to see me?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I say! do you think I haven’t anything else to do but that? Don’t I -have to work?<a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you work, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Indeed I do; I have reformed now, I never go out.”</p> - -<p>“Do you still live in the same place?”</p> - -<p>“No, I have moved.”</p> - -<p>“Why, you do nothing but move.”</p> - -<p>“Really, my dear, I have sold my furniture.”</p> - -<p>“Sold your furniture? What a pity!”</p> - -<p>“Listen to me; I couldn’t live on nut shells, could I?”</p> - -<p>“No, they wouldn’t be good for the stomach; but as you are working——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! it’s very amusing; work a whole day to earn fifteen sous! Mon -Dieu! how I wish I were a man!”</p> - -<p>“What for?”</p> - -<p>“So as not to be a woman. I know that there are some women who are -happy, who swim in pleasure, who have feathers and velvet caps! Ah! a -velvet cap’s becoming to me; I tried one on at a friend’s. I propose to -have one this winter, all velvet, with gold tassels.”</p> - -<p>“With your fifteen sous a day?”</p> - -<p>“Go on! No, but I sold my furniture because I owed some money; I was -four terms behind with my rent, and I had to pay.”</p> - -<p>“Why, I should say that, the term before the last, I——”</p> - -<p>“No, I used that for something else. I am living with a friend until I -get more furniture. Oh! you can’t imagine——”</p> - -<p>“What, pray?”</p> - -<p>“I am going to be married.”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense! really?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, yes! It’s a man who’s mad over me; he adores me; he’s turning -yellow with it.”</p> - -<p>“Try to marry him before he gets too dark.<a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a>”</p> - -<p>“No, I was joking; but really, joking aside, he’s a very good match—a -magnificent man!”</p> - -<p>“How old?”</p> - -<p>“Forty.”</p> - -<p>“What does he do?”</p> - -<p>“He’s a government clerk; he has a very fine place.”</p> - -<p>“Well, my dear girl, marry at once; it seems to me that that is the very -best thing that you can do.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! how happy I would make that man, if I married him!”</p> - -<p>“Well said; that purpose does you honor.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! that’s not it; you don’t understand me. I mean that he would be -enchanted if I would consent to take him for my husband.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! that makes a difference. But what deters you?”</p> - -<p>“The trouble is that I don’t love him.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? such a magnificent man!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but his legs are a little bowed.”</p> - -<p>“You must make him wear a frock coat.”</p> - -<p>“And then he has a nose of such length—my dear, you can’t conceive what -it is! His nose frightens me.”</p> - -<p>“I never knew you to be so timid.”</p> - -<p>“The fact is, I don’t want to marry. Later, we’ll see about it. Do you -know, I am strongly inclined to go on the stage?”</p> - -<p>“Ah! that’s something new.”</p> - -<p>“Tell me, do you think I’d be very bad? You see, I have a good voice -when I choose. Do you know that I’m as pretty as a love, on the stage?”</p> - -<p>“You have no need to be on the stage for that, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Dieu! how genteel! But really, no joking, rouge and the bright light -and the footlights—all those things make me a dazzling sight. I have -tried on Iphigénie’s<a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a> costume, and it’s surprising how becoming it is. I -had an offer to go into the chorus at the Vaudeville, but that didn’t -tempt me much.”</p> - -<p>“Not to play Iphigénie?”</p> - -<p>“No; how stupid you are! It was to get accustomed to the boards and the -audience, as they say, and to looking into the auditorium. What do you -advise me to do?”</p> - -<p>“I? nothing; do what you choose; but, if you really have a chance to -marry, that would be much better than going on the stage.”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul! you talk like my aunt. But it’s true that I could never -be an actress; if I went on the stage and saw all those faces looking at -me, I know that I should laugh like a lunatic. But I say, are we going -to stand on this same spot till to-morrow? People will take us for -spies. Where are you going?”</p> - -<p>“I am going to Monsieur Destival’s on a matter of business.”</p> - -<p>“He is that tall, lanky, ugly creature I’ve seen you with sometimes in a -carriage?”</p> - -<p>“It is quite possible.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! what a funny face he has! That man reminds me of one of Séraphin’s -marionettes—you know, the one that sings <i>tire lon pha</i> in <i>Le Pont -Cassé</i>.”</p> - -<p>“You will always be the same, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Why, a body must laugh once in a while. Look you, Auguste, you can go -to your Monsieur Destival’s another day; to-day I don’t propose to leave -you.”</p> - -<p>“But, really, I have some business.”</p> - -<p>“So much the worse! It makes you very unhappy to think of passing a day -with me, don’t it?”</p> - -<p>“No, of course not; but there is to be a musical party at Madame de la -Thomassinière’s this evening, and I promised to be there.<a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You can sing when you get up to-morrow, if you like music so much; but -to-day, monsieur, you stay with me; we will go into the country to -dinner, and to-night you will take me to the theatre; you’ve been -promising me this for a long while.”</p> - -<p>It was impossible to resist Mademoiselle Virginie, and Auguste yielded -with a good grace.</p> - -<p>“We will take a cab,” he said, “and go wherever you choose in the -country.”</p> - -<p>“Why not take your cabriolet? why go in a cab with wretched nags, when -you have a lovely horse that goes like the wind?”</p> - -<p>Auguste, who chose to remain incognito with Virginie, preferred a cab, -in which he would not be seen. There was a stand nearby; he helped his -companion in, saying:</p> - -<p>“Where shall we go?”</p> - -<p>“Where you please.”</p> - -<p>“It makes no difference to me.”</p> - -<p>“Nor to me.”</p> - -<p>“But we must decide. Shall it be the Champs-Elysées?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! there are too many people there.”</p> - -<p>“Vincennes?”</p> - -<p>“Too far.”</p> - -<p>“Vaugirard?”</p> - -<p>“A pretty kind of country, with not a tree anywhere about!”</p> - -<p>“Sceaux?”</p> - -<p>“Too fashionable! I am not dressed.”</p> - -<p>“Montmartre?”</p> - -<p>“To look at quarries and donkeys?”</p> - -<p>“Saint-Denis?”</p> - -<p>“There’s nothing nice there but cheese-cakes, and I prefer the ones in -the Passage des Panoramas.<a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Belleville?”</p> - -<p>“That’s a little vulgar, but it’s amusing; besides, I have a decided -penchant for Prés Saint-Gervais and Romainville wood.”</p> - -<p>“Belleville it is, then. Off we go, driver!”</p> - -<p>The cabman lashed his horse. Virginie was in a merry mood; with her the -annoyances of yesterday, the cares of to-morrow vanished before the -enjoyment of the moment. For his part, Auguste was not sorry to have his -mind diverted from the thoughts that disturbed him concerning Madame -Saint-Edmond, whom he had told that he expected to pass the evening at -Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s.</p> - -<p>They reached the Belleville barrier; it took the cabman half an hour to -drive his nags up the hill, and when they reached the Ile d’Amour, they -refused to go any farther. But Virginie was very glad to walk in the -fields, so they alighted, dismissed the cab, and took a narrow road to -the left, which led to Prés Saint-Gervais.</p> - -<p>The sight of the green grass and trees made Virginie sentimental; she -sighed as they strolled along the avenues of lilacs, where several -cottages had recently been built.</p> - -<p>“How ridiculous,” she cried, “to build houses everywhere, even in the -fields! you might as well go to walk in your bedroom. It used to be so -pretty here! We lunched on fresh eggs over there once—do you remember? -We drank beer under that arbor. And that restaurant, in the woods, just -beyond the keeper’s, where we went several times—the one where they -have private rooms.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! the Tournebride.”</p> - -<p>“The Tournebride, that’s it. Ungrateful wretch! doesn’t that name recall -any memories?<a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it reminds me of a certain fowl that we could not succeed in -carving.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! it reminds you of nothing but a fowl! You are not at all -romantic to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Do you want to dine there?”</p> - -<p>“I not only want to, but I insist upon it. It’s rather far away, but the -walk will give us an appetite.”</p> - -<p>“Besides, we can rest on the way.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! since people have built everywhere, there are no nice places to -rest.”</p> - -<p>They ran along, throwing leaves and grass at each other and plucking an -occasional wild flower. At last they reached the sandy soil of the -woods, and Virginie sighed again when she saw that the trees had been -felled on large tracts, and that building was in progress there also.</p> - -<p>“These people seem to have determined on the destruction of Romainville -forest!” she said.</p> - -<p>“It will grow again, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! but meanwhile we shan’t grow again. How indifferent men are! -they don’t get attached to anything. Think of the love ciphers that we -carved with a knife on the bark of an oak tree; I looked forward to -seeing them again. There was an A and a V intertwined in a heart.”</p> - -<p>“They probably served to warm some old annuitant’s feet, or to boil the -kettle for some respectable family.”</p> - -<p>“That’s it—make soup with my heart; that’s very pleasant to think of! I -shan’t cut any more letters on trees.—Ah! here’s the Tournebride -luckily; I was afraid they’d cut that down too.”</p> - -<p>The Tournebride was the most famous restaurant in Romainville forest; -but for all that, it would not have been safe to order a charlotte russe -there, or a <i>karik à l’Indienne</i>, because the landlord would have -thought<a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a> that you were talking Tartar, or making fun of him, and would -tell you to go to Noisy-le-Sec for your dinner. But if you confined your -ambition to a bill-of-fare dainty enough for the worthy bourgeois of Rue -Saint-Denis, and very popular among the young work-girls who came to -Romainville with their sweethearts, you might be certain of being -satisfied at the Tournebride, which is only three gun-shots from the -keeper’s lodge, on the road leading to Romainville village.</p> - -<p>Auguste and Virginie entered the inn, and, as is usual in country -restaurants, they went through the kitchen to reach the salons and the -private rooms. They enjoyed the sight of veal-stews, cutlets, and beef -<i>piqué</i>; and as such restaurants had no printed bill-of-fare, the -kitchen took the place of one. When you walked through, you saw all the -saucepans, and you inhaled the combined odors of five or six ragouts, -which might stand you instead of soup, but which was less agreeable -after you had dined.</p> - -<p>The host welcomed his guests with a smiling face, his cotton cap over -his ear; as he answered questions he ran from one saucepan to another, -and spitted a pigeon as he extolled his beefsteak.</p> - -<p>“Let’s make up our minds at once what we’ll have,” said Virginie, who -was accustomed to country restaurants. “Is the beefsteak tender?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! delicious, madame.”</p> - -<p>“With kidneys, eh, my friend?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, they are essential.—Have you any kidneys, monsieur l’hôte?”</p> - -<p>“Here, monsieur, just smell this,” said the landlord, holding a saucepan -under Auguste’s nose. “I won’t tell you, as my confrères in Paris do, -that they’re stewed in champagne, but I’ll swear it’s white wine, and -delicious.<a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Very good.”</p> - -<p>“And a pigeon pie, if you please, delicious also.”</p> - -<p>“Some asparagus and lettuce.”</p> - -<p>“If monsieur would like a fine omelette soufflée?”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes! I remember very well that you make very good ones.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur; they puff up like a cotton nightcap.”</p> - -<p>“Let us have an omelette soufflée then. Give us a private room, please.”</p> - -<p>“Take monsieur and madame to the unoccupied room on the first floor.”</p> - -<p>A waiter, who was no longer young, but who smiled all the time, escorted -the newcomers to a room that looked on the forest.</p> - -<p>“Why not give us the room opposite?” asked Virginie; “the outlook is -better, we can see the road.”</p> - -<p>“There is somebody there, madame—a party.”</p> - -<p>“In that case, let us stay here,” said Auguste.</p> - -<p>The waiter laid the table, then left the room, saying:</p> - -<p>“I will go and see to the dinner; if monsieur wants anything before it -is ready, he can call.”</p> - -<p>That meant that he would not come up unless he was called. Such people -are almost as cunning in the country as in Paris.</p> - -<p>Auguste did not call for some time, because they felt that they must -rest before dinner, and moreover the private rooms of the Tournebride -made Mademoiselle Virginie very romantic; at all events, that is what -she told Auguste, laughing like a madcap, which, by the way, is not -romantic; but Mademoiselle Virginie had a way of her own of being -romantic.</p> - -<p>At last the stomach made itself heard; and in face of that domineering -master, all illusions vanish. The most romantic of mortals, standing in -rapt admiration before<a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a> a rushing torrent or a waterfall, is compelled -to make an end when the dinner-bell rings. Virginie and Auguste were -admiring neither a torrent nor a waterfall; I am not certain that they -were absorbed in admiration of anything; but I know that they opened -their door and beat a tattoo upon it with knife handles—a method of -attracting attention which makes bells unnecessary.</p> - -<p>The waiter brought up the dinner, to which they did justice; the -beefsteak and kidneys were in truth delicious, and they had no ground -for complaint. While the waiter was present, Mademoiselle Virginie, who -was reasonably curious, expressed surprise that the party opposite -should be so silent that they did not hear voices, whereas, ordinarily, -the guests at country restaurants are very noisy. The young woman -concluded her remarks by asking the waiter:</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it a large party?”</p> - -<p>The old waiter replied, smiling so as to show the whole of his three -remaining teeth:</p> - -<p>“It’s no larger than yours.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! a party of two, is it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame.”</p> - -<p>“A man and a woman?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame.”</p> - -<p>“They seem to be even more romantic than we are; they have forgotten -about dinner.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! the dinner’s all ordered, it’s coming up directly. I know their -ways; they’re regulars.”</p> - -<p>And the waiter left the room, closing at the same moment his mouth and -the door, the latter of which he had been holding ajar.</p> - -<p>“You are very inquisitive,” said Auguste, “to want to know how many -people there are opposite. What difference does it make to us what -others say and do?<a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! none at all; but, don’t you know, I like to see—it amuses me.”</p> - -<p>“Let us eat and not worry about our neighbors; that will be the better -way.”</p> - -<p>“It don’t interfere with my eating!—Wait! they’re opening the door.”</p> - -<p>And at that moment a man’s voice in the corridor called:</p> - -<p>“Bring up the dinner, waiter.”</p> - -<p>“It’s the man calling,” said Virginie; “he’s got a little soprano voice, -but the voice don’t prove anything at all.”</p> - -<p>“Will you have some pigeon?”</p> - -<p>“Do wait a minute; you’re hurrying me too much.”</p> - -<p>Just then they heard a woman’s voice saying:</p> - -<p>“My friend, you forgot to order fritters.”</p> - -<p>Auguste gave a jump when he heard that voice; and Virginie, alarmed by -his abrupt movement, asked:</p> - -<p>“Well! what’s struck you now? Did you swallow a pigeon wing the wrong -way?”</p> - -<p>“No, nothing’s the matter. It was that voice that surprised me; I -thought that I recognized——”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes! I understand; it is probably some old flame of monsieur who’s -in yonder room. Well! what then? Do you think that you ought to think -about any other woman when you’re with me? That’s very polite. Does it -make any difference to you who the woman’s with? Are you still in love -with her? If I knew that you were, I’d go and make a row.”</p> - -<p>“Why, no; there’s no question of love, but it’s because——”</p> - -<p>“Because, because—You don’t know what you’re saying. Eat your dinner at -once. Why don’t you eat?”</p> - -<p>“I am not hungry any more.<a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! monsieur has ceased to be hungry since he heard that lady’s -voice, which has taken away his appetite. How touching! What are you -getting up for? Where are you going?”</p> - -<p>“I am going downstairs a minute.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want you to leave the room. You don’t need to go downstairs. -You want to see that woman opposite, that’s all; but you shan’t see -her.”</p> - -<p>As she spoke, Virginie rose too, and planted herself in front of the -door.</p> - -<p>“I assure you, my dear love, that I do need to go down,” said Auguste, -gently taking Virginie’s arm in order to put her away from the door.</p> - -<p>“My good fellow, I don’t care what happens, but you shall not leave this -room.”</p> - -<p>Auguste, laughing all the while, succeeded in removing Virginie from the -position she was determined to defend. She flew into a rage; the door -was partly open and Auguste attempted to go out; but she caught him by -his coat tails and the struggle began anew. At last, Virginie’s strength -being exhausted, she suddenly released her hold. Auguste plunged into -the corridor, and collided with the waiter who was bringing his -neighbors their soup, splashed the julienne against the wall, hurled the -tureen to the floor, and caused him who carried it to stumble and -stagger.</p> - -<p>At the outcry emitted by the waiter and the crash of the soup-tureen, -the two persons in the other room, divining that it was their dinner -that had come to grief, instantly opened their door, and Auguste, who -was still in the hall, saw Madame de Saint-Edmond, and the little man -whom she held in horror.</p> - -<p>At first Léonie’s glance did not fall on Auguste; she saw nobody but the -waiter, who was picking up the<a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a> fragments of the tureen, exclaiming: -“That’s too bad! luckily no one’s hurt.”</p> - -<p>But Auguste suddenly appeared at the door of the room and bowed to -Léonie.</p> - -<p>“I am distressed, madame, to have upset your soup.”</p> - -<p>Léonie raised her eyes, gave a shriek, and fainted. That was the best -thing that she could do under the circumstances. The little man, who -also had recognized Dalville, and who was afraid of being challenged to -fight a duel, leaped over the stooping waiter, and rushing down the -stairs four at a time, left the Tournebride and plunged into the woods, -without casting a glance behind. Virginie, who had left her room, -exclaimed in surprise when she recognized Auguste’s neighbor in the -unconscious woman; and the waiter, thinking that everybody was shouting -because of the soup, kept repeating:</p> - -<p>“It’s nothing, messieurs, mesdames; don’t get excited; there’s more -downstairs; we always have plenty of julienne.”</p> - -<p>Virginie’s anger had vanished and she laughed as if she would die. -Auguste looked at Léonie, who sat in her chair, with her head thrown -back, and did not open her eyes; while the waiter, seeing nothing of -what took place inside the room, went downstairs, crying:</p> - -<p>“I’ll bring up some more soup; it’ll only take a minute.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Virginie had walked up to Madame Saint-Edmond, and, taking the -mustard pot from the table, had held it under her nose; with the result -that the pretty blonde instantly recovered consciousness and cast a -languid glance on the person who had been so attentive. But when she -recognized Virginie, her expression changed, and she roughly pushed away -the mustard pot which that young lady was holding to her nose.<a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a></p> - -<p>“Does madame feel better?” queried Virginie, imitating Léonie’s -mellifluous tone.</p> - -<p>The latter, choking with rage, rose and said in a trembling voice:</p> - -<p>“I don’t need anything.”</p> - -<p>“Come, my dear love,” said Auguste, “we must not intrude upon madame any -longer; I deeply regret that I frightened her companion away. But -doubtless the gentleman is only awaiting our departure, to return; we -must not compel him to stay in the kitchen any longer. Let’s go and -finish our dinner.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, let’s go back and eat our omelette soufflée,” said Virginie, with -a profound curtsy to Léonie, and she returned to her seat at the table -in the other room. Auguste was about to do likewise, when Léonie ran to -him, raising her eyes to the ceiling, and said in an undertone:</p> - -<p>“You judge me by appearances; but I swear to you——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! upon my word, this is too much,” cried Auguste; and he angrily -slammed the door in Madame Saint-Edmond’s face, exclaiming: “Take a -woman in the act, and she would still say: ‘Don’t judge by -appearances.’”</p> - -<p>Virginie was overjoyed by the incident; she joked Auguste about his -neighbor’s fidelity, and he tried to laugh with her, although at heart -he was not over-pleased that he had allowed himself to be hoodwinked. -They finished their dinner at last and were about to leave their room -and the Tournebride, when they heard loud voices, and recognized those -of the inn-keeper and of Madame Saint-Edmond.</p> - -<p>“Madame,” said the former, “you can’t go away like this; I must be paid -for my dinner.<a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur,” replied Madame de Saint-Edmond, imparting a moving -intonation to her voice, “I am very sorry, but you must believe that I -had no intention——”</p> - -<p>“I see, madame, that you have an intention to go away; your friend went -off like a shot just now; who is to pay me for my dinner, I should like -to know?”</p> - -<p>“But, monsieur,” rejoined Léonie, and her voice became a little less -pathetic, “after all, we didn’t dine; so we don’t owe you anything.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? you don’t owe anything, madame! When a dinner’s ordered, -and such care taken with it as with this one, do you think it isn’t to -be paid for? Do you propose to leave your fillets and sweetbreads on my -hands? It isn’t my fault that you don’t choose to eat.”</p> - -<p>“You can give them to some other party, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“You had a bottle of old macon when you got here; and there’s the soup -wasted, and the broken tureen.”</p> - -<p>“That’s none of my affair, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Your dinner’s your affair, madame; eat it and pay for it.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t feel well, I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Pay for it then.”</p> - -<p>“But I have no money with me.”</p> - -<p>“You shouldn’t have let your friend run off as if he’d seen the devil! A -man ought not to leave a woman in a false position! The deuce! decent -people don’t do that! He must be a nice kind of fellow, to disappear -with the money. You shouldn’t go into a restaurant when you don’t mean -to dine.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur,” retorted Madame Saint-Edmond, with an angry ring in her -voice, “this isn’t the first time we’ve come here to dinner; do you take -us for riff-raff?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame; of course I know perfectly well who I’m dealing with, but I -don’t choose to give credit; a<a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a> fine dinner like this ought not to be -refused when it’s all cooked.”</p> - -<p>During this dialogue, Auguste had all the difficulty in keeping Virginie -from laughing aloud. At last, moved to pity by the sentimental Léonie’s -plight, he went downstairs, followed by Virginie, and said to the -landlord, who did not take his eyes from Madame Saint-Edmond:</p> - -<p>“As I have the honor to know madame, I beg you to add the amount of her -bill to mine, monsieur; I will pay both.”</p> - -<p>The host, whose only desire was to be paid, resumed his affable air and -made haste to reckon up the two accounts. Meanwhile the pretty blonde -sank into a chair, holding her handkerchief to her face.</p> - -<p>Auguste having paid, Virginie, whose triumph was complete, took his arm -and left the inn with him, saying in a mocking tone:</p> - -<p>“If we meet the gentleman in the forest, we will send him back to -madame.”</p> - -<p>That fling was the last straw, and Auguste felt amply avenged.</p> - -<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI<br /><br /> -A VISIT TO MONTFERMEIL</h2> - -<p>Auguste, who had no secrets from the faithful Bertrand, told him of the -meeting in Romainville forest.</p> - -<p>“Well, lieutenant,” said Bertrand, “was Madame Schtrack mistaken when -she told me about the little man that slunk upstairs as soon as you -left?<a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I thought that Léonie adored me.”</p> - -<p>“I’m surprised at that, lieutenant; you deceive the ladies so often -yourself, that you ought to be a little more suspicious of their oaths.”</p> - -<p>“On the contrary, my dear Bertrand, I assure you that those who are most -cunning in seduction allow themselves to be deceived with astounding -ease.”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s no use to be cunning.”</p> - -<p>“Because you’re very fond of a person, that doesn’t prove that you know -that person thoroughly.”</p> - -<p>“It is certain that if you knew her thoroughly, you might not be so fond -of her; for instance, I love wine, I confess; I always know when it’s -good, but I can’t always tell what province it comes from.”</p> - -<p>“And I love women, I appreciate their charms, I admire their beauties; -but their hearts—Ah! if they exhibited them to the naked eye, the -prettiest ones wouldn’t always be preferred.”</p> - -<p>“For all that, lieutenant, if I were you, I’d be a little shy of those -affected airs, and those voices always pitched in a falsetto key, which -never come from the chest; it seems to me that a person can’t be talking -honestly when she always acts as if she was singing. I would be on my -guard too against fainting fits, tears and stifled sighs.”</p> - -<p>“Why, my dear Bertrand, when the tears are shed by lovely eyes, when the -voice comes from a pretty mouth, when the person who pretends to faint -displays a charming body, a shapely figure, is it so easy to resist? No, -one must surrender—with liberty to repent later.”</p> - -<p>“That is true. In fact, that’s just like me: to find out whether a -wine’s good, I must taste it; and it’s never the bad one that a man does -himself harm with. It’s a pity that this meeting didn’t happen the day -before yesterday, before you paid the note for two thousand francs!<a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Let’s not think any more about that!”</p> - -<p>“No; only let it be a lesson for the future.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, when you meet Madame Saint-Edmond, I desire you to be as -polite to her as before!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! never fear, monsieur, I’m a Frenchman, and an old soldier knows the -respect due to the sex. Parbleu! if one must needs look askance at -everybody who hasn’t got the countersign, one would have to look -cross-eyed too often. At all events, lieutenant, that makes one less, -and we shall be able to straighten out our cash-box a little, and——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I am fully determined to settle down. Destival has spoken to -me about another excellent investment. I will go to see my notary -to-morrow and turn my securities into cash.—Oh! by the way, you will -pay a small bill for furniture that will be sent here within a few -days.”</p> - -<p>“Have you been buying furniture, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Not for myself, for Virginie.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand turned away, biting his lips, and struck himself repeated blows -on the forehead to keep himself from speaking out and venting his wrath. -Auguste, observing his cashier’s ill humor, continued with a smile:</p> - -<p>“Come, don’t get excited, Bertrand! really, you are getting to be so -severe!”</p> - -<p>“I, monsieur! I haven’t said a word!”</p> - -<p>“Deuce take it! I am rich; do you expect me to deny myself all -pleasure?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t expect anything at all, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Ought a man in my position to lead the life of a petty tradesman with -an income of twelve hundred francs?”</p> - -<p>“We spent forty thousand francs last year, and your income only amounts -to fifteen thousand; if we go on<a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a> that way, we’re perfectly certain to -be left as naked as little St. John.”</p> - -<p>“No; I shall succeed in keeping a better proportion between my expenses -and my income this year. But this bill is a mere trifle. Poor Virginie! -she’s so amusing!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! she’s amusing enough! but she’d ruin a platoon of -contractors!”</p> - -<p>“You certainly can’t call her voice falsetto.”</p> - -<p>“No, parbleu! there’s no doubt about it’s coming from her chest; and she -must have a strong one too, for she uses it devilish hard. Thunder and -guns! what a chatter!”</p> - -<p>“She hasn’t any prim ways or affected manners.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! as far as that goes, I’ll admit that she’s outspoken! She don’t -conceal her game, at all events. But all the same, lieutenant, you can -scold me if you choose, but I tell you again that these women ought not -to occupy every minute of a man’s time; and that it makes me feel bad to -see that they don’t love you as you deserve to be loved; because, at -heart, you’re a good man, you have lots of good qualities and fine -feeling; and all that ought to make you see that it isn’t by running -after women all the time that—That’s all, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>Auguste was silent for some time, and Bertrand, surprised to see him so -pensive, feared that he had offended him, and dared not open his mouth.</p> - -<p>“I believe that you’re right, Bertrand,” said Auguste at last.</p> - -<p>“Really, lieutenant—you agree with me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I feel that a genuine passion, a sincere attachment, must make a -man happier than all these momentary fancies. But is it my fault that it -is so difficult to find a frank and sincere heart in society?”</p> - -<p>“No, certainly not; it isn’t your fault.<a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Or that coquetry and falsity take the place nowadays of love and -friendship?”</p> - -<p>“Such substitutes shouldn’t be allowed!”</p> - -<p>“Ah! my dear Bertrand, we should be too fortunate if all women were -faithful.”</p> - -<p>“True, we should be too fortunate.”</p> - -<p>“And yet the whole business of living would be intolerably monotonous -then.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! do you think it would injure business?”</p> - -<p>“You see, Bertrand, we must take the world as it is.”</p> - -<p>“We have no help for that.”</p> - -<p>“But when I have found a woman who will love me for myself, who will be -incapable of deceiving me, who will try to please nobody but myself -alone, why then——”</p> - -<p>“Then, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Bertrand! such a pleasant memory! And it’s so long since I thought -of her!”</p> - -<p>“Who, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Lovely Denise, the pretty little milkmaid of Montfermeil. Ah! she is -virtuous, I’ll swear to that.”</p> - -<p>“That would be taking a big risk; you hardly know her, and you haven’t -seen her for two months.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know why I haven’t seen her, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Because you forgot her.”</p> - -<p>“No, it isn’t that alone. I have had another reason; you’ll laugh, but -it is that I am afraid of becoming too fond of that girl.”</p> - -<p>“In that case, it’s very delicate on your part.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, of course it is; for why should I try to seduce that child, who is -virtuous and innocent, and who is living a tranquil life in her -village?”</p> - -<p>“That would be very wrong, monsieur; there’s girls enough willing to be -seduced in Paris, without going into the suburbs to look for others.<a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Saddle my horse, Bertrand, and saddle the cabriolet horse for yourself; -make haste.”</p> - -<p>“Why, where are we going, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“To Montfermeil, to see Denise.”</p> - -<p>“What! when you just said——”</p> - -<p>“I have reflected that there’s no danger for her, because she doesn’t -love me.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think not, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“She told me so many times. But I want to see Coco, my little protégé, -poor child. I really long to hug the little fellow. You will see how -pretty he is, Bertrand—and such vile relations!—Put some money in your -pocket, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! as much as you choose, lieutenant, to relieve the unfortunate, to -help an orphan; one never regrets such things, and it gives one a -hundred times more pleasure than paying for the brunette’s hangings and -the blonde’s shawls.”</p> - -<p>The horses were saddled; Auguste and Bertrand mounted, and started for -Montfermeil about ten o’clock in the morning. At eleven they had passed -Raincy; a little later they reached Livry, turned to the right, and soon -saw the village of Montfermeil before them.</p> - -<p>Bertrand was drenched with perspiration; he was not used to riding hard, -as Dalville was; and although it was September, it was still exceedingly -warm. Bertrand drew rein, observing to Auguste that their steeds needed -a breathing-space; but, thinking that he recognized the path by which -Coco had taken him to his cabin, Auguste urged his horse forward, -calling to Bertrand:</p> - -<p>“Ride on to the village; I’ll join you there.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll go on to the village,” said Bertrand to himself, -letting his horse walk. “Shall I go to the inn? Or shall I inquire for -the little milkmaid? No, I don’t<a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a> want milk for my horse, and the girl -probably wouldn’t be able to feed us both.—A very pretty village, but I -don’t see any signs of an inn.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand allowed his horse to go where he chose; he passed several -hovels of only one story, not caring to halt at such wretched abodes; -but he soon found himself beside a rippling stream bordered by willow -trees, with a pretty cottage on the opposite side. Bertrand crossed the -brook and stopped in front of the yard. A small boy was playing with a -goat; a little farther on a girl was churning butter, and at the rear -was an elderly woman arranging fruit in a basket.</p> - -<p>From his saddle Bertrand could overlook the whole yard, and he watched -that rustic picture. Suddenly the girl raised her eyes, saw the -horseman, and rushed toward him, exclaiming:</p> - -<p>“I can’t be mistaken—it’s Monsieur Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>And as she spoke, the girl’s eyes searched the road for another -horseman.</p> - -<p>Bertrand recognized Denise and bestowed an affable nod upon her, saying:</p> - -<p>“By the great Turenne, I couldn’t have stopped at a better time. Bébelle -has a most amazing scent!”</p> - -<p>“Pray come in, Monsieur Bertrand,” said Denise, her eyes still fixed on -the road.</p> - -<p>“You’re very kind, mamzelle, but I’m looking for an inn, where my horse -and I can get something to eat.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll find all you want here. We won’t let you go anywhere else, will -we, aunt?—Come in, Monsieur Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand could not resist the girl’s courteous insistence. He was -surprised to hear her call him by name, having no idea that Dalville -could have amused himself by mentioning him to Denise. While he -dismounted, the<a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a> girl ran to her aunt, and, to induce her to treat the -newcomer cordially, she made haste to tell her that Bertrand was the -companion of the gentleman who had been so kind to Coco. Mère Fourcy -rose and made a low reverence to Bertrand, who could not conceive the -cause of so much politeness.</p> - -<p>Bébelle was taken to the stable, the child left his goat, to go and look -at her, and Denise ushered Bertrand into the house and made haste to -offer him wine. Meanwhile Mère Fourcy made an omelet, Bertrand having -admitted that he would be glad to eat a morsel.</p> - -<p>Denise was burning to learn something about the young man who had -commended Coco to her care; but she waited for her aunt to leave the -room before mentioning him. She did not know how to question Bertrand, -whom she supposed to have been sent by the handsome young man to make -inquiries about the child; and she waited for Bertrand to speak first; -but as he did nothing but eat and drink, Denise decided to question him.</p> - -<p>“He sent you to find out whether Coco had everything he wants, and -whether I’d made a good use of the money he left with me, didn’t he, -monsieur?”</p> - -<p>Bertrand emptied his glass at a draught and replaced it on the table -with a bang, saying:</p> - -<p>“For a village wine, that ain’t bad at all.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you hear what I said, monsieur?” asked Denise timidly.</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, but you will be very good to act as if I hadn’t heard, -for I didn’t understand.”</p> - -<p>“I asked you if that gentleman, that young man I saw with you, first in -a cabriolet, and afterward at Madame Destival’s——”</p> - -<p>“You mean Monsieur Auguste Dalville?”</p> - -<p>“Ah! is his name Auguste Dalville?<a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a>”</p> - -<p>“How is it that you don’t know his name and do know mine?”</p> - -<p>“Because he called you by name twice before me, in the courtyard, and I -haven’t forgotten your name.”</p> - -<p>“You are very kind, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“So Monsieur Auguste Dalville didn’t come with you to-day?”</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, but he’s close by! he’ll be here very soon.”</p> - -<p>“He is here, he is coming!” cried Denise, jumping for joy. But she -added, to conceal her emotion: “You see, when you came alone, I thought -that you wasn’t with him any more.”</p> - -<p>“Do you suppose I’ll ever leave my master, my benefactor, a man who has -done everything for me, and who still calls me his friend? Ten thousand -bayonets! No, my dear child, that can never be; I’m attached to Monsieur -Auguste, just as my sword hilt is to the blade; nothing can ever -separate me from him, except himself. But I don’t worry about that; -although I do make bold to scold him a little, he knows old Bertrand’s -heart.”</p> - -<p>Denise wiped away the tears of emotion which the old soldier’s devotion -brought to her eyes; then she cried, taking Bertrand’s hand and pressing -it in hers:</p> - -<p>“Ah! what a fine thing for you to say, Monsieur Bertrand! How nice it is -to love a person like that!”</p> - -<p>“Does it surprise you? did you think that Monsieur Auguste didn’t -deserve to be loved so well?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say that, monsieur; far from it. Another glass, Monsieur -Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“With pleasure, mamzelle.”</p> - -<p>Denise was delighted to hear him talk of Auguste; and as the wine made -him very communicative, he went on; for when he was talking about his -benefactor, it was<a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a> the same as with his campaigns—there was no way of -stopping him.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my pretty child, Monsieur Auguste’s a fine fellow—a rake, a -lady-killer, fickle and dissipated, it’s true; but those things don’t -touch the real man.”</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur! he’s all that? Why, it’s very wicked to be a rake and -fickle. And you said such fine things about him just now!”</p> - -<p>“Have I said any ill of him, my girl? Don’t you know that young men must -sow their wild oats? But I trust that with my advice—Corbleu! if -Schtrack knew of this wine—And when it’s so hot, it makes you thirsty -as the devil.”</p> - -<p>“I believe, monsieur, that while Monsieur Auguste was talking to me in -Madame Destival’s courtyard, you whispered in my ear: ‘Look out for -yourself!’”</p> - -<p>“It’s possible, my child, quite possible.—Look you, Mamzelle Denise, -you’re a pretty girl——”</p> - -<p>“Very polite of you, Monsieur Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I say that in all honesty. You look to be a good girl, too, and -it would be a pity to let you get caught. My master’s a fine fellow, but -as soon as he sees a pretty face, he flashes up like powder! it’s too -much for him. He’ll swear that it will last forever; but at the first -village where he sees another pretty girl, he’ll take fire and swear the -same to her.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s very wicked!”</p> - -<p>“No, it’s a disease of youth, and it will pass away!—You see, in Paris -I can’t always be at his heels to warn the pretty girls he makes love -to; besides, in the big cities, the girls know enough about such things -not to need any warning. But when I happen to see my lieutenant talking -to a child who looks to me to be virtuous and respectable, like you, -then I just whisper in her ear:<a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a> ‘Look out for yourself!’ and if that -don’t save her, it ain’t my fault, at all events.”</p> - -<p>Denise made no reply, for she was reflecting upon what Bertrand had just -said; he wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, drank, and replied:</p> - -<p>“However, the proof that Monsieur Auguste’s a fine young man is that, -when he reflects, he don’t make a fool of himself. For instance, he -found you to his taste; well, he didn’t come again to see you; he told -me that it was for fear of getting to be too fond of you.”</p> - -<p>“Too fond of me!” cried Denise. “What! did he really say that, monsieur? -Then he loves me.”</p> - -<p>“Not at all, my pretty child; that is to say, not any more than the -others. But he would have tried to seduce you as a matter of habit, and -you might perhaps have listened to him; for he’s a good-looking fellow, -and he has such a way of telling of his love that he’d make a woman of -sixty believe in it.”</p> - -<p>“And that’s why he hasn’t been here?” Denise inquired, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>“Yes; but to-day he remembered your saying that you didn’t love him; so -then he came.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say that, Monsieur Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“No? then he did wrong to come.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say that I do love him either.”</p> - -<p>“So much the better for you, Mamzelle Denise; for that would be laying -up trouble for yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Whoever heard of a village girl loving a fine gentleman from the city?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know whether it’s possible, but I know that it sometimes -happens.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t worry, Monsieur Bertrand, I shall never have any feeling but -friendship for Monsieur Auguste; and if it’s the dread of my loving him -that keeps him from<a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a> coming to the village, why, tell him he can come as -often as he likes. Denise knows only too well that she isn’t capable of -winning the heart of a city gentleman; she won’t ever forget it.”</p> - -<p>“Bravo! that’s what I call talking, my dear child. I drink to your -virtue,—and, as you see, I leave no heel-taps.—But what’s the matter, -pray? are you crying?”</p> - -<p>“No, Monsieur Bertrand, no; you see, I should be very sorry to—But it’s -all over now. Monsieur Auguste won’t be afraid any more to come to see -his little protégé. He won’t let two months go by again, without -coming.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that depends. At Paris, you know, Mamzelle Denise, my master don’t -have a minute to himself; he’s always at some party or some -entertainment! People fight to see who shall have him! He gets ten -invitations a day.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he don’t have time to think of the village. Is he so very rich -then, your Monsieur Auguste?”</p> - -<p>“Rich? Yes, to be sure, he is as yet; but if he keeps on at this rate, -he won’t be rich long!—Your health, Mamzelle Denise.”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that, Monsieur Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! nothing, nothing!—At any rate, I ought not to presume to -criticise. Monsieur Dalville’s money’s his own; let him give it to women -who deceive him, to grisettes who ruin him; let him pay for furniture -and rugs and calico dresses—it’s none of my business; I must just obey -and pay; but it makes me feel bad because—damnation!—what with women -on one side and écarté on the other——”</p> - -<p>“What’s écarté, Monsieur Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s a little game at which people ruin themselves while they -imagine they’re enjoying themselves. They say it’s a delightful game, -because it’s played so<a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a> fast. For my part, I think it’s played much too -fast; but Monsieur Auguste gambles so as to do like the others. That’s -his business. Besides, if he chooses to ruin himself, why, you -understand, subordination before everything.—Your health, Mamzelle -Denise.”</p> - -<p>Denise was greatly surprised by what she had heard; she was wondering -whether she ought to believe Bertrand, who continued to drink and talk, -when Coco came bounding into the room.</p> - -<p>“Who is that child?” queried Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“The little boy to whom Monsieur Auguste gave so many tokens of his -generosity.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a pretty little fellow.—Come here, my boy; get up on my knee—so. -Haven’t you got any father or mother, little white head?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, I’ve got Papa Calleux,” Coco replied, looking up at -Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“What does Papa Calleux do?”</p> - -<p>“He works in the fields.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a drunkard,” Denise whispered to Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“The devil! that’s a villainous fault,” the latter replied, putting his -glass to his lips. “A man must drink—it’s a necessity—but he should be -able to govern his thirst, and above all things, never lose his -wits.—But, by the way, seeing this little fellow reminds me that he’s -the one my master’s gone to see; when he left me, he said: ‘I’m going to -the child’s cabin.’”</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! he won’t find anybody there,” said Denise. “And you never told -us! We must go to meet him. I supposed he was at Madame -Destival’s.—Come, Coco, come; we are going to find your kind -friend—the one you love so much.”</p> - -<p>“The one you talk to me about every day, Denise?” asked the child.<a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a></p> - -<p>“Yes, your benefactor.—Are you coming with us, Monsieur Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, Mamzelle Denise, I’m very comfortable here; and if you don’t -need me——”</p> - -<p>“No, no; my aunt will keep you company.—Come, Coco, let’s make haste to -look for your kind friend.”</p> - -<p>The child asked nothing better than to go with Denise. They left -Bertrand in the act of making a military salute to Mère Fourcy, who had -just entered the room, and they started for the cabin.</p> - -<p>But Denise was moved by conflicting emotions, of whose source she had no -very definite idea: she was happy, and yet she trembled, and her -breathing was labored; and as one cannot run far under such -circumstances, Denise slackened her pace. But Coco ran on ahead, because -at seven years of age such emotions are unknown.</p> - -<p>Denise was so engrossed by what Bertrand had said to her, that she did -not at first notice that the child had left her; but Coco was well -acquainted with the roads, so that the girl was not anxious about him, -and she paused a moment under a great tree, glad of an opportunity to -prepare for her meeting with the young man. A thousand thoughts passed -through her mind; but the one that recurred most frequently was that -Auguste had come to the village again solely because he thought that she -did not love him.</p> - -<p>“Is it quite certain that he thinks that?” said Denise to herself; -“perhaps Monsieur Bertrand heard wrong. Is it quite true that Monsieur -Auguste is such a deceiver as he says? An old soldier can’t know much -about all those things. But after all, what difference does it make to -me, as I don’t care for the young man? As Monsieur Bertrand says, what -good would it do me to love him?<a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a> He’d just laugh at me afterward. Oh! -there’s no danger of my marrying a young man from Paris.—A rake, a -seducer, fickle——”</p> - -<p>Having reflected thus, the maiden arranged her neckerchief, adjusted her -cap, retied her apron, and looked down at herself, murmuring:</p> - -<p>“Oh dear! how tumbled I am! If I had known this morning—if I could have -guessed. That gentleman won’t think me pretty again—Bah! it’s all one -to me; but a body don’t like to look as if she was careless and hadn’t -any taste.”</p> - -<p>At last, having completed her scrutiny of her toilet, Denise was about -to leave the tree, when she heard a voice. It was Auguste’s. The girl -recognized it, and she had to stop again to recover her breath.</p> - -<p>But Auguste was not alone; he was talking and laughing with a pretty, -rosy-cheeked peasant girl, by whose side he was walking, leading his -horse by the rein. Denise being hidden by the great tree, Dalville did -not see her.</p> - -<p>The peasant halted a hundred yards from the tree which concealed Denise.</p> - -<p>“Adieu, monsieur; I’m going this way; and if you’re going to -Montfermeil, that’s your road straight ahead.”</p> - -<p>“We shall not part like this, my beauty,” said Auguste, dropping his -horse’s rein to put his arm about the girl’s waist; “we must at least -bid each other adieu——”</p> - -<p>“Let me go, monsieur, let me go, I say! You squeeze too hard.”</p> - -<p>“Not so hard as I would like to.”</p> - -<p>“I say, did it take you like this, all of a sudden, when you got off -your horse?”</p> - -<p>“It always takes me this way.<a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a>”</p> - -<p>“It’s worse than a clap of thunder.—Look here! are you going to let me -go?”</p> - -<p>“When I have kissed you.”</p> - -<p>“No, none of that.—Look out; while you’re getting excited, your nag’s -going off.”</p> - -<p>“I can find him again.”</p> - -<p>“Look, he’s already trampling down Nicolas’s beans.”</p> - -<p>“Let him trample.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, I tell you I’ll yell if——”</p> - -<p>The sound of a kiss interrupted the peasant, and echoed in Denise’s -heart. She had heard it all, and she did not stir. This first victory -would perhaps have been followed by a second, had not Coco’s voice made -itself heard; he ran toward Auguste, whom he had just caught sight of, -shouting at the top of his lungs:</p> - -<p>“Here’s my kind friend! Good-day, my kind friend! Have you come to play -with me?”</p> - -<p>When he heard the child’s voice, Auguste left the peasant and went to -meet him, while she walked away, saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“It’s mighty lucky the little fellow came, all the same; for it wa’n’t -no use for me to fight—he kept right on! Jarni! what a scamp he is!”</p> - -<p>Auguste took the child in his arms, kissed him, and received his -caresses with keen enjoyment.</p> - -<p>“You weren’t at the house, Coco,” he said; “I found nobody there. Don’t -you live there now?”</p> - -<p>“No, I’m with my little Denise all the time now; since Grandma Madeleine -died, I’ve lived with Denise. I’m awful happy now, ‘cos she loves me -ever so much; she loves me as much as Jacqueleine.”</p> - -<p>Wiping her eyes, to which the tears had risen, the girl left the great -tree and walked toward Auguste, trying to assume a laughing expression.<a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a></p> - -<p>“Look, there’s Denise,” said the child, as he spied the little milkmaid -coming toward them.</p> - -<p>Auguste instantly ran to meet her.</p> - -<p>“So here you are, my dear Denise! How glad I am to see you again! It has -been so long!—On my word, you are prettier than ever.”</p> - -<p>Denise curtsied coldly to him, and replied in a constrained tone:</p> - -<p>“You are very kind, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Had it not been for business that has kept me in Paris, I should have -come to see you long ago. I have wanted to do so more than once, for I -have often thought of the little milkmaid of Montfermeil. And you—have -you thought of me sometimes?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! not often, monsieur,” replied Denise, twisting the corner of her -apron.</p> - -<p>“That is what I call plain speaking,” said Auguste testily; but he soon -recovered his usual good humor and continued: “After all, Denise, you -would have been very foolish to bother about me. Do I deserve to arouse -the interest of so pure and sincere a heart as yours? No, I do myself -justice. I assure you, Denise, I am very glad for you that you have no -affection for me; but I hope to have your friendship, and I will be -worthy of it despite my vagaries. What do you say, Denise? You will be -my friend, won’t you? and when some of the fashionable city ladies have -been guilty of fresh perfidy toward me, I will come to you to forget -them. The sight of you will reconcile me to your sex; you will make me -believe once more in virtue and fidelity, in all the qualities that we -seek in women, and—But I haven’t kissed you yet, Denise, and a friend -has that privilege.”</p> - -<p>Denise blushingly offered her cheek, and Auguste imprinted upon it a -single kiss, because the little milkmaid’s<a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a> cold and constrained manner -led him to think that it was only from good-nature that she granted that -favor.</p> - -<p>“It seems that there have been some important happenings here,” -continued Auguste. “Coco tells me that he lives with you, that his old -grandmother is dead——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur; I asked Père Calleux to let us keep his son, and he -consented. I thought Coco would be happier at our house. Did I do wrong, -monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“As if you could do wrong!”</p> - -<p>“And then my little Denise takes good care of Jacqueleine,” said Coco; -“and she lets me play all I want to,—if I’ll pray to the good Lord for -my kind friend every morning and every night.”</p> - -<p>Denise blushed and looked at the ground.</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it natural to pray for one’s benefactor?” she stammered.</p> - -<p>Auguste was touched; he gazed at the girl and the child for some -moments, profoundly amazed that a little money, given for the purpose of -doing good, should afford him greater happiness than the money he spent -by the handful to pay for his pleasures. Then, as if he were ashamed of -his emotion, he exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Thanks for a mere trifle!—But, now that my little fellow is with you -for good and all, I don’t propose that he shall be a burden to you. You -can hardly have anything left of the paltry sum I gave you, and to-day I -will make up for my neglect. I want Coco to do something, to learn——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Denise is teaching me my letters now,” said the child.</p> - -<p>“What! do you know how to read, Denise?” asked Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, and to write too,” the girl replied, with an air of -importance.<a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a></p> - -<p>“Upon my word, that is very fine for a milkmaid,” said Auguste with a -smile, “and I am sure that you know more than any of your companions. In -that case I will leave Coco’s education in your hands for a few years. -Later, we will see—I will have him come to Paris——”</p> - -<p>“And Jacqueleine, too, can’t she, my kind friend?” said the boy, taking -Auguste’s hand.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my boy.—But I am forgetting poor Bertrand, who is waiting for me -in some village wine-shop.”</p> - -<p>“He’s at our house, monsieur; I left him with my aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Let us go and join him then, for I will confess, my dear Denise, that I -am dying of hunger and thirst.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! monsieur, and I never thought of asking you. Come along; we -shall soon be there.”</p> - -<p>They set out for the village. Auguste offered the maid his arm, which -she accepted with a blush, hardly daring to lean upon her escort, lest -the slightest pressure of her arm should lead him to guess what she -would have liked to hide from herself; and even holding her breath, -because she was afraid that anything might betray her. Blessed age! -blessed age of innocence, when love retains all its modesty, when she -whom love assails, while striving to conceal it, allows it to appear in -her eyes, in her voice, in her slightest acts! It would unquestionably -have been very easy to read the girl’s heart at that moment; but is it -possible for a man accustomed to the manœuvres of city coquettes to -recognize true love?</p> - -<p>They reached the cottage and found Mère Fourcy sitting beside Bertrand -and listening with eyes as big as saucers to the tales of battle which -the ex-corporal watered with the native wine. Denise’s aunt curtsied -again and again to the gentleman from Paris; Denise ran hither and -thither, turning everything topsy-turvy<a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a> in order to give Auguste a -dainty luncheon at once; and while she was making it ready, Coco led his -kind friend to see Jacqueleine, and Mère Fourcy followed, to call the -visitor’s attention to the beauty of her roosters, the size of her eggs, -and the gentleness of her cows. After inspecting the cottage, Auguste -went into the garden, still under the guidance of Mère Fourcy and Coco; -they gave him grapes and other fruit to eat, and presented him with the -finest flowers. Auguste expressed great admiration for everything, and -each of his encomiums procured for him an additional reverence.</p> - -<p>At last the repast was served. It was one o’clock, the universal dinner -hour in the village. Denise had worked to such purpose that she was able -to offer Auguste a full meal. There were chickens, ducks and rabbits. -When he saw the bountifully-laden table, Auguste insisted that his hosts -should sit down with him. The villagers made some demur, but the young -man declared that he would accept nothing unless they bore him company. -They submitted, with renewed curtsies; Auguste took his seat between -Denise and his little protégé, with Mère Fourcy opposite; and at his -lieutenant’s invitation, Bertrand seated himself beside the aunt.</p> - -<p>The meal, enlivened by Auguste’s sallies, Bertrand’s bumpers, and the -child’s artless joy, aroused an unfamiliar sentiment in each of those -who partook of it. Mère Fourcy, bursting with pride at the idea of -dining with such a fine gentleman, sat a foot away from the table, and -did not lift her glass without saluting the company. Bertrand was deeply -gratified to sit at table with his lieutenant; and, desirous to prove -that he was ever mindful of the respect he owed him, he maintained while -eating the attitude with which he would present arms; he did not lift -his eyes from his plate, even to fill<a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a> his neighbor’s glass, the result -being that he sometimes missed it. The child laughed and chattered, -played with Auguste, and fed his goat. Denise spoke very little; she was -embarrassed and did not eat, and yet she was conscious of being very -happy, seated beside the hare-brained youth who kissed every girl he -saw, and who had the secret of winning the love even of those to whom he -did not make love.</p> - -<p>Auguste had never been in such high spirits as at that meal: he caressed -the child, he joked with Mère Fourcy, he forced Bertrand to drink with -him; it seemed to him that the fresh, pure air of the fields set him -free from all the trammels of society, and that he breathed more freely, -happy to be rid for a moment of etiquette and gallantry.</p> - -<p>“Bertrand,” said the young man, filling his glass; “I really believe -that I am happier here than at a sumptuously-laden table, surrounded by -pretty women covered with jewels, and served by an army of footmen.”</p> - -<p>“Here, monsieur, you see nobody but people who care for you, and who -will not ruin you by compliments and courtesies.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Bertrand, when the others have ruined me, this is where I will -come to seek consolation for the ingratitude of men and the perfidy of -women. But you say nothing, Denise; does that mean that you don’t -approve of my plan?”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur,” the girl replied under her breath; and her aunt -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Come, speak up, my child; you don’t eat and you don’t talk! Something’s -the matter, sure.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a fact,” said Auguste, “that you don’t seem to share our -merriment. What is the matter, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“The matter, monsieur? Why, nothing, I give you my word.<a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a>”</p> - -<p>“And I give you my word that something is the matter!” cried Mère -Fourcy. “Pardi! for some time she’s been all turned round; she don’t -like dancing, she don’t like games, she don’t know what she does like. -But I know all about it, I tell you; when a girl gets to be like that, -it means that she’s thinking about something.—Well, you needn’t blush -for that, my child; you’re a good girl, as everyone knows; but that -don’t keep you from thinking about getting married, and I hope -monsieur’ll do us the honor to come to the wedding.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, most assuredly,” said Auguste, with a slight grimace; “yes, -Denise, I shall be delighted to be a witness of your happiness; and as -you love someone—You didn’t tell me that you had made your choice.”</p> - -<p>Denise made no reply; she kept her eyes on her plate, and tried to -conceal her confusion by caressing Coco’s faithful companion.</p> - -<p>Auguste rose abruptly from the table, and, without a word to the others, -left the room in evident ill humor, and went out to walk in the garden. -He did not choose to admit to himself the nature of his feelings; but -what Mère Fourcy said had caused him a pang. Even while he told himself -again and again that he cared nothing for Denise, he felt in his heart -that the young peasant’s face aroused in him a sweeter emotion than -those of all the coquettes in Paris.</p> - -<p>He walked about at random through the winding paths, and did his utmost -to recover his merry humor.</p> - -<p>“I can’t understand myself,” he thought; “losing my temper because that -girl loves someone, and that someone is not I! I! Why on earth should -she love me, whom she has seen but three times, and of whom she knows -nothing? I must have a deal of self-love to dream that she could care -for me. But no, I feel that it is not<a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a> vanity that makes me wish that -she should.—Well, I must return to Paris and forget this little -milkmaid. That will be easy enough; for what is there so extraordinary -about her? There are a thousand women in Paris prettier, more alluring, -more——”</p> - -<p>Auguste stopped short, for, happening to turn his head, he saw Denise -within a few yards. He fixed his eyes on the girl, who seemed afraid to -go forward and stood beside a tree. Her confusion, her flushed face, the -furtive glances that she cast at the young man, gave to her whole person -a grace and charm which art could not imitate; and Auguste said under -his breath: “No, there’s not a woman in Paris to be compared with her.”</p> - -<p>Surprised to see their guest leave the table so abruptly, Denise had -followed him at a distance. She remembered what Bertrand had told her, -and as she desired nothing so much as that Auguste should come often to -the village, she determined carefully to conceal her secret sentiments.</p> - -<p>Auguste walked toward her; for some time they stood face to face, -without speaking; at last the young man said, trying to assume an -indifferent manner:</p> - -<p>“So you love someone, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur,” the girl replied, blushing and keeping her eyes on the -ground.</p> - -<p>“If I remember rightly, when I first met you, in the little path in the -woods, you told me that you had no lover.”</p> - -<p>“That was true, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Then you have given your heart away since that time?”</p> - -<p>Denise sighed and held her peace.</p> - -<p>“I have no right to question you,” continued Auguste sharply; “but it is -the interest you arouse in me, the—<a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a>Do you know, Denise, I was sadly -mistaken, for I thought that you loved me a little.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I don’t love you, monsieur—not with love. I must tell you -that, as you wouldn’t come to the village any more if it wasn’t so. But -I do hope you’ll come, monsieur; oh, yes! you must come to see the child -you’ve adopted! I shan’t forget that I’m only a peasant and you’re a -gentleman from the city; and I assure you that I shall never love you.”</p> - -<p>As she finished, the girl turned away so that Auguste could not see the -tears that fell from her eyes. But he was already far away, striding -toward the house. He entered the living-room and said:</p> - -<p>“Come, Bertrand, we must return to Paris.”</p> - -<p>“Return to Paris it is, lieutenant; I’m all ready to do four leagues an -hour. Adieu, mamma; your wine’s very nice. Some day when Schtrack has -the time, I’ll bring him down here to reconnoitre.”</p> - -<p>The girl entered the room and tried to read Auguste’s eyes; but he said -to her without looking at her:</p> - -<p>“Adieu, Denise, we’re off.”</p> - -<p>“Already!” cried Denise; “you seemed to be so comfortable here!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am very comfortable here; that is true; but business calls me -back. I will see you again, Denise; I will come again to see you.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t let so long a time go by without coming to see Coco?”</p> - -<p>“No, I promise you that. Take this—it’s for him. I have no need to -commend him to you, you are so kind!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! as to that, monsieur, she loves the child as if he was her -brother.”</p> - -<p>“But what is the use of leaving me so much money, monsieur?<a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a>”</p> - -<p>“His house is falling to pieces; you must have it repaired; then have -the little garden behind it enclosed, and buy the whole place for my -little boy.”</p> - -<p>“But, monsieur, this is three thousand francs that you’ve given me, and -it won’t take so much money for that.”</p> - -<p>“Take it, I insist; and if it isn’t enough,—here is my address in -Paris. Write me, Denise, and you shall hear from me at once.”</p> - -<p>Auguste tossed his card on the table, and kissed the child.</p> - -<p>“Good-bye, my kind friend!” said the little fellow, throwing his arms -about Auguste’s neck. Mère Fourcy made the young man a curtsy, which -lasted as long as it took to count the three thousand francs. Denise -glanced at him with an embarrassed air, expecting that he would kiss -her; but he did nothing of the sort. After bidding the child adieu, he -bowed to the others, sprang lightly to his saddle, and rode away with -Bertrand, leaving the girl greatly depressed by the cold manner in which -he had left her.</p> - -<p>“What does it mean?” she said to herself; “he stayed away because he was -afraid he’d fall in love with me, and now he acts as if he didn’t like -it because he knows I’m not in love with him. What should I do, so that -I can see him often?”</p> - -<p>As he trotted along beside his lieutenant, Bertrand, as his custom was, -ventured to indulge in a few observations.</p> - -<p>“It’s a fine thing to be generous, certainly, and we shouldn’t regret -the money we give to do good. Still, monsieur, it seems to me that three -thousand francs is a good deal just at this time when our cash-box isn’t -very well supplied; you might have embarrassed yourself less<a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a> by giving -it in several instalments, and it would have amounted to the same -thing.”</p> - -<p>“I probably shall not come to the village again for a long while,” said -Auguste pensively.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that makes a difference, and I am wrong.”</p> - -<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII<br /><br /> -INVESTMENTS AND INNOCENT GAMES.—THE PUNCH AND THE LAMP-POST</h2> - -<p>On his return to Paris, Auguste found Monsieur Destival waiting for him -at his rooms. The business agent shook hands effusively with his dear -friend.</p> - -<p>“Dear Dalville, where in the deuce have you been?” said Destival, -casting a glance out of the window, into the street, from time to time.</p> - -<p>“You have been waiting for me—I am very sorry.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! there’s no harm done. To be sure, I have a thousand and one places -to go to; but my new horse is splendid. By George! he’s an invaluable -beast! Did you notice him at the door?”</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t pay any attention.”</p> - -<p>“I have had my cabriolet repainted, and I have hired a negro groom. One -must needs increase his household when his business is increasing. I -have presented my wife with a cook, a <i>cordon-bleu</i>; you will have a -chance to judge of her talent, for I want you to come to dinner -to-morrow. There will be a few other people, all very rich. Not that I -care for that; I am not like La Thomassinière, who is always dinning his -fortune and his houses into your ears! It’s all the more ridiculous<a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a> to -one who, like myself, knows about our dear speculator’s origin; for to -such a one his pretensions are simply laughable.—Did you notice my -negro below?”</p> - -<p>“No, I didn’t notice.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a well-built fellow, of magnificent color. I prefer a single negro -to a lot of long-legged varlets who ruin a carriage.—By the way, my -wife has a bone to pick with you, my friend; she says that you are -neglecting her.”</p> - -<p>“But I assure you——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you never come to the house now! That is not kind! No more music, -no more singing, no more theatre parties; you have deserted us, -Dalville, and yet you must know that we are your true friends. But let’s -talk business a little. I have had your interests in mind; for although -I don’t see you, I think of you none the less.”</p> - -<p>“You are too kind!”</p> - -<p>“You are a heedless fellow, and you don’t think about making money. But -I am not, like La Thomassinière, one of those selfish men who think of -nobody but themselves. I find an opportunity to get a handsome return -for my funds, but I say to myself: ‘Why shouldn’t I take my dear friend -Dalville into this affair? Why enrich myself alone? A friend’s happiness -doubles our own.’ And then I am not ambitious, I have no desire to throw -dust in people’s eyes and put on airs, like certain acquaintances of -ours. I want to make myself comfortable, that’s all. In a word, the -matter that I spoke to you about some time ago can be carried through; I -will guarantee a certain profit; but I must have funds.”</p> - -<p>“I can raise two hundred and fifty thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“That’s enough; with what I have we can go ahead. In less than a year I -propose that that amount shall bring you in twenty-five thousand. Not so -bad, eh?<a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I trust to your prudence; I understand very little about business, but -I should not want to risk my fortune.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! never fear, my friend; when it comes to prudence, I am a regular -serpent! Besides, what about myself? do you suppose that I mean to risk -my own money?—When will you be able to obtain the cash?”</p> - -<p>“To-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“Bring it when you come to dinner.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>“That’s settled; the receipt will be all ready, for everything must be -done in due form.—My dear fellow, you are growing fat; you look -delightfully well.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think so? The fact is that I feel a little tired to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, it doesn’t show. You’re a hearty buck! How old are you? Not more -than twenty-two, surely?”</p> - -<p>“Almost twenty-seven.”</p> - -<p>“That is most extraordinary!—But I must leave you; I have so much -business on hand. I must go to see Monin; I have sold his drug shop for -him. I am going to ask him to dinner, and his wife too. They are not -very brilliant, especially poor Monin himself, who allows his wife to -lead him about like a baby; but he’s honest, yes, he’s probity itself; -and I demand that, yes, I demand that above all things.—Until to-morrow -then, my dear fellow, and don’t forget the money.”</p> - -<p>“That is understood.”</p> - -<p>Destival left Auguste after shaking hands with him again, as if he had a -convulsion. In the reception room the business agent met Bertrand. New -salutations to the ex-corporal, with whom he also shook hands, saying:</p> - -<p>“The excellent and worthy Bertrand! I am so glad to meet you! How’s the -health, old fellow? still robust? As well set up as ever, I see! What a -fine thing it is to<a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a> have been a soldier! But I assure you that that one -lesson you gave me did me a deal of good! I hope that one of these days -you will be willing to give me another, my good fellow, and I shall -always be proud to receive them.—Au revoir, excellent Bertrand!”</p> - -<p>And without giving Bertrand time to say a word in reply, Monsieur -Destival rushed through the door and down the stairs; and shouted at the -top of his voice before he reached the foot of the last flight:</p> - -<p>“Domingo! Holà, Domingo! my negro! open the door for me!”</p> - -<p>A short, thick-set negro, wearing a red jacket, and a little jockey cap -with a ten-inch visor, came forward, walking with difficulty in a pair -of doeskin trousers which Monsieur Destival had worn ten years, and -which he had thought it best to resign to his groom, for whom they were -much too small; assuring him that they would be as much too large before -he had been two years in his service.</p> - -<p>When his negro appeared, Destival looked to the right hand and to the -left, to see if he were observed; but as no one stopped to look at -Domingo, the business agent concluded to enter his cabriolet; and having -assured himself by looking through the little window, that the negro was -behind, Monsieur Destival lashed his horse, and shouted “look out!” even -when nobody was in danger.</p> - -<p>“You won’t have any further occasion to scold me, my dear Bertrand,” -said Auguste to the ex-corporal, after Monsieur Destival had gone.</p> - -<p>“Why not, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust -my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in -a short time I shall be as rich as I was before.<a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so -polite?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“All of it?”</p> - -<p>“Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand -francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and -enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don’t expect to do for -some time.”</p> - -<p>“That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two -hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and -when it’s all you have——”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival -is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La -Thomassinière, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my -money, I shall only have to give him three months’ notice.”</p> - -<p>“But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, -Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“God forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a -continual fire on everybody we met.”</p> - -<p>“In truth, I have no reason to complain of my lot: I enjoy life, I deny -myself nothing, and my fortune will soon be increased. If a coquette -does deceive me now and then, I pay her back in her own coin. But I am -angry with that little Denise; I feel that I should have loved her so -dearly! The idea of her giving her heart away without telling me!”</p> - -<p>“Did she require your permission, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“No, but if I had fallen in love with her, if I had formed the hope of -winning her love—You must agree,<a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a> Bertrand, that it is most unpleasant -for a young man who has some good qualities to think that such a pretty -girl prefers some clodhopper, some lubberly peasant to him!”</p> - -<p>“That clodhopper, that peasant, will offer her his hand, monsieur, and -make her his wife; he will love in her the mother of his children, and -will never leave her. Don’t you suppose that those things weigh more in -the scales than the glances and sighs and pretty speeches of the young -man from Paris?”</p> - -<p>“You are right, Bertrand; sometimes I have no common sense. Let us say -no more about Denise. I will go to see her when she’s married; but until -then I don’t propose to go to Montfermeil again; the girl is too -enticing.”</p> - -<p>“Bravo! that is acting like an honorable man, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>Auguste started for his notary’s; as he went downstairs he met Madame -Saint-Edmond for the first time since the adventure at the Tournebride.</p> - -<p>At sight of Auguste, Léonie stopped, leaned against the wall, turned her -head away, drew her handkerchief, and omitted nothing calculated to give -the impression that she was about to faint; but Auguste, paying no heed -to his neighbor’s expressive pantomime, contented himself with a low -bow, and passed without stopping.</p> - -<p>The notary handed Dalville the funds which he had in his hands belonging -to him. Auguste put two hundred and fifty thousand francs in his wallet, -and left the balance with Bertrand, urging him to be less economical in -his expenditure, because, as their fortune was about to be doubled, he -did not see why they should deny themselves anything. The next -afternoon, at five, Auguste took his wallet and went to Destival’s -house, bidding Bertrand enjoy himself while he was away. To obey his<a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a> -master, the ex-corporal went in search of his friend Schtrack, with whom -he proposed to take a short promenade.</p> - -<p>The business agent had taken larger apartments than those he formerly -occupied. He had mounted his household with more splendor, and although -he could not as yet rival Monsieur de la Thomassinière in magnificence, -it was plain that he was doing all that he could to approach him. As a -general rule, however, the pains that one takes to deceive the eyes do -not have the hoped-for result, and serve only to arouse mockery. One -rarely succeeds in art by departing from one’s specialty; and in the -world he who tries to make himself out what he is not, is a -laughing-stock. In vain does the grisette, beneath her big bonnet, -strive to copy the simpers of a lady in society; in vain does the -tailor’s apprentice, newly-clad from head to foot, believe that, because -he is dressed in the latest fashion, he has the air and aspect of a -stockbroker. The natural characteristics always show through; one may -impose on the multitude, and amid the multitude pass for what one is -not; but at the slightest examination,</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“The mask falls, the man remains,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">The hero vanishes.”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>Thus we find in the world a great many people who would be most -estimable and would not arouse criticism, if they did not try to do more -than they are able to do. An under clerk, with a salary of a hundred -louis, must needs give evening parties, balls; the house is turned -topsy-turvy; beds are taken down to make more room, a piano is hired, -and lamps of all kinds; decanters of syrups are prepared, and punch, and -there is a supper. But, despite all the trouble he has taken, the -company, much too numerous for the tiny apartments, cannot<a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a> find room. -There are not enough chairs; the paper behind the beds is of a different -color and betrays the moving in the morning; the piano is out of tune; -the refreshments, bought all made, are not sweet enough, because the -sugar has been used sparingly in order to make another decanter of -syrup; the lamps refuse to burn, because the host is not familiar with -them; the punch is compounded of poor brandy, because they bought the -cheapest brand; and at supper you will find nothing but stale bread to -eat with the fowl that is handed you. People love to criticise; you -laugh quietly at everything that is bad, entirely oblivious to what is -all right. Now, is it not much better to give, instead of this, an -unpretentious party, to have fewer guests, and to leave the bed in -place; to have one less cold joint, and to serve fresh bread; in short, -to put aside the ambition to have a grand reception, and aim at nothing -more than getting a few friends together?</p> - -<p>At Monsieur Destival’s the beds were not taken down because they had a -salon large enough to hold a numerous company; the lamps burned well, -because they were frequently used; and the punch was good, because -Madame Destival knew nothing of that false economy by virtue of which -nothing is ever done well. But Domingo, stationed in the reception room -to announce the guests, and Baptiste, who ran constantly from one room -to another to execute his masters’s orders, and who commented aloud on -everything that he was told to do, produced an irresistibly comical -effect, largely because Destival was incessantly calling one or the -other of them by the epithets of “knave” and “rascal.”</p> - -<p>When Dalville arrived he found several persons in the salon; he -recognized Monsieur Monin and his better half, the latter of whom did -not wear a shepherdess’s hat on<a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a> this occasion, but a huge turban -beneath which her fat face strikingly resembled a Turk’s. Auguste had -hardly entered the salon when Monin inquired concerning the state of his -health. Madame Destival accorded him a most gracious welcome, and her -reproaches for the infrequency of his visits were uttered in such an -amiable tone that they could not fail to make him regret that he had -earned them.</p> - -<p>Before Auguste had looked at the other guests, Monsieur Destival entered -the salon, and at sight of Dalville uttered a joyful cry as if he had -thought him dead; then he ran to him and grasped his hands, saying:</p> - -<p>“Here is our dear friend; it is really he! he has not failed us! How -kind of him! You see, it is a great favor to have him here! He has so -many acquaintances, so many invitations! he can hardly keep track of -them all.—Have you thought about our little investment?” he added in an -undertone.</p> - -<p>“I have the money with me,” said Auguste.</p> - -<p>“In that case, let us step into my study and fix it up before dinner, so -that we need think of nothing but enjoying ourselves.”</p> - -<p>“Very well.”</p> - -<p>“A million pardons, mesdames, for taking our dear Dalville away from -you; I promise to restore him to you in five minutes; otherwise I -imagine that you would hate me mortally.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, Destival led Auguste into his study, where the younger man -produced his wallet. Having counted the notes, the business agent locked -them up in his desk and gave Auguste a receipt for the amount, which -Auguste put in his pocket.</p> - -<p>“That’s all right,” he said; “I will examine this when I am at home.<a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a>”</p> - -<p>Then the gentlemen returned to the salon, Dalville eager to make the -acquaintance of two or three attractive women of whom he had caught a -glimpse, and Destival as radiant as if he had just discovered a diamond -mine.</p> - -<p>The company was increased by several persons among whom Auguste noticed -three sisters, young and pretty, whose manners and speech and smiles, -however, were never free from affectation; a very merry and talkative -young woman, ready to joke with everybody, but especially with the -gentlemen; a silly little creature of sixteen, very shy and awkward, who -dared not leave her mamma’s chair or look at the persons to whom she -spoke. A tall man with spectacles, who ran his nose against the -paintings, engravings, screens and decanters, persisted in handling and -examining everything, shaking his head and emitting an occasional <i>hum! -hum!</i> doubtless fraught with meaning; while a short man, embarrassed by -his huge paunch, his short arms, and his small head, not knowing what to -do with himself, stood first on one leg, then on the other, played with -his watch chain, stuck out his tongue when anybody looked at him, and -scratched his nose when nobody was looking.</p> - -<p>Generally speaking, the female portion of the company seemed more select -than the male portion; but a business agent has to do with all classes, -and it frequently happens that it is not the most fashionably dressed -men through whom the most money is to be made.</p> - -<p>Monin remained almost all the time behind his wife’s chair, leaving his -station only to inquire for somebody’s health; and, when he had put his -question to some new arrival, he would return with a smile on his face, -open his snuff-box, and offer it to <i>Bichette</i>, who, despite her turban, -emulated her husband in the size of her pinch.<a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a></p> - -<p>The clock struck six, and Domingo came writhing into the room, and said -in a jargon composed of all known languages:</p> - -<p>“Master, soup served.”</p> - -<p>And Monin, who had not noticed the negro in the reception room, and who -supposed that he was a trader from the coast of Guinea, who was invited -to dinner, was about to leave his wife’s chair to ask him how his health -was, when Bichette, divining her husband’s purpose, caught him by his -coat, saying:</p> - -<p>“Where on earth are you going, Monsieur Monin? Stay where you are! Don’t -you see that that’s Monsieur Destival’s negro?”</p> - -<p>“What! is that a negro, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that you can’t see it for yourself?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, of course; but I’ll tell you—I thought he was talking German. -‘Soup served,’ he said.”</p> - -<p>“Well, monsieur, is that German, I’d like to know? Still, when a person -makes so much talk about having a negro, he ought to teach him to walk. -Do you suppose I’d have a groom that acted as if he had lead in his -breeches? A sweet creature, their Domingo! He’s some wretched savage -who’s been soaked in licorice juice to make a negro of him.”</p> - -<p>“Dinner is served, and Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière have not -come!” said Madame Destival, snappishly.</p> - -<p>“We are only waiting for them. They are terrible people—never on time! -It’s after six.”</p> - -<p>“Six ten,” said the tall man in spectacles. “I am always with the sun; -hum! hum!”</p> - -<p>“Six seven,” said Monin, consulting his watch.</p> - -<p>“You are slow, monsieur; hum! hum!<a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a>”</p> - -<p>“My husband sets his watch every day by the cannon at the Palais-Royal,” -said Madame Monin, with a disdainful glance at the spectacled man; while -the little man with short arms stood thrice on his right leg and twice -on his left, in his struggles to draw his watch from his fob; and, -having finally succeeded in producing a silver time-piece, to which a -gold chain was attached, he gazed a long time at the dial and said:</p> - -<p>“Yes, it must be about that.”</p> - -<p>“Faith,” said Destival, “if La Thomassinière weren’t going to bring his -wife, we wouldn’t wait any longer, for it’s ridiculous to keep a whole -large party waiting like this; but a pretty woman always has some -additional touch to give her costume, and we must always forgive the -Graces.—Domingo, see that the entrées are kept warm. Baptiste, have the -chafing dishes red hot. Come, you knaves, move a little more quickly -when I give an order!”</p> - -<p>Domingo did not move any more quickly, because the doeskin breeches made -it impossible. Baptiste, always in ill humor, pushed the negro roughly, -muttering:</p> - -<p>“Well, you darkie! A pretty sort of assistant to give me! He can’t do -anything but break dishes and steal liquor! I wish he’d drink so much -that he’d smash the whole crockery closet! That would teach ‘em to give -a brand new red jacket to that miserable black fellow, when they’ve made -me wear the same shabby coat for three years.”</p> - -<p>The half hour struck and the guests’ faces lengthened. Auguste talked -with one of his neighbors, who said:</p> - -<p>“Don’t you think, monsieur, that it’s absurd that one or two people -should keep a whole party waiting, and that decent people should be at -the mercy of a fellow who doesn’t choose to be prompt? At my house, -monsieur,<a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a> we dine at a fixed hour; I never wait two minutes for the -people I invite, and they are always prompt, I assure you, for they know -we should dine without them.”</p> - -<p>Auguste agreed that his neighbor was right. Madame Destival lost -patience; monsieur kept running to the dining-room and back, crying:</p> - -<p>“Everything will be cold! The little pâtés won’t be eatable! It’s -exceedingly unpleasant!”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said the man with the spectacles, “warmed-over pastry is good for -nothing, hum! hum! because it’s good only when it’s just out of the -oven, hum!”</p> - -<p>Monin seemed profoundly affected by what was said about the little -pâtés, and the uneasy gentleman scratched his nose with a piteous -expression. At last, about seven o’clock, there was a violent ring and -Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière soon entered the salon.</p> - -<p>Athalie was resplendent; her costume was magnificent; her neck and arms -were covered with diamonds and their dazzling reflection was in perfect -harmony with the piquant expression of her features. At sight of her, -the men uttered involuntary murmurs of admiration; the women said -nothing, but scrutinized her costume, even to the tiniest details, and -their eyes were unable to dissemble a gleam of jealousy, because -everything was unexceptionable and there was nothing to criticise. Now -criticism is a source of the greatest pleasure in society, where people -do not spare even their friends! Fancy what they say of others!</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière, who had made twenty thousand francs that very morning -on a piece of land which he had resold, and who had the Marquis de -Cligneval at his table almost every day, had assumed a more supercilious -air than ever. He puffed himself out until his coat and his cravat were -too tight for him, dragged his feet when he<a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a> walked, and swayed his body -like a pendulum. As he entered the salon he cast insolent glances upon -all the guests, bowed to nobody, trod upon feet and dresses without -apologizing, and did not answer Monin when he quitted his post behind -Bichette’s chair to ask the speculator:</p> - -<p>“How’s the state of your health?”</p> - -<p>“How cruel of you to keep us waiting, my dear La Thomassinière!” said -Monsieur Destival, offering his hand to the parvenu, who patronizingly -gave him two fingers to shake, saying:</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is true. But what can I do, when I haven’t a moment to -myself? We nearly missed coming. My friend the marquis wanted to take us -into the country; but I thought that it would incommode you if we didn’t -come, so I said: ‘Let’s go.’ But it was a close shave, on my word!”</p> - -<p>During this conversation, Monin had remained behind La Thomassinière. -Obtaining no reply, he decided to return to his wife; but Bichette, who -saw everything that took place in every corner of the salon, had noticed -that La Thomassinière did not acknowledge her husband’s salutation, and -she glared fiercely at the parvenu, as she said to Monin:</p> - -<p>“Why did you go to speak to that uncivil fellow?”</p> - -<p>“Bichette, I——”</p> - -<p>“Why do you need to inquire for everybody’s health?”</p> - -<p>“Because, Bichette——”</p> - -<p>“Are you a friend of those people?”</p> - -<p>“You know perfectly well that we met them at Monsieur Destival’s. Will -you have a pinch, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you notice that the insolent wretch, the pitiful creature, who -makes such a ridiculous splurge, turned his back on you without -acknowledging your greeting?<a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he didn’t see me, Bichette.”</p> - -<p>“Not see you! You were right under his nose! You’re a chicken-hearted -creature, Monsieur Monin! Those Thomassinières shall pay me for this. -Meanwhile, let me see you speaking to that man or his wife, and I’ll -take away your snuff-box for a week.”</p> - -<p>Monin, terrified by that threat, retreated behind the chair and took -three pinches in rapid succession. But Domingo announced again that -dinner was served, and they all repaired to the dining-room. Dalville -offered his hand to the hostess, a provincial dandy escorted the -gorgeous Athalie, the spectacled gentleman went to the three sisters, -saying that he would take charge of the Graces, La Thomassinière went -out alone, considering doubtless that his own presence was honor enough, -Monin walked at a snail’s pace with an old dowager, and Madame Monin -alone was left in the salon with Monsieur Bisbis—the little man who -shifted from one leg to the other;—he skipped forward to the stout lady -in the turban, offered her his right hand, then the left, then the right -again, until Madame Monin, out of patience, seized her escort about the -waist, as if she were going to dance a waltz, and pulled him into the -dining-room.</p> - -<p>Dalville occupied one of the places of honor beside the hostess, and on -his other side was the young lady who talked so easily. Athalie was -between the provincial beau and the gentleman with spectacles; her -husband was between an old lady and one of the three sisters. Madame -Monin had her escort for her neighbor, and Monsieur Monin found himself -seated beside the silly school-girl, who dared not raise her eyes, and -to whom he had twice offered snuff when the soup was served.</p> - -<p>The dinner was a magnificent affair: three courses, four entrées to -each. Monin had no time to visit his<a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a> snuff-box; he had not gone beyond -the anchovies, when the first course disappeared. La Thomassinière found -an opportunity to say that the madeira was poor, that the olives were -too salt, that the butter was not so good as that made on his country -place at Fleury, and that two servants were not enough to serve twenty -people. To be sure, he was often obliged to ask twice for a dish, -because Domingo never came quickly enough, and Baptiste got confused and -lost his head running around the table.</p> - -<p>During the second course Baptiste dropped a dish of macaroni on Madame -Monin, and Domingo broke a pile of plates because he tried to run. -Madame Monin shrieked because her dress of Naples silk was spotted, and -Madame Destival tried to pacify her. Monsieur Destival scolded his -servants, and Monin dared not fill his glass again because Bichette was -in a rage.</p> - -<p>Although he drank freely of all the wines, La Thomassinière kept -repeating that he had much better ones in his cellar. Destival made wry -faces at his wife, who was bright enough to pretend to pay no attention -to the parvenu’s absurd talk. Athalie seemed to be bored by the insipid -remarks of her neighbors; Madame Monin was apparently attempting the -conquest of Monsieur Bisbis, who fidgeted on his chair, uncertain how to -eat the charlotte russe, which he finally decided to attack with his -fork. Monin longingly eyed the Roman punch, which he feared would never -reach him, and he said twice to Baptiste:</p> - -<p>“I say—er—servant, give me some of that dish they’re passing over -there.”</p> - -<p>But Baptiste, still in ill humor, walked away, muttering between his -teeth:</p> - -<p>“I’ve got something else to do. How all these people eat! There won’t be -anything left for us!<a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a>”</p> - -<p>Monin, his appeal being disregarded by Baptiste, decided to apply to -Domingo, to whom he gave his plate, saying:</p> - -<p>“Negro, just ask for a little of that shiny stuff for—for a person.”</p> - -<p>Domingo presented the plate to Monsieur Destival, who was serving the -Roman punch.</p> - -<p>“A little shiny stuff,” he said, “for little man with big nose.”</p> - -<p>Everybody laughed, Madame Monin alone taking it very ill that the negro -should presume so to designate her husband; and she vented her wrath on -a third dish of cream, saying to Monsieur Bisbis:</p> - -<p>“I’d rather be served by four chimney-sweeps than a negro.”</p> - -<p>After the coffee and the liqueurs, they left the table in about as -hilarious a mood as when they sat down; that is to say, everyone was -bored, as is usually the case at a formal dinner. But the people invited -for the evening were already coming in crowds; and Destival was -enchanted, because there was hardly room to move, and everyone -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! what a crowd! how hot it is here!”</p> - -<p>The card tables were set out, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière took his -seat at an écarté table, tossing his purse on the table, saying: “I play -for nothing but gold.”</p> - -<p>But the young people—that is to say, the young ladies and some few men -who were sensible enough to prefer their conversation to a game of -cards—took refuge in Madame Destival’s bedroom. Athalie also went -thither, as did Dalville and other young men. They decided that cards -should be barred out, and, in order to do something, someone proposed -playing games.<a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a></p> - -<p>The suggestion was accepted, and they seated themselves in a circle. -Madame Monin eagerly joined them and wanted to begin with “In my hole, -in the common hole, and in my neighbor’s hole!” which she described to -the others by pointing her forefinger, with much dexterity, to the right -and left and centre of the assemblage; but, despite the neat way in -which Madame Monin put her finger in her neighbor’s hole, the game was -voted down, in favor of crambo, which requires the imposing of forfeits; -although Madame Monin declared that it was too easy, and that her head -was full of rhymes. But she ran short on the second round, because the -others had said everything that she knew; so she looked at Monsieur -Bisbis, and said:</p> - -<p>“Give me one.”</p> - -<p>“I’m trying to think of one for myself,” whispered Monsieur Bisbis.</p> - -<p>They soon tired of crambo, and a young lady having proposed -blind-man’s-buff seated, the gentlemen voted unanimously in favor of -that game. The little school-girl began; she recognized the third person -in whose lap she sat—her young cousin, who had come after dinner. After -him came the turn of the tall man with spectacles, who seated himself -cautiously on the ladies’ laps, saying:</p> - -<p>“Hum! hum! I’ll bet I can guess. Hum! hum! I know who it is. Parbleu! if -I could use my hands it would be too easy.”</p> - -<p>However, he sat down upon the whole party without guessing; luckily -Madame Monin remained and she was readily recognizable. Enchanted to -have been caught, Madame Monin allowed herself to be bandaged, and -hurled herself recklessly at the circle. At the first onslaught her -weight crushed a young dandy, who cried:</p> - -<p>“Name me, madame, name me, I beg you!<a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a>”</p> - -<p>“One moment, monsieur; you’re in a terrible hurry,” said Madame Monin, -trying to find something by which to recognize him.</p> - -<p>“Get off me, madame, I can’t stand it any longer!” cried the young man, -turning purple.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, monsieur, that you’re not so much to be pitied, having -me on your knees.”</p> - -<p>“I am suffocating, madame.”</p> - -<p>The buxom dame persisted; but as everybody dreaded to receive her on his -knees, it was proposed to draw forfeits at once, despite the -remonstrances of Madame Monin, who was determined to sit on Monsieur -Bisbis’s lap, although he swore that he had nothing to identify him.</p> - -<p>One of the three sisters had the forfeits wrapped in the skirt of her -dress. A young officer put in his hand to draw, and spent a very long -time mixing them up, so that there should be no cheating. Athalie -directed operations. She told the young officer to draw; but he -evidently had some difficulty in getting hold, for he was a long time -deciding to remove his hand from its hiding-place in the folds of the -young lady’s dress. At last the forfeit was brought forth; it belonged -to the school-girl, and she was told to tell somebody something in -confidence. She hesitated, uncertain to whom she should turn, or rather -because she was afraid to select her little cousin, at whom she glanced -furtively, with a blush. But her mamma was there, so she chose Monsieur -Monin for her confidant.</p> - -<p>Monin, who had slipped behind his wife’s chair, was amazed when the girl -said to him:</p> - -<p>“Will you come with me, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>The ex-druggist did not know what to do, so he leaned over his better -half and whispered:</p> - -<p>“Shall I go with her, Bichette?<a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Greatly to be pitied, aren’t you, for being chosen to receive a young -lady’s confidence!” rejoined Madame Monin, smiling at Monsieur Bisbis.</p> - -<p>Whereupon Monin allowed the girl to take his hand and lead him to a -corner of the salon, where she whispered in his ear:</p> - -<p>“It’s been a very fine day, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Monin stared at the young lady with a dazed expression.</p> - -<p>“What must I answer?” said he.</p> - -<p>“Nothing,” was the reply.</p> - -<p>And the girl returned to her place, while Monin found his way back to -his wife, saying to the people about him:</p> - -<p>“It’s a pretty game! I didn’t know that I knew how to play it.”</p> - -<p>The next forfeit was Athalie’s. She was condemned to <i>sulk</i>, and all the -men sulked with her; and while sulking, Dalville obtained an -assignation. A very pretty thing, these innocent games! Well-brought-up -young ladies are forbidden to waltz, but they are permitted to give or -receive confidences, to hide with a young man, or to wait in a little -dark closet until the concierge of the convent is relieved; and there -are always kisses to be given and received in corners, secretly, behind -curtains. If I ever have a daughter, I shall allow her to waltz in my -presence, but forbid her to play <i>innocent</i> games.</p> - -<p>The spectacled man was condemned to pay a compliment without using the -letter <i>a</i>. After scratching his forehead, he stepped into the middle of -the circle and said with a satisfied air: “<i>La femme est le -chef-d’œuvre du monde</i>.”</p> - -<p>The next forfeit was Madame Monin’s, who was told to take a trip to -Cythera. She sprang to her feet and offered her hand to Monsieur Bisbis, -saying:<a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a></p> - -<p>“Come and travel with me.”</p> - -<p>The stout man submitted to be led into a small study, the door of which -Madame Monin closed behind them, and Monsieur Monin, observing the -manœuvre, said to one of his neighbors:</p> - -<p>“What are they going to do in there?”</p> - -<p>“They’re in Cythera.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I see what it is—another confidence; she’s going to tell him -that it’s a fine day to-day. I know the game now.”</p> - -<p>After remaining some time, Bichette and her companion returned from -Cythera; and some ladies noticed that the turban was somewhat out of -place, and that Monsieur Bisbis did not know which leg to stand on—all -of which did not prevent Monin from going to meet his wife and asking:</p> - -<p>“Is it nice, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“At Cythera.”</p> - -<p>“Very nice, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>This reply was accompanied by a wanton glance at Monsieur Bisbis, who -scratched his nose longer than usual, while Monin approached him with -his snuff-box, saying:</p> - -<p>“Do you take it too?”</p> - -<p>The games were interrupted by the punch, which Domingo passed around -among the guests. He passed the salver to the ladies, who made a great -to-do about taking a glass of punch, which they declared was too strong, -although some of them partook a second time. The men crowded about -Domingo and seized the punch on the wing. Monin ran after the platter, -which had passed him several times; but he had not been able to capture -a glass. At last, after following Domingo throughout his<a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a> winding course -among the guests, Monin succeeded in stopping him as he was returning to -the dining-room.</p> - -<p>“One minute, negro!” he said, putting out his hand toward the salver. -Domingo halted, muttering:</p> - -<p>“You want drink again?”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? again!” cried Monin; “my word! he’s a good one, he is! I -haven’t had a taste, and I’m very fond of punch.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke Monin glanced at the salver: all the glasses were empty. The -poor man was thunderstruck.</p> - -<p>“Me come again right away.—More punch, all hot,” said Domingo, as he -left the room; and Monin, for consolation, drew his snuff-box, and -returned to the games, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“I must try to catch him sooner than I did this time.”</p> - -<p>Madame Monin, whom the trip to Cythera had made extremely warm, said to -her husband when he returned to her side:</p> - -<p>“Go get me another glass of punch, Monsieur Monin; the one I had wasn’t -half full; I am sure that it’s done on purpose so that they can pass it -round oftener without making any more.”</p> - -<p>“The negro has no more, Bichette; but he told me he’d come right back -with some hot punch. So I——”</p> - -<p>“All right, that will do. Go away now; I believe this gentleman is -coming to ask me to make the <i>pont d’amour</i>.”</p> - -<p>But Madame Monin’s hope was disappointed; it was not to her that the -young officer condemned to make the <i>pont d’amour</i> addressed himself but -to Athalie, who laughingly assisted him to perform his penance; and -Dalville observed with some vexation that the petite-maîtresse made the -<i>pont d’amour</i> with others as readily as with him. For consolation he -gave a kiss <i>à la capucine</i> to a young lady whose husband emulated the -Knight of the<a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a> Rueful Countenance; and the school-girl received her -youthful cousin’s confidence while her mamma was arranging for another -forfeit; and the pretty creature who held them in her dress pouted -because the young officer had ceased to draw them; and the spectacled -gentleman had been trying for an hour to draw another forfeit; while for -most of those present the game was simply a pretext to enable everybody -to remain beside the person to whom he or she was most attracted. That -is something which the papas and mammas do not always see, and about -which husbands give themselves little concern; but it is perfectly -apparent to the keen observer, who seeks in a salon something besides an -écarté table, or a commonplace conversation with people whom he has -never met before and whom he has no desire to meet again.</p> - -<p>A fresh supply of punch diverted attention from the private -conversations, and from the games, which were beginning to flag. Domingo -was surrounded again and Monin started on the negro’s trail; but the -young men who laughingly besieged the salver constantly put aside the -ex-druggist, who did not reach Domingo’s side until the glasses were -once more empty.</p> - -<p>Sorely vexed, Monin returned to his wife, who had just finished her -third glass and handed it to her husband to take away.</p> - -<p>“It’s rather good, isn’t it, monsieur?” she said.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know whether it’s good or not,” growled Monin angrily; “I -haven’t succeeded yet in getting a taste of it.”</p> - -<p>“Because you’re not clever and don’t know how to go about it. You should -have seen Monsieur Bisbis, how he pounced on the salver! I thought for a -minute that he was going to take all the glasses. But you’re so slow!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you, Bichette—it’s that negro——<a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Go away from here, monsieur. They’re going to play <i>la mer agitée</i> and -I must be in it.”</p> - -<p>“What is <i>agitée</i>, Bichette?”</p> - -<p>Seeing that his wife was paying no attention to him, it occurred to -Monsieur Monin to lie in ambush at the door of the salon; in that way he -hoped to be the first to seize the negro as he passed, and so make sure -of some punch. Highly pleased with his scheme, Monin took his stand like -a sentinel at the entrance to the salon, stuffing his nose with snuff in -order to be more patient. But he waited more than half an hour and -Domingo did not appear. Monin ventured to glance into the dining-room. -He smelt the punch; that sweet-smelling vapor indicated that the mixture -was not all consumed. He crept into the reception room, and, guided by -the odor, reached a small door, which stood ajar, and discovered Domingo -drinking punch, not from a small glass, but from a large porcelain -pitcher. Monin was standing, speechless with surprise, in his corner, -when Baptiste appeared from the servants’ quarters with a plate full of -biscuits. He pushed the negro aside, tossed off several glasses in quick -succession, then dipped his biscuits in the punch and ate them -hurriedly, while Domingo, by way of compensation, stuffed macaroons and -nutcakes into his jacket pockets.</p> - -<p>Monin was wondering whether he should go away, or should ask the -servants’ leave to take something, when Monsieur Destival, who had been -calling vainly for Domingo and Baptiste in the salon, appeared on the -scene and surprised them.</p> - -<p>“Ah! you knaves! you scoundrels! I have caught you at it!” he cried, -rushing at his servants. Domingo ran from the room, but Baptiste stood -his ground, and retorted, undismayed:<a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a></p> - -<p>“Don’t yell so loud for a little punch! Don’t make such a row! I was -very glad to have a drop of it myself; I’ve worked hard enough to-day.”</p> - -<p>“What does this mean, villain? You presume to argue! You wretch! eating -my biscuit too! rascal! thief!”</p> - -<p>“Thief!” retorted Baptiste, glaring at Monsieur Destival with a furious -expression; “don’t you dare to insult me—that wouldn’t be good for you! -I must be mighty good-natured to stay in your old shanty, where the -servants don’t get anything to eat or drink! And what about my wages for -two years, that I can’t get hold of a sou of! to say nothing of the -money I’ve advanced.”</p> - -<p>“All right, Baptiste, hush!” said Monsieur Destival in a lower tone; -“that’s enough, I won’t say any more.”</p> - -<p>“But I tell you that I’m tired of it,” rejoined Baptiste, shouting -louder than ever. “Oh, yes! you hire a black man and you don’t pay me -any more’n you do the baker and butcher and fruit woman and grocer, -whose abuse I have to listen to every morning! Well! I want my money, -and if you don’t like it, I don’t care a hang; with all the airs you put -on, I know what’s what.”</p> - -<p>“Hush, for heaven’s sake, Baptiste! What’s the meaning of all this -foolish talk? Come, my boy, eat another biscuit, and then go to bed.”</p> - -<p>Baptiste’s shouting had attracted several persons from the salon.</p> - -<p>“What is it? what’s the matter?” they asked one another; and Destival -made haste to reply:</p> - -<p>“It’s nothing; my valet is drunk and doesn’t know what he’s saying.”</p> - -<p>“No, I ain’t drunk either,” cried Baptiste, walking toward the door; -“pay me my wages instead of calling me ‘thief.<a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a>’”</p> - -<p>Destival hastily closed the door on Baptiste’s heels and locked it.</p> - -<p>“The poor fellow,” he said, “talks like a fool when he’s drunk; but I -overlook it, because he’s very much attached to me.”</p> - -<p>The people who had come thither pretended to believe what Monsieur -Destival said, because it would have been discourteous to do otherwise; -but they exchanged stealthy glances, laughed and whispered together, and -made comments under their breath, while Baptiste, unable to return to -the room, beat a devil’s tattoo on the door, shouting in a hoarse voice:</p> - -<p>“My wages! pay me and discharge me; that’s just what I’d like! I get -tired of hearing the row your creditors make every day.”</p> - -<p>Luckily the closed door muffled Baptiste’s voice to some extent; and, in -order that he might be heard even less distinctly, the business agent -shouted louder than he:</p> - -<p>“All right, Baptiste, all right! You’ll be sorry for this, but I forgive -you; I know that you’re faithful, and that’s enough for me.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Monin had seen his last hope fade away; for it was not to be -presumed that the servants would bring more punch to the salon; so he -returned to his wife. The guests were discussing the scene in the -reception-room, even in the midst of their innocent games; and Madame -Monin exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! if I hadn’t been presenting my <i>little box of amourettes</i> at -that moment, I shouldn’t have lost a word of what that Baptiste said. -But you were there, Monsieur Monin, and heard everything. What -happened?”</p> - -<p>“I was watching for the negro to get some punch, Bichette, and it was he -who drank it.<a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Who’s he?”</p> - -<p>“The black.”</p> - -<p>“Who’s the black?”</p> - -<p>“The servant in a red jacket.”</p> - -<p>“Well?”</p> - -<p>“Well, then he took macaroons—No, I believe it was the other one who -ate biscuits first—I am not perfectly sure.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you tell a story wretchedly, Monsieur Monin! Instead of listening -to what was said, you were engrossed by biscuit and macaroons. For -shame! you are such a glutton! You go into company only to drink and -eat.”</p> - -<p>“But, Bichette, when I tell you that I didn’t——”</p> - -<p>“Bah! hold your tongue and find my shawl; everyone’s going, you see.”</p> - -<p>In truth, the time for departure had arrived, and the mammas had already -donned their bonnets and shawls. The younger women took more time to -find their wraps, and some obliging young man was always at hand to -offer to help a pretty girl to find what she wanted. They still had -something to say to one another before separating, and they chose to -take advantage of the confusion that prevailed in the salon at that -moment.</p> - -<p>Dalville had heard nothing of the scene in the reception room, being -occupied in kissing <i>what was beneath the candlestick</i>, which he had -taken pains to place over the head of a very attractive young woman; so -that he gave little thought to what was happening elsewhere. And Madame -de la Thomassinière, intent only upon making new victims, had not -listened to the unkind remarks concerning the host and hostess that were -flying about in all directions.<a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a></p> - -<p>Soon the salon was nearly empty. The ladies took their leave and Auguste -did likewise, well pleased that he had passed the evening without -playing écarté, and to have discovered that one can enjoy oneself -without losing money. When he reached home he went upstairs and rang, -but no one opened the door. As Bertrand usually sat up for his master, -little Tony seldom carried a key. Having rung again with no better -success, Auguste reflected that Bertrand, whom he had told to go out and -enjoy himself, might very well not have returned; so he sent Tony to -inquire of the concierge and he remained on the landing, thinking that a -few days earlier he would readily have found a place to pass the night -without leaving the house.</p> - -<p>His neighbor, who had probably heard him come upstairs and ring, donned -a peignoir and left her room, candle in hand. She went down one flight -and saw her neighbor calmly pacing the floor of the landing. She -descended a few more stairs, coughed slightly, and decided at last to go -down to him. A pretty woman is very seductive in a peignoir, with her -hair loosely secured by a silk handkerchief, from beneath which a few -stray locks escape and fall upon a white breast, which the peignoir -never conceals altogether, because there are always one or two -ill-placed pins, which betray the secrets of beauty, or, perhaps, act as -its confederates.</p> - -<p>“Can’t you get in, Monsieur Dalville?” asked Madame Saint-Edmond, in the -soft voice which she could assume so readily when she was not left -behind with a bill to pay.</p> - -<p>Auguste bowed low to his neighbor and replied coldly:</p> - -<p>“As you see, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Bertrand must have forgotten himself somewhere. Perhaps -something has happened to him.<a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I trust not.”</p> - -<p>“That would be a great pity! such a fine fellow, and so fond of you!”</p> - -<p>Léonie heaved a profound sigh and said nothing more. Auguste leaned over -the rail to see if Tony were coming up. Léonie, finding that Auguste -said nothing more, decided to reopen the conversation.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you would like to sit in my room, monsieur, until you can get -in? I should think that you would be more comfortable than on this -landing.”</p> - -<p>“I thank you, madame, but I do not wish to disturb you or to interfere -with your sleep.”</p> - -<p>“It won’t disturb me, monsieur. As for my sleep, for several days I -haven’t slept at all.”</p> - -<p>“Is it because you have lost your poodle again, madame?”</p> - -<p>“How unkind! How you make fun of my grief!”</p> - -<p>Léonie heaved a more profound sigh than before, and as she had no -handkerchief, she lifted a corner of her peignoir and put it to her -eyes. That movement discovered some very seductive things; but when one -is weeping, one cannot think of everything, and when one’s eyes are -covered, one cannot see what one has disclosed.</p> - -<p>Auguste, distrusting his weakness, continued to lean over the rail, and -did not take his eyes from the concierge’s door.</p> - -<p>“Well, Tony, are you coming back to-night?” he cried.</p> - -<p>Léonie walked to where he stood and said in a touching voice:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! what on earth have I done to you, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“What have you done to me, madame? Why, it seems to me that you know -quite as well as I do.<a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! monsieur, how can an intelligent man trust appearances?”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, madame, that no intelligence was required to see what I -saw.”</p> - -<p>“Why, what did you see, monsieur? May not a woman dine with a man at a -restaurant without having the slightest preference for him? And you -yourself, monsieur—what were you doing with that creature who had the -impertinence to hold a mustard pot under my nose?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I am more honest than you, madame: I admit that I deceived you.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! what an unhappy creature I am!”</p> - -<p>And Léonie had recourse to her usual expedient—she fainted; but she was -careful to fall toward Auguste, who found himself with his neighbor in -his arms. At that moment little Tony came upstairs and said that it was -impossible to understand what Schtrack said, as he was drunk. Auguste -gently laid Léonie on the stairs and told Tony to look after her; then -he went down to interview his concierge, who was half asleep and could -hardly speak.</p> - -<p>“Has Bertrand come in?” demanded Auguste, shaking the old German’s arm; -whereupon he raised his head and sent a puff of wine-laden breath into -the young man’s face as he hiccoughed:</p> - -<p>“Pertrand! sacretié! Pertrand!”</p> - -<p>“Come, Schtrack, speak out; you were with him, weren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Ya.”</p> - -<p>“Where is he?”</p> - -<p>“Haf you not found him?”</p> - -<p>“If I had found him, should I be questioning you? Where is he? where did -you leave him? why didn’t he come home with you?<a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! I vas not strong enough to carry Pertrand; he could not valk -no more; but ve haf ein pig lot trunken.”</p> - -<p>“So I see; but where shall I find Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Ach! you vill see him quite vell; dere is no tanger! He is in a safe -blace—up the street. Go up und up—near the Parrière Montmartre.”</p> - -<p>“Is he in a wine-shop?”</p> - -<p>“No; don’t I tell you that you vill see him quite vell?”</p> - -<p>Unable to extract any further information from Schtrack, Auguste decided -to go in search of Bertrand; he succeeded in getting the door opened, -and went out in the middle of the night to try to find his faithful -comrade, with no other guide than the very vague information given him -by Schtrack. From Rue Saint-Georges where he lived, he went by way of -Rue Saint-Lazare to Rue des Martyrs, knowing that Montmartre was -Bertrand’s usual promenade.</p> - -<p>Desiring to avail himself of the permission Auguste had given him, -Bertrand had invited Schtrack to go for a walk with him. The old German -did not think of refusing; and, leaving his wife in his place, he -polished his boots, took his cane and accompanied friend Bertrand, who -had no sooner passed the porte cochère than he began on the battle of -Wagram, which was certain to take them a very long way. In fact, the -battle of Wagram was still in progress when they arrived at the Buttes -de Montmartre, without once stopping for a drink. Schtrack, who had thus -far ventured upon nothing beyond a <i>sacretié!</i> proposed that they should -go into a wine-shop, which proposition was instantly acted upon. They -found the wine very poor because they were accustomed to Dalville’s -cellar, and they left that wine-shop<a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a> to look for a better one. They -went into another, drank another bottle, decided again that it was poor -stuff and went in search of a third. After four hours of prospecting -they had visited six wine-shops and drunk six bottles. When they reached -the seventh, they began to think that the wine was better, or rather -they were no longer in condition to pass judgment on it. Bertrand began -again on his campaigns; Schtrack smoked four cigars, and it was nearly -midnight when our friends were informed that it was closing time.</p> - -<p>Bertrand paid without looking at the bill, and they left the shop; but -the fresh air put the finishing touch to their intoxication. Bertrand -especially, who was not accustomed to poor wine, soon felt his legs -begin to wobble, and at the corner of Rue des Martyrs and Rue du -Faubourg-Montmartre, he fell, reviling himself as a coward and sluggard -and a wretched drinker.</p> - -<p>Schtrack, who had kept his head better because he was used to wine-shop -wine, emitted a <i>sacretié!</i> when he saw Bertrand fall, and tried to -raise him. He could not succeed. After several minutes, during which -Schtrack exclaimed from time to time: “Come, come, comrade Pertrand, off -we go!” the old German discovered that his companion was already snoring -as if he were in his bed.</p> - -<p>“So, so! he’s asleep!” thought Schtrack; “I must not vake him; he pe -vell comfort there to sleep. Put, suppose some carriage might pass und -not see mein comrade!”</p> - -<p>This reflection disturbed Schtrack, who was quite ready to go to sleep -himself; but, looking about, he saw a grocer’s shop still open. Thither -he went post haste and asked for a lamp. They gave it to him, after -lighting it at his request. Beacon in hand, Schtrack returned to -Bertrand, who was still sleeping peacefully, stretched out<a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a> by the wall. -The old concierge took the sleeper’s hat, placed it beside his head with -the lamp upon it, and went away, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“Now, there is no tanger, he can sleep in beace.”</p> - -<p>Auguste spied the lamp, but for which he would have passed Bertrand -without seeing him. The young man could not help smiling at Schtrack’s -ingenious device. He shook the ex-corporal, who opened his eyes, half -rose, pushed the guardian lamp away with his elbow, and could not -imagine why he was in the street. Auguste explained matters to him. -Bertrand, whom his nap had sobered, was distressed that he had forgotten -himself to the point of falling drunk in the street, and insisted on -throwing himself into the river, to punish himself for drinking so much -wine. Auguste succeeded in pacifying him, and they returned home, the -young man thinking of Léonie’s treachery, Athalie’s coquetry, Denise’s -dissembling, and promising himself to be more prudent in future; -Bertrand recalling the wretched wine at the wine-shops, and swearing -that he would drink no more.</p> - -<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII<br /><br /> -DENISE AND COCO IN PARIS</h2> - -<p>Not more than ten days had passed after Dalville’s visit to Montfermeil, -when, on returning from the wine-shop one evening, Père Calleux, who -probably saw double, or else did not see at all, fell into a ditch newly -dug beside the road; in that ditch was a pile of stones intended for -repairing the road, and the peasant broke his head upon them. The next -day little Coco was an orphan.<a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a></p> - -<p>But he still had Denise, who loved him dearly, Mère Fourcy, who had -become attached to him, and lastly, the friendly interest of Auguste. -Among friends who give us proofs of affection, we cease to feel quite -alone on earth. How many unhappy creatures there are, who might well -believe themselves to be orphans although their parents are not dead!</p> - -<p>Denise paid a few small debts which Père Calleux had left, amounting to -less than a hundred francs; for a poor man can get but little credit. -The cabin remained—the child’s only patrimony; but it was in such a -tumbledown condition that it was dangerous to live in it. The thatched -roof was half gone, the cracked walls threatened to fall, and the -materials of which it was built were so poor that no use could be made -of them. So that there was really nothing but the land; but with -Dalville’s contribution it would be possible to build a little cottage, -surround it with a garden and cultivate it. That is what Denise said to -her aunt, who replied:</p> - -<p>“Don’t be in a hurry, my child. You’d better wait till the gentleman -comes again, and ask him what he thinks.”</p> - -<p>But at sixteen one does not like to wait; Denise reflected that it might -be a very long time before the handsome gentleman came to the village -again, and one morning, as she looked at the address which Auguste had -left with her, and to which her eyes very often turned, she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Suppose we write to that gentleman, aunt! He gave us his address, you -know, so that we could send word to him if we needed him.”</p> - -<p>“You’re right, my child,” said Mère Fourcy; “your ideas are always good. -You know how to write, so you must write to him, my girl.<a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a>”</p> - -<p>Denise was lost in thought and did not reply.</p> - -<p>“Have you forgotten how to write, my child?” continued Mère Fourcy.</p> - -<p>“Oh! no, aunt; but I can’t write well enough to write to a gentleman -from Paris.”</p> - -<p>“In that case, my dear, get that old man to write to him, who’s just -come here to live, and who writes all the nurses’ letters. He handles -his pen fine, I tell you! He’ll write a sentence two pages long to tell -you your child’s had the colic, or needs a new cap. Or else ask neighbor -Mauflard to do you the favor; he’s an old schoolmaster, and he ought to -write like a Barême’s grammar!”</p> - -<p>Denise was still silent; but after a moment she said, lowering her eyes:</p> - -<p>“Don’t you think, aunt, that it would be better to go to Paris and speak -to the gentleman? Wouldn’t it be more polite than writing?”</p> - -<p>“You’re right again, my child; and there’s a little stage that starts -for Paris at eight o’clock every morning and brings you back at four.”</p> - -<p>“And then, aunt, I’ve been to Paris twice, you know, and nothing ever -happened to me.”</p> - -<p>“All right, my child, go ahead; nothing ever happens to anybody unless -they want it to.”</p> - -<p>“And I’ll take Coco with me, shan’t I, aunt?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear; that will please the gentleman. It will be polite to him; -and if I wasn’t so busy here, I’d go with you and ask him to give me -some dinner, because I know what’s the right thing to do, you see.”</p> - -<p>Denise was quite as well pleased that her aunt should not go with her; -but she was overjoyed that she herself was allowed to go, and she ran -off to engage seats for herself and Coco for the next day. The rest of -that day<a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a> she spent in preparing her dress. Coco jumped for joy when he -learned that he was going in a stage to see his kind friend, and Mère -Fourcy packed two pairs of chickens, two dozen eggs, some fruit and -cake, in a basket, as a present for the young gentleman in Paris.</p> - -<p>Denise was up before dawn. It was early in October; but it was a lovely -day, and reminded the girl of that on which she first met Auguste. Her -toilet was soon made; she wore a new dress and her daintiest cap—the -one in which, on Sundays, she turned the heads of all the young men in -the village, and drove the girls to despair. But would that pretty cap -have the same power in Paris? Denise had no desire to make conquests; -there was but one person whom she wished to please, although she said to -herself a hundred times a day:</p> - -<p>“No, no! I am not in love with him.”</p> - -<p>Coco was dressed very neatly. Mère Fourcy gave them the basket, saying:</p> - -<p>“Give him my compliments, and tell him to think of me when he eats the -chickens, and to tell me how he likes that cake!”</p> - -<p>Denise and Coco ran, for fear of missing the stage; at last they were -safely inside, the basket between Denise’s legs, and they started for -Paris.</p> - -<p>It was not a long journey; but it seemed endless to Denise; whereas the -child, delighted to be in the stage, wished that they might never -arrive. However, they reached the stage office on Rue Saint-Martin in -due course, and Denise, taking the basket on her arm, took Coco by the -hand, and having inquired the way to Rue Saint-Georges, started in the -direction of the Chaussée-d’Antin.</p> - -<p>Denise’s beauty and her peasant costume attracted more than one -compliment on the way; but the girl quickened<a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a> her pace without -replying, although the basket was very heavy and Coco began to be -fatigued by walking on the pavements.</p> - -<p>When one is unfamiliar with a place, one is likely to walk farther than -is necessary. Denise many times mistook one street for another; she -disliked to inquire, because they to whom she applied seemed inclined to -offer her their arms. She was warm and perspiring, and Coco was cross -and kept saying:</p> - -<p>“Where’s my kind friend, I’d like to know?”</p> - -<p>They had been walking more than an hour when they found themselves at -last on Rue Saint-Georges.</p> - -<p>“Here we are, Coco,” said Denise, joyously; “here’s Monsieur Auguste’s -house, and you’ll soon have a chance to embrace your kind friend! He’ll -be glad to see you. Oh, yes! I’m sure he’ll give us a warm welcome.”</p> - -<p>The child forgot his fatigue. They passed under the porte cochère, and -Denise looked about in embarrassment. She could not control her emotion, -and she halted with the child and her basket between two handsome -stairways, uncertain which way to turn; while Coco began to cry at the -top of his voice:</p> - -<p>“My kind friend, we’ve brought you some cake and some fruit!”</p> - -<p>“Vat’s all this how-d’ye-do?” said Schtrack, opening his door and -glaring at the young woman and the child, who were standing in the -middle of the courtyard. “I say, my girl, haf you come here to sell -geese?”</p> - -<p>Denise blushed, and stammered as she looked at Schtrack:</p> - -<p>“Which way shall I go up, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t go up at all, sacretié! This is not ein boultry market. Go -outside und yell mit te leedle broder.<a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a>”</p> - -<p>Schtrack was about to come forth to turn Denise and the child into the -street, when Bertrand came downstairs, and was thunderstruck to see the -girl.</p> - -<p>“What! is it you, my child?—and little Coco too?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Monsieur Bertrand, it’s us. Oh! I’m so glad to see you! he was -just going to turn us out of the house.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? you were going to turn this girl out, Schtrack?”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! why haf she not told me what she want? Te leedle poy, he bray -like a tonkey in the courtyard: ‘Kind freund! kind freund! see the -cakes!’—Did I know his kind freund?”</p> - -<p>“It’s my fault, Monsieur Bertrand; I didn’t think—I was so confused. -Can’t we see Monsieur Auguste?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed,” Bertrand replied with some embarrassment. “Oh, yes! you -shall see him. Come upstairs with me, Mamzelle Denise.”</p> - -<p>The girl and the child followed Bertrand, who admitted them with some -precaution into Auguste’s apartment and took them at once to the small -salon, saying:</p> - -<p>“Stay here and rest, and wait a little while.”</p> - -<p>“Has Monsieur Auguste gone out?”</p> - -<p>“No, but he—he has company; he’s busy just at this minute.”</p> - -<p>“Tell him we’re here, Monsieur Bertrand, and I’ll bet he’ll come right -away. We won’t keep him long.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’ll tell him that. But wait; I’ll be back in a minute.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand left the salon, being careful to close the door behind him. -Denise examined the fine furniture and pictures with which the room was -embellished, and Coco lay on a couch. But the moments passed and nobody -came. The girl’s heart sank; she had secretly hoped that<a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a> Auguste would -be glad to see her, and the lack of haste which he displayed in coming -to her, made her fear that she had flattered herself too much.</p> - -<p>She dared not leave the room, or even open a door. Coco had fallen -asleep; the girl seated herself in a corner, refrained from making the -slightest noise, in order not to wake the child, and gazed ruefully at -the basket containing the gifts she had brought to the fine city -gentleman.</p> - -<p>At last Bertrand returned with a dissatisfied air, and said in an -undertone:</p> - -<p>“You are tired of waiting, aren’t you? Thunder and guns! I can -understand that; but it ain’t my fault, mamzelle, because my orders -before everything! I don’t know anything but my orders.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t Monsieur Auguste at home?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he’s at home, but he can’t see you yet, because his orders—”</p> - -<p>“But, Monsieur Bertrand, it isn’t polite not to come and speak to -people; with us, we don’t leave our friends all alone like this.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it’s different in Paris, mamzelle. I know what my lieutenant -promised to do to me if I disturbed him when he’s—busy; and I can’t -disobey orders.”</p> - -<p>“Then we’ll go away.”</p> - -<p>“Wait a little longer; perhaps it won’t be very long.”</p> - -<p>At that moment they heard sounds in the reception-room, and Mademoiselle -Virginie entered the salon.</p> - -<p>“Here I am!” she cried; “I snapped my fingers at your orders, I did! -That old villain of a Schtrack didn’t want to let me come up. ‘Monsir -isn’t in,’ he says. But I came on all the same.—I say! who’s this -little farmer’s wench? She’s not so bad-looking! Is it on her account -that Monsieur Auguste closes his door to his friends?<a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a>”</p> - -<p>Denise stared at Virginie in amazement, while Bertrand motioned to the -latter to be quiet, saying in an irritated tone:</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, mademoiselle, that when a concierge says that you can’t -come up, you should respect his orders.”</p> - -<p>“Go to the deuce with your orders! He told me there wasn’t anyone here, -and he lied, you see. Bertrand, who on earth is this rustic beauty?”</p> - -<p>“She’s a young girl from the country.”</p> - -<p>“Pardi! I can see for myself that she don’t live on Rue Vivienne. What a -sly fox he is!—What is she here for? Is it her young one asleep on the -couch? The devil! he’s quite a big boy already!”</p> - -<p>“This is a most respectable young woman, mademoiselle; she came to bid -Monsieur Dalville good-day, and brought this child, that he thinks a -great deal of. There isn’t the slightest harm in that.”</p> - -<p>“All right! so much the better, if there’s no harm. I say! what an -amusing fellow you are, Bertrand, when you put on that severe -expression! It’s a fact that the girl has a very innocent look. I’m sure -that her cap would be mighty becoming to me.”</p> - -<p>During this conversation, which was carried on in undertones, Denise -kept her eyes on the floor; she saw that Mademoiselle Virginie looked at -her a great deal, and that redoubled her embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“Why on earth does Monsieur Dalville keep this sweet child waiting?” -said Virginie, assuming an affable air and approaching Denise.</p> - -<p>“Because monsieur is busy and told me not to disturb him.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes! I understand, I comprehend! <i>Ask me no more!</i><a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a>”</p> - -<p>Bertrand motioned to her to be silent; but she sat down beside Denise, -paying no attention to the ex-corporal.</p> - -<p>“Have you come far, mademoiselle?”</p> - -<p>“From Montfermeil, madame,” replied Denise timidly. The word madame -seemed to flatter Virginie, who threw her head back and tried to assume -a dignified bearing, as she rejoined:</p> - -<p>“Montfermeil? that’s in the direction of Sceaux, I believe?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, it’s near Raincy.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes! to be sure; I was mixed up. Is the little fellow asleep yonder -your brother?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, he’s a poor little orphan, that Monsieur Auguste is taking -care of.”</p> - -<p>“The deuce! does Auguste do that kind of thing? That’s very fine of him, -and I am glad to hear it; it gives him a higher place in my esteem.—And -you want to see Auguste, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame; Coco’s father has just died, and I wanted to consult -Monsieur Dalville.”</p> - -<p>“What have you got in that basket?”</p> - -<p>“Some little presents from our place—eggs and chickens, and some cake -that my aunt made herself.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’m awfully fond of village-made cake! Will you let me taste it, my -young village maid?”</p> - -<p>Denise would have preferred to present the cake untouched to Auguste; -but she dared not refuse Mademoiselle Virginie, who instantly opened the -basket and broke off a big piece, which she proceeded to eat, continuing -the conversation meanwhile.</p> - -<p>“I’m very much afraid, my dear, that you’ve come here for nothing.”</p> - -<p>“Why so, madame?<a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that ne’er-do-well will let you cool your heels here till to-morrow -morning.”</p> - -<p>“Who, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Why, Auguste, to be sure! The cake is fine, and the butter delicious. -It reminds me of my childhood; I used to eat cake like this every night; -I bought it for four sous at the little shop on Boulevard Saint-Denis, -where there’s always a line waiting; it’s famous for this cake.—To go -back, I was saying, my dear, that Dalville is undoubtedly with some -hussy or other, and that’s why we can’t speak to him.”</p> - -<p>“What! do you think so, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’m sure of it! Do you suppose I don’t know all about it? -Bertrand’s embarrassment, and the concierge’s orders. In fact, it’s a -most surprising thing that he let you come up.”</p> - -<p>“It was Monsieur Bertrand who made him let me in; if it hadn’t been for -him, I should have been sent away.”</p> - -<p>“For my part, it’s all a matter of indifference to me; I look on Auguste -as my brother now. But you are pale, my child! Don’t you feel well?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, I’m all right.”</p> - -<p>“How lucky you are, my child, to be virtuous, and not to know anything -about the passions! Always retain this innocence.—Bertrand, can’t you -see that this cake is choking me? For heaven’s sake, give me something -to drink, and this child will take something too.”</p> - -<p>“No, thank you, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! the little fellow’s waking up!”</p> - -<p>Coco opened his eyes and looked about in amazement; then ran to Denise, -saying:</p> - -<p>“Where’s my kind friend?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I guess we shan’t see him,” said the girl, in a tremulous voice, -looking at the clock, which marked the<a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a> quarter-past three, then turning -her eyes on Bertrand with an imploring expression, as if to urge him to -call Auguste.</p> - -<p>“He’s a pretty little fellow,” said Virginie, passing her hand over -Coco’s head. “I’d like to have a child like him, because a child gives -one a respectable look.”</p> - -<p>A bell rang in the next room.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur is calling me,” said Bertrand; and he hurried from the salon. -At the same moment little Tony ran rapidly downstairs to put the horse -in the cabriolet.</p> - -<p>Denise expected every minute to see Auguste come in. Virginie was -playing with Coco. At last Denise recognized Dalville’s voice, speaking -earnestly to Bertrand, and in a moment the young man entered the salon. -But he had his hat on his head, his gloves in his hand, and seemed in a -great hurry. The girl ran to meet him, with the child, taking her basket -in her hand.</p> - -<p>“Good-afternoon, Denise! good-afternoon, my boy!” said Auguste, kissing -the child and taking no notice of Virginie. “Have you been waiting for -me? I am very sorry that I can’t stay with you now.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, my aunt sends you her respects,” said Denise, “and these -chickens, eggs, pears, and——”</p> - -<p>“Thanks, Denise, thanks! I——”</p> - -<p>“Pray, come, monsieur; I am waiting!” said a woman’s voice impatiently -in the reception-room—a voice which strongly resembled Madame de la -Thomassinière’s.</p> - -<p>“Adieu, adieu! I will see you again,” said Auguste to Denise.</p> - -<p>And, giving her no time to reply, he hastily left the room, closing the -door behind him, and went out of the house with a young woman enveloped -in a great shawl and covered with a thick veil, who shrank out of sight -on the back seat of the cabriolet.<a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a></p> - -<p>Denise stood perfectly still, basket in hand; but great tears rolled -from her eyes, and the basket would have dropped, had not Virginie, who -had drawn near, saved it as she caught the girl in her arms.</p> - -<p>“Well, well! what on earth’s the matter with you, my dear? On my word! -she’s really crying! Mon Dieu! is she going to faint?—Bring me -something, Bertrand!—The idea of being unhappy just for a man, my dear -girl! God bless me! they ain’t worth the trouble! If you knew ‘em as -well as I do! I admit that Monsieur Auguste wasn’t very polite, to -hardly answer you and not even thank you!—Ah! her color’s coming back a -little.—It really scared me to see you like that!”</p> - -<p>Denise took out her handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and called Coco.</p> - -<p>“Come, my dear, let’s go,” she said; “we must go back to the village.”</p> - -<p>“Ain’t my kind friend coming with us?” said Coco, as he took Denise’s -hand.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! he hasn’t even time to speak to us. Come, Coco, let’s go. We -must be at the stage office at four.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll show you the way, my dear,” said Virginie; “you might lose -yourself in Paris.”</p> - -<p>“I was going to offer you my arm, mamzelle,” said Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“No, thanks, Monsieur Bertrand, don’t put yourself out; it isn’t -necessary.”</p> - -<p>“Why not, Mamzelle Denise?”</p> - -<p>“We’ll find the way all right. As for Monsieur Auguste, tell him we -won’t trouble him any more.”</p> - -<p>“You’re wrong to be put out with him, Mamzelle Denise; if somebody -hadn’t been waiting for him——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to be sure,” said Virginie, “it was very polite of him: to not so -much as thank this pretty child for her<a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a> present! magnificent chickens, -fine pears, and fresh eggs! Fresh eggs are so good! Will you allow me to -put three in my bag for my breakfast to-morrow?”</p> - -<p>“As many as you please, madame,” said Denise; “for I see very clearly -that Monsieur Auguste cares very little indeed for what we took so much -pleasure in bringing him.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you, my dear, that men ain’t worth a pirouette,” said Virginie, -putting four eggs into her reticule; then she followed Denise, who left -the room with the child, refusing Bertrand’s escort.</p> - -<p>Madame Saint-Edmond was coming upstairs with a young man at the moment -that Denise, with a heavy heart and red eyes, left Dalville’s apartment, -leading Coco by the hand. Léonie was furiously angry with Auguste since -he had left her in a swoon on the landing, to go in search of Bertrand. -Having abandoned the hope of renewing her relations with him, she seized -every opportunity to annoy him. That is the way in which a woman who has -never loved always takes her revenge.</p> - -<p>When she saw the peasant girl coming from Dalville’s apartment, Madame -Saint-Edmond stopped, looked at her with a sneer, and said to her -companion:</p> - -<p>“Ah! rather a queer rig; but she has come here to be educated, no -doubt.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that, what does she say?” cried Virginie, who was following -Denise, and had overheard Léonie’s last words; but the latter hurried -upstairs.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” said Denise; “I never saw the lady before, so she -couldn’t have been speaking to me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I know her,” said Virginie, running up a few stairs and looking -after Léonie. “Oh, yes! I know her. I don’t advise her to put on airs. -<i>We won’t go to the forest again without paying for our dinner.</i><a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a>”</p> - -<p>But Madame Saint-Edmond had already entered her room and closed her -door. Virginie left the house with Denise, to whom she had taken a -fancy; and she fairly forced her to take her arm for the walk to the -stage office.</p> - -<p>Denise was depressed and replied briefly to the innumerable questions -which Virginie asked her; but she was perfectly well able to carry on a -conversation all alone. When they arrived at the office, the stage was -ready to start. Virginie kissed Denise and said to her:</p> - -<p>“Adieu, my dear! Don’t be downcast like this. You’re very lucky to live -in the country; it’s a thousand times better than this rascally Paris! -You’ll find more lovers in your village than you want. I say! is that -the stage? It’s a regular little chamber-pot like the one that goes to -Saint-Denis. When I have time, I’ll come and see you, and you must teach -me how to make butter. Adieu, my dear girl.—Be careful, driver, and -don’t get upset; remember that you have a Love in your little pot.”</p> - -<p>Denise and Coco started for home less cheerful than when they set out. -The event often falsifies our hopes, and we find pain where we had -thought to find pleasure.</p> - -<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV<br /><br /> -THE SCHOOL FOR PARVENUS</h2> - -<p>“Poor Denise was very downhearted when she went away,” said Bertrand to -Auguste on the day following the girl’s trip to Paris.</p> - -<p>“I was very sorry indeed not to be able to talk with her any longer,” -Dalville replied; “but it wasn’t my fault—that lady was waiting for -me.<a name="page_247" id="page_247"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That lady! That lady might perhaps have waited a few minutes more.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand!”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, lieutenant; the fact is, I was really distressed to see you -hardly speak to that girl, at whose home we were treated so hospitably. -Just remember the welcome they gave us, and how delighted they were to -see you!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I haven’t forgotten it.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t even thank her for her present!”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t see it. But we will go to the village soon, and I will make up -for my neglect. I am to dine at Madame de la Thomassinière’s to-day, -Bertrand; there will be a lot of people, and a large party in the -evening. Probably I shall not come home until morning. By the way, make -a memorandum to the effect that I have lent a hundred louis to Monsieur -le Marquis de Cligneval, who was very unlucky at cards a day or two ago, -at a house where I happened to be; he is to pay me very soon.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand did not reply; but as he went to the cash-box he muttered:</p> - -<p>“More money that we shall never see again! He’s forever lending, and no -one ever pays him back!”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière, whose fortune increased every day, -determined to celebrate his wife’s birthday by a grand demonstration. -The invitations had been issued a week in advance. There was every -indication that the banquet would be the most sumptuous that the -speculator had ever given. He expected to have at his table marquises -and chevaliers who deigned to call him their friend; poets who had -promised to mention him in their works; and some old acquaintances whom -he expected to overcome by the magnificence of the festivity. Monsieur -and Madame Destival were in the last category.<a name="page_248" id="page_248"></a></p> - -<p>Everybody was in motion in Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s palatial -mansion. The upholsterers had decorated the salons, prepared the -chandeliers and candelabra. The servants flew hither and thither -carrying orders; the scullions obeyed the behests of their commander. -Three women were in attendance on madame, who had been at her toilet -since three o’clock, and it was now five. But Athalie was fickle in her -tastes: the thing that pleased her one day displeased her the next day; -she had already cast aside two caps, in which she declared that she was -hideously ugly; she lost her patience, raged, stamped, tore a superb -piece of tulle, pulled a bouquet to pieces, scolded her women, and was -on the verge of hysteria because they brought her a set of blue jewelry -when she wanted violet. At last they succeeded in pacifying her by -assuring her that her hair was arranged to perfection; she deigned to -look at herself in the mirror, scowled at first, then smiled, and said -at last:</p> - -<p>“It is true; I look rather well.”</p> - -<p>At half-past five the guests began to arrive. Monsieur de la -Thomassinière, who was a little less insolent in his own house than in -other people’s houses, went to meet the titled personages who had -condescended to do him the honor of accepting his dinner, and deigned to -bestow a smile upon those whom he had honored with an invitation.</p> - -<p>Monsieur and Madame Destival arrived in due course. Since he had had a -negro, the business agent had adopted the habit of blinking, and -pretended to be very short-sighted. His wife was attired with an -elegance that rivalled Athalie’s own; and her intelligent eyes seemed to -assume an even more malicious expression as they rested on the master -and mistress of the house.</p> - -<p>All the guests appeared at last, Auguste among them. It was a brilliant -assemblage: women of fashion, dandies,<a name="page_249" id="page_249"></a> men with decorations, filled the -salon, where Athalie did the honors, apportioning her courtesies to the -rank or wealth of their recipients. Monsieur de la Thomassinière stalked -proudly through the rooms, saying:</p> - -<p>“This affair will make a great sensation! The marquis has promised to -mention it at court; there’s a poet here, who’s a newspaper man too, and -he tells me that my name will appear in an article of at least a column! -My name in an article a column long! The deuce! how popular I shall be! -When Destival can give a dinner like mine, I’ll agree that he can call -himself somebody. Poor creatures! they are dying of envy, and I’m glad -of it!”</p> - -<p>At half-past six the company repaired to the dining-room, where the -table was laid with forty covers. Monsieur Destival was seated at the -lower end, between a child of six and an old deaf gentleman. He -swallowed the affront, with a glance at his wife; and their eyes -exchanged a meaning look in which they seemed to promise themselves a -sweet revenge.</p> - -<p>The soup had just been removed, when an uproar, evidently occasioned by -people quarrelling, arose in the adjoining room.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean? Lafleur! Jasmin! Who dares to make a disturbance -in my house?” exclaimed Monsieur de la Thomassinière, calling his -servants. “Send away all visitors; I am not at home to anyone; if a gold -ingot should be brought to me, I wouldn’t accept it now.”</p> - -<p>The servants seemed embarrassed, as if they dared not reply. Meanwhile -the noise continued, and they could distinguish a woman’s voice crying:</p> - -<p>“I will go in! I tell you I’m bound to go in!”</p> - -<p>“Have that canaille turned out of doors, Lafleur,” said Monsieur de la -Thomassinière angrily.<a name="page_250" id="page_250"></a></p> - -<p>At that moment the dining-room door was violently thrown open, and a -woman of some sixty years, short and stout, with a good-humored face, -dressed like an orange-woman, with a round cap on her head, bounced into -the room.</p> - -<p>“Hoity-toity!” she cried; “it’d be a pretty good one if I couldn’t get -into my own son’s house! What a set of donkeys them fellows be! Excuse -me, messieurs and mesdames. Where be you, Thomas? Why don’t you come and -gimme a kiss, my boy? Don’t you know your old mother?”</p> - -<p>The changes of scene at the Opéra are less rapid than those that took -place in that dining-room upon Mère Thomas’s entrance. Monsieur de la -Thomassinière was stupefied; it was as if he had been struck by a -thunderbolt and was unable to move a muscle or utter a word. The -resplendent Athalie turned pale, was evidently confused, and glanced at -Mère Thomas with an expression indicating that she still doubted the -truth of what she heard. On each guest’s face could be read the -amazement caused by this unexpected scene, together with a touch of -irony and malicious satisfaction, which fell far short, however, of what -Destival and his wife felt at that moment.</p> - -<p>Mère Thomas, who took no notice of the demeanor of the guests, -recognized her son among the persons seated at the table, and ran to -him, saying:</p> - -<p>“There he is! I know him! That’s him—that’s my Thomas! Oh! it’s him -fast enough—with his little mole under the left eye!—You ain’t changed -so much, my boy.—Well, why don’t you kiss me? Can’t you move hand or -foot?”</p> - -<p>As she spoke, the good woman seized her son’s head and kissed him -several times. La Thomassinière made<a name="page_251" id="page_251"></a> no resistance; he acted like a man -who did not know where he was, while Athalie cried:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! is it possible? Isn’t this a trick she’s playing on us?”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t look to see me, my boy, eh? Ah! I should say not! This is a -surprise, you see; one of your good friends, he writ to me as how it’d -do you good to see your mother, and told me I’d better try to get here -this very day, ‘cos it’s your wife’s birthday.”</p> - -<p>At this point the guests looked at one another, trying to divine who it -was who had arranged this surprise for Monsieur de la Thomassinière; and -among those who were not responsible there were some who regretted that -it had not suggested itself to them. As for the master of the feast, he -was still too completely crushed by the blow that had been dealt him, to -attend to what his mother said; and Athalie seemed to be on the point of -swooning.</p> - -<p>“So at that,” continued Mère Thomas, “I says to myself, says I: ‘Off we -go!’ I had a bit of money put by, and that paid for my seat in the -diligence, where we was packed together as tight as herrings, saving -your presence, messieurs and mesdames; and here I be in Paris, where -you’ve feathered your nest so well!”</p> - -<p>The Marquis de Cligneval, who was seated opposite Monsieur de la -Thomassinière, determined to put an end to the embarrassment of his -host, upon whose purse he drew too freely not to be ready to shut his -eyes to the lowly condition of his parents. So he hastened to intervene, -and observed pleasantly:</p> - -<p>“It is really very amiable on your excellent mother’s part to surprise -you like this. She was in such haste that she came in rather a négligé -costume. But what does it matter? you are among your friends. Pray let -her sit<a name="page_252" id="page_252"></a> beside me; I shall be delighted to make her acquaintance. She -has a most venerable face—a Greek profile. I am very fond of country -people; they have such delightful dispositions.”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière looked at the marquis with an expression which -signified: “You have saved my life!” while Mère Thomas exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“What’s that he says—I came in négligé. But you’re wrong, my boy; I put -on my Sunday best.”</p> - -<p>“Hush! hush, mother, for heaven’s sake!” whispered La Thomassinière. “Be -careful; you’re speaking to a marquis.”</p> - -<p>“A what? What did you say, Thomas?—But I say, where’s my darter-in-law? -Show her to me, my boy; wouldn’t she like to give her man’s mother a -kiss?”</p> - -<p>“Madame de la Thomassinière, pray embrace your mother-in-law,” said -Madame Destival, with a mocking glance at Athalie.</p> - -<p>“I can’t stand it any longer! I am dying!” murmured Athalie in an -expiring voice; and she fell over upon Auguste, who was seated next her.</p> - -<p>“My wife has fainted!” cried La Thomassinière, overjoyed by an incident -which might divert the attention of the company; and he sprang to his -feet and rushed toward his wife, who was already surrounded by several -people.</p> - -<p>“Oho! is that your wife, that bleating little minx?” exclaimed Mère -Thomas. “She’s ate too much, my boy; she’s got the indigestion, sure -enough. Just give her a drink of brandy—that’ll settle her stomach.”</p> - -<p>Someone gave Athalie smelling salts; she was taken into the fresh air; -but she was careful not to recover consciousness. Mère Thomas pushed -away two petites-maîtresses who were aiding her daughter-in-law, -saying:<a name="page_253" id="page_253"></a></p> - -<p>“Look out, my little darlings, you’re stifling the child. Bless me! if -you want to bring her to right off, I know what’ll do it; two or three -slaps on the backsides—that’ll bring a woman to in short order; it -never fails.”</p> - -<p>The ladies exchanged glances and moved away from Madame Thomas, saying -to one another:</p> - -<p>“This is shocking! it is getting to be unbearable.”</p> - -<p>“She amuses me immensely, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“For my part, she makes me blush; whenever she opens her mouth I tremble -for fear that some disgusting remark will come out.”</p> - -<p>“She has begun well.”</p> - -<p>“This is a hysterical attack,” said La Thomassinière; “madame must be -taken to her room. They always last two or three hours, at least.”</p> - -<p>“Well, well! that’s very nice!” said Mère Thomas.</p> - -<p>The hostess was taken to her room, and she vowed to herself that she -would not leave it so long as Madame Thomas should be in the house.</p> - -<p>However, for most of the guests the dinner was the most essential thing, -and Madame de la Thomassinière had no sooner been taken from the -dining-room than they all resumed their places at the table, with such -remarks as: “It won’t amount to anything; it isn’t dangerous.” All of -which meant: “We have paid enough attention to the hostess, who thought -it best to faint; now let’s think of our stomachs, and not neglect any -longer the delicious dishes that have been prepared for us.”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière would gladly have followed his wife; but he realized -that it would be discourteous to leave his guests, with whom he had -already changed his tone. So he returned to his seat, cudgelling his -brain to devise a method of imposing silence on his dear mother.<a name="page_254" id="page_254"></a> -Destival, meanwhile, fearing that Madame Thomas might be spirited away, -offered her his hand to escort her to her seat by the marquis. Mère -Thomas accepted his hand with a: “Thank ‘ee, my man,” and planted -herself on a chair beside Monsieur de Cligneval.</p> - -<p>“Now, my spark, I don’t need your hand no more,” she said to her escort; -“when it comes to forks and teeth, I can go it alone, friend.”</p> - -<p>“She is overflowing with wit!” cried the marquis; “really, her repartees -are delicious!”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière, who was afraid to raise his eyes, tried to hurry the -dinner. But his guests did not support him; they were very comfortable -at table and did full honor to the feast. The marquis stuffed Mère -Thomas; he kept her plate constantly filled, hoping that that would stop -her chatter; but she was a shrewd old girl, who could do two things at -once. While she was eating, she kept repeating:</p> - -<p>“Dieu! how good this is! What a fine <i>fricot</i>! I ain’t never ate -anything as tasted like this! I say, Thomas, my boy, we don’t make such -good fricassees to our little cabaret at the sign of the Learned Ass! Do -you remember, boy?”</p> - -<p>“Who wants some truffles? who hasn’t any truffles?” cried Monsieur de la -Thomassinière, trying to drown his mother’s voice. But Madame Destival, -who had heard every word, inquired:</p> - -<p>“What do you say, madame? Did Monsieur de la Thomassinière ever keep a -cabaret?”</p> - -<p>“La Thomassinière!” echoed Mère Thomas, emptying her glass. “Who’s that, -my heart?”</p> - -<p>“Your son, madame.”</p> - -<p>“What! don’t you call yourself Thomas no more, my son? So that’s what -all them green monkeys stitched<a name="page_255" id="page_255"></a> with gold, in your outside room, meant -when they said this wa’n’t where you lived! What have you dropped your -father’s name for, Thomas? Didn’t it sound good enough for you? Let me -tell you he was an honest man, who sold wine for six sous a litre -without putting any drugs in it, like your swindlers in Paris!—Excuse -me, friends.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur your son calls himself La Thomassinière now,” said the -marquis, “from the name of an estate that he has bought. That is the -custom in Paris; he hasn’t changed his name but he has lengthened it a -little; it’s pleasanter to the ear.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to be sure,” said La Thomassinière, trying to recover his -self-assurance. “When one has made a fortune as <i>consequential</i> as mine, -one is at liberty to forget. Besides, as monsieur le marquis says, it’s -done every day.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that makes a difference,” rejoined Mère Thomas, “if you’ve been -a-buying estates. That’s worse than the Marquis de Carabas. But for all -that, my boy, you’d ought to sent for me to come to see you sooner; for -I’ve been just a little bit homesick down to our place; it’s a regular -hole, and I couldn’t have such a devil of a spree with the two hundred -francs you send me every year.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! how outrageous!” cried a lady wearing a cap adorned by a -bird-of-paradise, pushing her chair away from the table; while the -gentlemen glanced at one another, laughing, and Monsieur de la -Thomassinière stretched his feet under the table trying to find those of -his excellent mother, who sat opposite him, and to whom he vainly made -signals to urge her to be quiet.</p> - -<p>“What struck that party?” said Mère Thomas, staring at the lady in the -cap. “Is she going to faint too? What’s she making faces at me for, with -that tail of a kite on her head?<a name="page_256" id="page_256"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Mother, I implore you!” said La Thomassinière, moving his feet -frantically.</p> - -<p>“Down! down, I say! there’s dogs under the table, boy. Here’s two or -three on ‘em running atween my legs. Tell someone to give ‘em something -to eat, so they’ll leave us alone. Give me a drink! Who’s going to fill -my glass? you, old boy?”</p> - -<p>It was the marquis to whom this question was addressed; he took a -decanter of madeira that stood before him and filled the glass of his -neighbor, who always refused to drink without touching glasses.</p> - -<p>“What’s this yellow wine, my boy?”</p> - -<p>“Madeira, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Pretty good, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Perfect! it’s the best I ever drank.”</p> - -<p>“Here’s your health then, my buck; and yours, old fox!”</p> - -<p>The last remark was addressed to Madame Thomas’s left hand neighbor, an -old chevalier, with his hair curled and powdered in the style in vogue -during the Regency, who seemed extremely ill-pleased to be seated beside -Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s mother. He turned his head whenever she -looked at him, and did not answer when she spoke to him. This time -Madame Thomas held her glass over the old fellow’s plate, so that it was -impossible for him to avoid replying, and he muttered disdainfully:</p> - -<p>“I don’t drink, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you don’t drink, don’t you, old bean-pole? Well then, you can go -without, that’s all. You needn’t put on so many airs; you look as -pleasant as a bad clove!—Your health, my son, and yours, messieurs, -mesdames, and the whole company; and yours, too, you green monkey, as -didn’t want to let me in.<a name="page_257" id="page_257"></a>”</p> - -<p>This compliment was aimed at Lafleur. Monsieur de la Thomassinière beat -his brow in despair, while the marquis repeated till he was hoarse:</p> - -<p>“Excellent! excellent! The old patriarchal custom—to drink everybody’s -health. Noah’s children always touched one another’s glasses.”</p> - -<p>Madame Thomas tossed off the glass of madeira at a swallow; but when she -had drunk it, she made a wry face and glared at the marquis, crying:</p> - -<p>“God! what vile stuff your madeira is! Bah! it tastes like a donkey’s -water right in your mouth, my children!”</p> - -<p>All the ladies cried out and hid their faces behind their napkins. The -men laughed; and Madame Thomas, who saw nothing unnatural in what she -had said and thought that they shared her amusement, caused her glass to -be filled with another kind of wine; while her son sank back in his -chair, muttering:</p> - -<p>“I am a ruined man!”</p> - -<p>The more Madame Thomas drank, the more loquacious she became. In vain -did the marquis fill her plate, and Monsieur de la Thomassinière call to -his servants: “Serve monsieur! Remove madame’s plate!” the stout old -lady’s voice soared above those of all her fashionable neighbors, for -people of fashion are not in the habit of speaking loud.</p> - -<p>The old gentleman with the pigeon’s wings, whom Madame Thomas had called -a clove, could not digest that insult; he scowled terribly, tried to -turn his back on his neighbor, and muttered:</p> - -<p>“It’s abominable to invite people like myself to compromise their -dignity with such riff-raff! Gad! if they ever catch me here again! I am -terribly distressed that I came.<a name="page_258" id="page_258"></a>”</p> - -<p>For all that, the old chevalier did not go away, but ate and drank for -four, by way of compensation for the annoyance that he felt.</p> - -<p>Mère Thomas wanted some of everything, she called for all the dishes -that she saw, and she would say to the marquis:</p> - -<p>“What’s that, my fine little fellow?”</p> - -<p>“<i>Poulet à la Marengo</i>, madame.”</p> - -<p>“My soul! how it’s disguised! Never mind, just pass me a wing.—And -what’s that black stew over yonder?”</p> - -<p>“A salmi of partridge <i>aux truffes</i>.”</p> - -<p>“That must be heating; but give me a bit of your <i>salmigondis aux -truffes</i>, I’ll take the chances.—and that big dish all covered over -with sauce?”</p> - -<p>“That’s a <i>Sultane à la Chantilly</i>.”</p> - -<p>“A sultana! The dear boy! does he take us for Turks, I wonder! Just give -me a taste of that too, so that I’ll know how those miserable dogs -cook.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll make yourself ill, Madame Thomas,” said La Thomassinière in an -undertone, horrified to see his mother’s eyes grow brighter and -brighter, and that she insisted on tasting all the wines as well as all -the dishes.</p> - -<p>“Get out, boy, I’ve got a stomach like an ostrich! Don’t you remember -the bet I made one day with our cousin as kept the eating house? A fine -man, he was! He died three year ago, poor Chahû!”</p> - -<p>“Lafleur! Jasmin! Comtois! take these plates away; serve the dessert, I -say!”</p> - -<p>In vain did Monsieur de la Thomassinière shout to his servants—his -mother continued her narrative none the less:</p> - -<p>“You must know, my children, that Chahû was one of the biggest eaters in -all Brie; he was a chap with a big head, and he’d put down a turkey, -saving your presence,<a name="page_259" id="page_259"></a> just as slick as you or me’d swallow a lark. -Bless my soul, if he didn’t take a fancy one day to bet me that he’d eat -more’n me of a rabbit stew I’d made for a mason’s wedding feast. I’m a -sly fox, so I took his bet; and when we’d got half through, I told him -in confidence that it was cats as I’d stewed up; and at that my jackass -turned up his toes and got rid of his dinner on the floor.”</p> - -<p>The ladies refused to listen to any more; they left the table and took -refuge in the salon. Monsieur de la Thomassinière was beside himself; he -turned red, yellow and lead-colored in turn; the perspiration stood on -his brow; he poured wine in his plate and put his fork in his glass. The -young men laughed heartily, Auguste with the rest, for he was of the -opinion that his host well deserved this little lesson. Destival was -radiant; his eyes sparkled with delight as he looked from one person to -another and finally fastened his gaze on La Thomassinière. The Marquis -de Cligneval looked at his host with an expression which signified: -“Gad! I’ve done what I could; but, as you see, it’s impossible to hold -her back.”</p> - -<p>“Well! what makes all them pretty females go scooting off at once?” -queried Mère Thomas; “be they all going to the closet together? I say, -it’s like the hens down our way: when one goes, the others have to -follow.”</p> - -<p>A young poet, who had written some verses for Madame de la -Thomassinière, and who was exceedingly annoyed because Mère Thomas’s -arrival, by causing Athalie to swoon and putting the ladies to flight, -had prevented him from reciting his quatrain, which would, so he -thought, create a sensation, said to the buxom dame, as he readjusted -his collar:</p> - -<p>“Madame, it is your fault in some degree that the Graces have fled from -us.<a name="page_260" id="page_260"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What’s that you say, my little dapper?” retorted Mère Thomas, planting -both elbows on the table, the better to observe the young man.</p> - -<p>“I say, madame,” replied the poet, “that the Graces are easily -frightened, and that——”</p> - -<p>“What’s that you’re singing about your Graces! Be they birds you’re -trying to tame?”</p> - -<p>“Madame, the Graces are the ladies; the Zephyrs and the Loves fly at -their heels; Pleasure and Laughter form their train and strew roses -along their path.”</p> - -<p>“Phew! what sort of a stew is that, my boy, made out of roses and -rice.”<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> <i>Ris</i>, meaning <i>laughter</i>, has the same pronunciation as -<i>riz</i> (rice).</p></div> - -<p>“I mean to imply, madame, that there are remarks at which modesty takes -offence, and that, when telling stories, you should touch very lightly -upon certain subjects, for</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“‘Le Latin dans les mots brave l’honnêteté,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Mais l’auditeur Français veut être respecté!<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Du moindre sens impur la liberté l’outrage<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Si la pudeur des mots n’en adoucit l’image.’”<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a><br /></span> -</div></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> The Latin tongue defies decency, but the French listener -insists on being treated with respect. He is offended by the faintest -touch of impurity of sense unless the image is softened by the decency -of the words.</p></div> - -<p>Mère Thomas roared with laughter, and, turning to her neighbor with the -pigeon’s wings, who was dipping a macaroon in champagne, his face still -wearing a scowl, she said:</p> - -<p>“Do you understand that, old fox? That fellow says he’s got impure -senses; it ain’t decent to make a confession like that at dessert.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! madame!” cried the poet, flushing with wrath, “no one ever -dared——<a name="page_261" id="page_261"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What’s up, Biribi? Bah! you’re losing your temper, my lad, you’re red -as a turkey-cock; I see that; but I’m a good-natured fool, and I ain’t -got no more gall ‘n a flea. Let’s drink together; that’s better’n -talking about your fat women—grasses, Graces—and your thin women, what -I don’t know nothing about. Some wine, marquis—that nice little wine as -foams. Oh! I know what this is; it’s champagne, that’s what it is; it -ain’t no fraud, like your madeira! Your health, my little duckies; -yours, Thomas. Whatever’s the matter with you, my son? You don’t say -nothing, and you look as queer as queer; be you going to go off the -hooks, like your wife? We must have a song, children; that’s always the -thing at dessert. Come! who’s going to be the one to begin? Thomas, you -used to know lots o’ songs; I’m going to sing you the one Chahû’s wife -sung to my wedding:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“‘J’entre en train quand il entre en train,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">J’entre en train quand il entre—’”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p class="nind">You must sing the chorus, children.”</p> - -<p>“One moment, one moment, madame,” said the marquis; “pray wait for the -coffee and liqueurs.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! that’s so, my friend; they’ll clear my voice.”</p> - -<p>“This is getting worse and worse!” said the marquis to his host in an -undertone.</p> - -<p>“Oh! monsieur le marquis, I am in utter despair; I am overwhelmed with -confusion; I am afraid to turn my head!”</p> - -<p>“Why, my dear fellow, I am not in the least offended; a great many -people have mothers who are—who are not precisely noble. That does not -prevent your being a man whom I esteem beyond measure, nor does it make -your dinner any the less delicious. But there are people in<a name="page_262" id="page_262"></a> society who -are not so sensible as I am, and in whose estimation this may do you an -injury. To say nothing of the fact that our dear mamma is getting tipsy, -and I don’t know what she may not sing us before she is through.”</p> - -<p>“And to think that I expect more than eighty people to-night for the -ball—the most fashionable and most distinguished people in Paris! Save -me, monsieur le marquis; I lay my purse, my cash-box, my credit, at your -feet!”</p> - -<p>“My dear La Thomassinière, my friendship for you is an sufficient motive -to—However, I believe that I have a note for six thousand francs to -meet to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“You will allow me to attend to that, monsieur le marquis.”</p> - -<p>“We must devise some way to make everybody leave the house.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and as soon as possible.”</p> - -<p>“Wait—I have an idea—Yes, on my word, it’s an excellent idea.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! monsieur le marquis! my gratitude——”</p> - -<p>“It may cost you rather dear, but I see no other resource.”</p> - -<p>“I am ready to make every possible sacrifice.”</p> - -<p>“Very good; let me set to work. Go back to the table as if nothing were -in the wind. Tell your servants to carry out my orders, and await their -effect.”</p> - -<p>“Lafleur, Jasmin, Comtois, obey monsieur le marquis rather than myself.”</p> - -<p>The marquis left the dining-room, followed by the servants, and La -Thomassinière returned to the table. Coffee and liqueurs were served. -The marquis soon reappeared and resumed his seat beside Madame Thomas, -reassuring his host with a glance.<a name="page_263" id="page_263"></a></p> - -<p>Mère Thomas hummed as she drank her coffee.</p> - -<p>“My children,” she said, “we must have a dance to-night; I feel twenty -year younger. Thomas, you’ll take a turn, I hope? Give me a glass, -marquis; but none of that sugary stuff that sticks in your gullet. Give -me something stiff and strong, my friend; that’s the only kind that -makes you feel good.”</p> - -<p>Madame Thomas had taken two petits verres of brandy, one of rum and one -of kirsch; she was declaring that they were very refreshing, and seemed -disposed to go on drinking, when a cloud of smoke arose in the courtyard -and found its way into the rooms. The guests looked at each other -uneasily.</p> - -<p>“Seems to me there’s a bit of a fog,” said Mère Thomas; “it smells like -something burning; be any of you sitting on a foot-warmer?”</p> - -<p>The servants rushed into the room, shouting in dismay:</p> - -<p>“The house is on fire!”</p> - -<p>“Fire!” cried all the guests, springing from their chairs. Mère Thomas -alone remained seated.</p> - -<p>“Well! all you got to do is fling water on it!” she said.</p> - -<p>“My house on fire!” said Monsieur de la Thomassinière, glancing at the -marquis. “How can it have happened? Ah! there was a pile of -straw—somebody must have dropped a match on it. Look, monsieur, see -what a smoke there is in the courtyard!”</p> - -<p>As it was about nine o’clock in the evening, the flame made by a number -of bunches of straw, which the marquis had fired, made the courtyard as -light as day. The cry of <i>fire</i>! soon arose on all sides; it reached the -salon, and the ladies who had taken refuge there from the society of -Madame Thomas, rushed out shrieking, and calling their fathers or their -husbands.<a name="page_264" id="page_264"></a></p> - -<p>The gentlemen tried to allay their fears, saying: “It’s nothing, it -won’t amount to anything; but we must go as soon as possible. Get your -bonnets and shawls; make haste, for ladies should never stay where -everything is in confusion. We will go with you.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the fire which the marquis had kindled, in order to put the -guests to flight, and which the servants did not think of putting out, -because they knew that it was a ruse on their master’s part,—the fire -actually attacked the carriage-house and spread from that to the stable. -While the ladies went to get their shawls and the men their hats, and -while the servants ran through the rooms shouting <i>fire</i>! the danger had -become real, and no one discovered it until a large part of the -courtyard was already wrapped in flames.</p> - -<p>Thereupon tumult and confusion held full sway; the ladies fled into the -street; one lost her turban, another her cap, and several fainted. -Auguste took Athalie in his arms and carried her to a stone bench in the -next street. Amid the general upheaval, Mère Thomas decided at last to -leave the table; she raised her skirts above her knees and began to run, -crying out:</p> - -<p>“Just look at all them friends of Thomas’s! the cowardly skunks are -running away instead of forming a line! and they’d leave me here to -roast just like a chestnut!”</p> - -<p>The results of the marquis’s little ruse were one wing of the house -burned, four horses burned, three firemen injured, ten shawls lost, -fifteen hats stolen, six locks of hair scorched, three bracelets lost, -and two combs broken; but Monsieur de la Thomassinière made himself -whole with twenty thousand francs, and at all events his worthy mother -did not exhibit herself to the numerous guests who were invited for the -evening.<a name="page_265" id="page_265"></a></p> - -<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV<br /><br /> -THAT WHICH WAS FORESEEN</h2> - -<p>On the morrow of the scene at his house, Monsieur de la Thomassinière -and Athalie started for England, where they determined to remain until -Paris had forgotten the scandal caused by the stout countrywoman. As for -the latter, they had sent her back post haste to her village, expressly -forbidding her ever to leave it again, on pain of withdrawal of the -allowance of two hundred francs which her generous son deigned to pay -her.</p> - -<p>The absurd false shame of La Thomassinière, who blushed for his mother -after he became wealthy, and the petty baseness of Athalie, who had -pretended to faint in order to avoid embracing Mère Thomas, made Auguste -quite indifferent to their departure; but their house was the only place -where he saw Monsieur de Cligneval, and Bertrand said more than once:</p> - -<p>“Seems to me, lieutenant, that we don’t hear much about that marquis who -owes you a hundred louis.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I shall hear from him to-day.”</p> - -<p>“And the little milkmaid, when are we going to see her again, and thank -her for what she brought you? The chickens were fine! I had to eat them -while you were dining out.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t think that Denise gives very much thought to us. Hasn’t she a -lover? Isn’t she to be married?”</p> - -<p>“Is that a reason for not thanking her for her chickens, lieutenant?<a name="page_266" id="page_266"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps she came to Paris to invite me to her wedding.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what she came for; but she seemed unhappy when she went -away. She said she wouldn’t trouble you any more, and I saw tears in her -eyes. That touched me, I admit; the child is so sweet and pretty, and -anyone can see that her tears ain’t make-believe.”</p> - -<p>Auguste was apparently reflecting on what the ex-corporal had said, when -there was a violent ring at the door, and Bertrand announced that an old -gentleman whose face denoted intense excitement, wished to see Monsieur -Dalville. Auguste was surprised to recognize Monsieur Monin, whose eyes, -even more staring than usual, seemed to indicate that something of grave -importance had happened.</p> - -<p>“Is it you, Monsieur Monin?” said Auguste, offering a chair to the -ex-druggist, who, despite his excitement, inquired as he seated himself:</p> - -<p>“How’s the state of your health?”</p> - -<p>“I ought rather to ask you that, Monsieur Monin. You look as if you were -in some trouble; may I know what it is?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur; I have less than I had! that’s why I’ve come.”</p> - -<p>“What do you say? less than you had? I don’t understand.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say you don’t know it?”</p> - -<p>“Know what, Monsieur Monin?”</p> - -<p>“What I just told you.”</p> - -<p>“Not yet; but if you would be good enough to explain——”</p> - -<p>“The fact is, monsieur, it gave me such a blow!”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, you seem to be a little confused.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t it have the same effect on you?<a name="page_267" id="page_267"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know as yet what effect it will have on me, Monsieur Monin, or -how I am interested in what you came to tell me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Monsieur Dalville, if we could have guessed; if we could have -foreseen! But, bless my soul! we aren’t sorcerers; that’s what I told -Bichette this morning when she insisted on taking my snuff-box away.”</p> - -<p>“I never supposed that you were a sorcerer, Monsieur Monin; but I -confess that at this moment I find you rather incomprehensible.”</p> - -<p>“That’s because I haven’t recovered yet, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Recovered from what?”</p> - -<p>“And Bichette declares that he’s taken you in, too.”</p> - -<p>Dalville lost patience, and glanced at Bertrand, who was pacing the -floor, muttering:</p> - -<p>“If I had a squad of men like him to drill, I’d begin by fastening ‘em -to horses’ tails and driving the horses at a gallop.”</p> - -<p>Monin took out his snuff-box, stuffed his nostrils, and continued:</p> - -<p>“I have come to you, Monsieur Dalville, to see if by chance you have -discovered which way he has gone.”</p> - -<p>“Who on earth do you mean, Monsieur Monin? For heaven’s sake, explain -yourself more fully! You have been talking to me for an hour, and I -haven’t understood a word that you’ve said. What is it that someone has -been doing to you?”</p> - -<p>“Someone has robbed me, monsieur!”</p> - -<p>“Robbed you?”</p> - -<p>“That is to say, carried off twenty-five thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“Who, pray?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Destival.”</p> - -<p>“Destival!<a name="page_268" id="page_268"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur; he’s gone away, left France, so I am told. That is what -I had the honor to come to tell you.”</p> - -<p>Auguste understood now too well; he was overwhelmed. Bertrand walked up -to Monin, shouting:</p> - -<p>“What’s that you say? Damnation! Is it possible that that Monsieur -Destival——”</p> - -<p>“Ah! Monsieur Bertrand! How’s the state of your health?”</p> - -<p>“He has gone—with our two hundred and fifty thousand francs!”</p> - -<p>“Just so. You know you taught him to drill.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! the double-dyed villain!—We are ruined, lieutenant!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t get excited, Bertrand; perhaps this intelligence is false. I -can’t believe that Destival——”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I told Bichette; I couldn’t believe it either.”</p> - -<p>“But how do you know? Who told you that Destival has gone?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you, monsieur: he sold my shop for me not long ago, and kept -the money to invest; and I gave him six thousand francs more a week ago, -because he said that the more he had, the better investments he could -make. And yet Bichette wasn’t very much inclined to leave our money with -him. But Monsieur Bisbis advised her to leave it, so—Do you take -snuff?”</p> - -<p>“I must go at once to Destival’s,” said Auguste, interrupting Monin in -the middle of his speech.</p> - -<p>“Yes, lieutenant,” said Bertrand, “that will be much better than -listening to monsieur. Go, don’t lose any time; and meanwhile I’ll go -and try to find out something about which way the villain has gone. -Perhaps he ain’t far away yet, and if we have to founder ten horses, -we’ll catch him!<a name="page_269" id="page_269"></a>”</p> - -<p>“If you do catch him, Monsieur Bertrand, remember that I’m in for -twenty-five thousand francs,” said Monin. But nobody was listening to -him; Auguste was already on the staircase and the corporal lost no time -in following him. Monin, finding that he was left alone with the little -groom, decided to leave Dalville’s abode and to return to his own.</p> - -<p>“At the rate they’re going,” he thought, “there’s no doubt that those -gentlemen will succeed in catching our man; so I’ll go home and -encourage Bichette.”</p> - -<p>Auguste betook himself to the business agent’s abode. He inquired for -Destival of the concierge, who replied:</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Destival hasn’t been seen for three days, and nobody knows -what’s become of him; he didn’t say where he was going. The negro and -Baptiste have gone, too; but madame and her maid stayed behind. She’s at -home now.”</p> - -<p>Auguste went upstairs and was admitted by Julie. The young man noticed -no change in the apartments, where it simply seemed more quiet than -before. He was ushered into the presence of madame, who seemed a little -embarrassed at sight of him.</p> - -<p>“Can it be that the current report is true, madame?” Auguste asked. “I -am told that your husband has gone away, that he has left France!”</p> - -<p>“Alas! it is only too true, monsieur,” replied Emilie, sinking into an -easy-chair.</p> - -<p>“What, madame! has he gone, not to return?”</p> - -<p>“I think so, monsieur. He has abandoned me; he is an abominable man!”</p> - -<p>“And do you know what he has taken with him, madame?”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur; I knew absolutely nothing about his business.<a name="page_270" id="page_270"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! It is almost all that I -possessed.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that was shocking on his part!”</p> - -<p>“Say rather that it is robbery, infernal rascality!” cried Auguste, -angered by Madame Destival’s indifference. “And you don’t know, madame, -where he has gone?”</p> - -<p>“I know nothing at all about it, monsieur; I am overwhelmed, stunned, -like yourself!”</p> - -<p>“Your husband has ruined me, madame.”</p> - -<p>“I am terribly distressed, monsieur; but what do you expect me to do?”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, madame, that this occurrence is likely to involve you -in some unpleasantness.”</p> - -<p>“I have no responsibility whatever to Monsieur Destival’s creditors, -monsieur; we had each our own property; this house is hired in my name, -and everything in it is mine. Is it my fault that Monsieur Destival has -been unfortunate in his speculations? Is it the first time that such a -thing ever happened? Am I not more to be pitied than anybody else? He -has carried off my marriage portion, monsieur, and the furniture that is -left here is certainly not worth the amount of that.—However, monsieur, -do whatever you choose; proceed against me; turn me into the street if -such is your desire!”</p> - -<p>Auguste made no reply, but left Madame Destival’s presence abruptly, -cursing the business agent’s rascality.</p> - -<p>Bertrand returned, having failed to discover any traces of the fugitive. -He continued his efforts in that direction for three days, while Auguste -on his side did all that he could; but it seemed certain that Destival -was already outside of France; that was the utmost that he could learn -about him.<a name="page_271" id="page_271"></a></p> - -<p>Auguste tried to recover his cheerfulness and to endure the blow -philosophically. Bertrand was very careful not to offer his master any -counsel at that moment, for he realized that the time would be -ill-chosen. But when all hope was abandoned of discovering the tracks of -the swindler who had carried off Dalville’s fortune, Bertrand bethought -himself of the Marquis de Cligneval’s little debt; and Auguste consented -that the corporal should call upon him.</p> - -<p>Bertrand hastened to the address given him and asked for monsieur le -marquis.</p> - -<p>“He don’t live here now,” said the concierge.</p> - -<p>“Where does he live?”</p> - -<p>“He’s gone to take the waters.”</p> - -<p>“What waters, morbleu?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, he didn’t tell me, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand was furious; he returned, cursing, to tell Auguste, who -received the news calmly enough.</p> - -<p>“What! lieutenant, you are robbed of a hundred louis more, and it -doesn’t make you angry!” said Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“Faith, my friend, when a fellow is ruined, a hundred louis more or less -aren’t worth worrying about.”</p> - -<p>“Still, they’d tide over for some time. That cursed marquis! I had a -presentiment of this.”</p> - -<p>“I shall find him somewhere.”</p> - -<p>“He won’t pay you.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, you must look into the condition of my cash-box and see how -much I have left.”</p> - -<p>“That won’t take long, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand walked sadly toward the desk; then returned and presented with -a sigh a statement of their finances.</p> - -<p>“Eighteen thousand six hundred and forty francs,” said Auguste, reading -the total; “Gad! I didn’t think that I was still so rich as this.<a name="page_272" id="page_272"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t counted the marquis’s hundred louis, nor what several of your -friends owe you.”</p> - -<p>“I am inclined to think that that is wise. But I must know what I owe -also; send to my tailor and boot-maker and harness-maker, and pay their -bills. When I was rich I could afford to owe; but when one’s money is -gone, one should not think of running into debt.”</p> - -<p>“You speak like the great Turenne, lieutenant. All the bills shall be -paid to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>After the bills were paid, Auguste possessed sixteen thousand four -hundred francs.</p> - -<p>“Add to that our handsome furniture and the wine in the cellar, and by -leading an orderly, economical life, you can wait to see what will turn -up,” Bertrand observed.</p> - -<p>“We must subtract from the total, Bertrand, three hundred francs that I -have promised to pay for a pretty mercer’s apprentice, whose furniture a -heartless bailiff proposed to seize; two hundred francs which I am -lending to Virginie, and ten louis for some bracelets that I am going to -buy to-night.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand nearly swallowed the pen that he had in his mouth.</p> - -<p>“You can’t mean it, lieutenant!” he cried; “before long you won’t have -anything left.”</p> - -<p>“Look you, my friend, I promised all these things when I was still rich; -shall I break my promises just because a villain has ruined me? You -wouldn’t do it yourself. But I swear that these shall be my last -follies. Henceforth I propose to be virtue itself; besides, you must -remember that we shall also have the proceeds of the sale of my two -horses and my cabriolet, for I can no longer indulge in a carriage! I -must cut down my establishment, dismiss Tony, and go on foot.—Does that -make you feel sad, Bertrand?<a name="page_273" id="page_273"></a>”</p> - -<p>“For your sake, lieutenant!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! very likely I shall be all the better for it, my friend. Exercise -is essential to good health—I’ve heard you say that a thousand times. -Do you think that people who go on foot aren’t just as good as those who -ride in carriages?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you don’t think I’m such a fool as that, lieutenant!”</p> - -<p>“Well then, why regret a thing one can do so well without! With money, -hasn’t one always a cab at his command, without having horses and a -groom to keep? Upon my word, I can’t understand now why I ever had a -cabriolet.”</p> - -<p>“But all those grisettes who come to tell you about their little -troubles, to have you comfort them, and the great ladies whose heads you -turned—don’t you think, lieutenant, that your cabriolet had something -to do with their display of affection for you?”</p> - -<p>“That would be an additional reason for not regretting it. Henceforth I -shall know the hearts of the women to whom I make love; I shall be sure -of being loved for myself; and if I triumph over a youthful beauty, if I -carry the day over a rival, I shall have no reason to fear that I owe -the preference accorded me to my fortune and to that alone.”</p> - -<p>“You will soon find out, lieutenant, that it was for your advantage that -that villain carried off your money!”</p> - -<p>“Faith! who knows? Tell me, am I wrong to look at the bright side?”</p> - -<p>“No, indeed; there are lots of people who couldn’t find a bright side to -such a thing; but still—excuse my fears, monsieur—what you have left -won’t last forever, no matter how much we may economize; and what will<a name="page_274" id="page_274"></a> -you do then, lieutenant? for a man can’t live on his cheerfulness -alone.”</p> - -<p>“Why, then—we’ll see, my dear Bertrand; I have some talents—well, I’ll -turn them to account, I’ll work.”</p> - -<p>“You work, monsieur!” said Bertrand, turning his back, to wipe away a -tear.</p> - -<p>“Why not, my friend?”</p> - -<p>“Because you’re not used to it—because it would be too hard for -you—because I wouldn’t allow it, in fact,—and—But let’s not say any -more about that. You’re right; it’s better to forget ourselves. Who -knows? perhaps we shall find your thief!”</p> - -<p>“That’s the talk, my dear Bertrand; we must always hope; it makes us -none the poorer and it does us good.”</p> - -<p>Auguste went out to seek distraction with a mercer’s apprentice, and -Bertrand went downstairs to read the life of the great Turenne to -Schtrack.</p> - -<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI<br /><br /> -A SCENE IN SOCIETY</h2> - -<p>The cabriolet was sold, the little groom found another place. When -Madame Saint-Edmond observed that her neighbor was cutting down his -establishment, she no longer deigned to look at him, but passed him -without even bowing to him. Bertrand was indignant at her discourtesy, -but Auguste laughed at it, saying:</p> - -<p>“I am certain now that that woman never loved me, and it is always -pleasant to know whom one is dealing with.<a name="page_275" id="page_275"></a>”</p> - -<p>But Bertrand muttered:</p> - -<p>“Just let her lose her poodle again; and if I find him I’ll make him do -a turn of sentry duty that he’ll never be relieved from.”</p> - -<p>Auguste continued to seek distraction in society, and as distraction is -ordinarily expensive, he spent much more than he should have done, -although he had determined to be virtuous and orderly. He considered -himself very prudent, because, instead of losing fifty louis at an -evening party, he lost only fifty crowns; because, instead of hiring a -box at the theatre, he contented himself with buying seat tickets at the -office; and because he rode in cabs instead of keeping a cabriolet. But -even this outlay was too large for a person who had only a small capital -and no income. Bertrand saw with dismay that their funds would not last -as long as he had hoped; he dared not remonstrate with Auguste, but he -often said to him:</p> - -<p>“Let’s go see the pretty milkmaid, monsieur, and that little Coco that -you’re so fond of; that will divert you. We can pass a few days at the -village, and amusements don’t cost so much there as they do in Paris.”</p> - -<p>Auguste constantly postponed visiting Montfermeil. He did not tell -Bertrand the reason that he dreaded to go there; but he was pained to -think that he was no longer able to do all that he had hoped to do for -the child; he supposed that the money which he had left for him had been -used; and, being accustomed to follow nothing but the impulses of his -heart and give money away with a lavish hand, he sighed at the idea of -being obliged to reckon the extent of his benefactions. That pang was -the keenest that the loss of his fortune had as yet caused him.</p> - -<p>After an absence of six weeks, Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière -returned to Paris. Their<a name="page_276" id="page_276"></a> mansion became once more the rendezvous of the -people who love good dinners, evening parties and balls; and the old -chevalier of the pigeon’s wings was not the last to return thither, -although at their last dinner-party he had sworn that they would never -catch him there again. The marquises and dandies, the women of fashion, -the poets and bankers were very careful not to mention Madame Thomas to -Monsieur de la Thomassinière; and he said to himself, rubbing his hands:</p> - -<p>“It’s all forgotten, nobody thinks about it now, it hasn’t injured me in -the least. For all that, I did well to pass six weeks in England; that -sufficed to forget it.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière was mistaken; Madame Thomas’s visit was not -forgotten; but so long as he was rich and continued to give gorgeous -parties and grand dinners, people would continue to go to his house and -to welcome him warmly. Let him but lose his money, and everybody would -very soon discover what he was—a very stupid, vulgar individual. So -that it was not necessary for him to make the journey to England. To be -sure, he did not say all this to himself.</p> - -<p>Destival’s flight caused a sensation. When it was mentioned to La -Thomassinière, he cried:</p> - -<p>“I was certain that that man would turn out ill! He fancied that he was -as well equipped as I; he had the assurance to dream of making a fortune -like mine! As if my talents were given to everybody! He gave wretched -dinners: poor food and poor wine! And he had an idea that he gave -dinners like mine! I have said a hundred times: ‘That man will go -under!’ and he hasn’t failed to do it.”</p> - -<p>“His wife was too much of a flirt,” said Athalie; “she insisted on -following all the fashions and wearing cashmere shawls; she had taken my -dressmaker.<a name="page_277" id="page_277"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Taken your dressmaker, madame!” cried her husband; “you must agree that -that was utterly absurd! Those people had lost their senses! The idea of -taking your dressmaker! the wife of a miserable little business agent!”</p> - -<p>“But she’s still in Paris,” said the Marquis de Cligneval, who was -present at this conversation. “I saw her in a buggy a few days ago, more -stylishly dressed than ever.”</p> - -<p>“Really?” said the speculator; “you say that she was dressed in style? -It’s a fact that she had much more wit than her husband! It seems that -her skirts are entirely clear of his business; she must have taken -measures beforehand, and she did well; certainly no one can blame her.”</p> - -<p>The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Dalville, who had not -been at the Thomassinière’s since their return from England.</p> - -<p>“Ah! Monsieur Dalville!” said the speculator, hurrying to meet the young -man with an air of great cordiality, while the marquis seized Auguste’s -hand and cried:</p> - -<p>“How delighted I am to see you, my amiable friend! Gad! I intended to -come to see you one of these days.—‘Nobody ever sees him now,’ I said -to myself; ‘what in the deuce has become of him?’”</p> - -<p>“It is a fact, monsieur,” said Athalie, with a gracious smile to -Auguste, “you have been in no hurry, monsieur, to come to see us since -we returned more than ten days ago; it’s very unkind, for you know how -fond of you we are.”</p> - -<p>“You are too kind, madame,” said Auguste, taking a seat beside the -petite-maîtresse; “but I have been very much occupied. You have learned -no doubt that Destival——<a name="page_278" id="page_278"></a>”</p> - -<p>“We were speaking about him a moment ago,” said La Thomassinière, “and I -was saying to monsieur le marquis, my good friend, that his performance -did not surprise me in the least! Indeed, I believe that I anticipated -it!”</p> - -<p>“That is true—you did say that to me,” the marquis replied; “but I -admit that such things always pass my comprehension. To fail—to run -away with other people’s money—why, it’s shocking! Let a man go off -with his own all he pleases; but the idea of deceiving people who have -confidence in one’s good faith! who place their property in one’s hands -to administer! who leave everything to one’s honesty! Ah! I could never -forgive that!”</p> - -<p>“Nor I,” cried La Thomassinière; “I could never forgive anyone for not -succeeding in business. I will say more—I won’t receive such a man in -my house. The minute your credit begins to sink, why, good-evening; -you’d better stay at home! That’s all I know! For we must have honesty -first of all, as monsieur le marquis observed; and with rich people a -man is never in any danger.”</p> - -<p>Dalville smiled at the warmth with which the two worthies emphasized -their love of honesty, and after a moment he rejoined:</p> - -<p>“Do you know how much of my money Destival has taken away with him?”</p> - -<p>“No,” said La Thomassinière; “is it possible that he cheated you too? I -thought that you were too shrewd to allow yourself to be taken in, -Monsieur Dalville!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! in money matters, monsieur, the shrewdest are likely to be the -stupidest. A man doesn’t need intelligence to grow rich; that’s a truth -of which the world presents us with proofs every day.<a name="page_279" id="page_279"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville is forever joking,” Athalie said, laughingly; while -La Thomassinière said to the marquis in an undertone:</p> - -<p>“This young man knows nothing whatever about business. I feel sorry for -him.”</p> - -<p>“How much did the scoundrel rob you of?” queried the marquis.</p> - -<p>“Two hundred and fifty thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“The deuce!” cried La Thomassinière; “but that’s quite a sum of money! -Two hundred and fifty thousand francs! You must have stout loins to -stand such a loss!”</p> - -<p>“Oh well! I stand it as best I can. This is the time to be -philosophical.”</p> - -<p>“I understand; that means that you are still very rich.”</p> - -<p>“Not at all; on the contrary, I have nothing left. Destival has carried -off my capital, and in a few months I shall have to turn my attention to -earning my living.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s face grew long and the marquis’s anxious. -Athalie alone seemed to take any interest in Auguste’s situation.</p> - -<p>“What!” she exclaimed; “do you really mean, Monsieur Dalville, that that -wretched man has ruined you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, the fact is only too certain.”</p> - -<p>“And you take it as calmly as this?”</p> - -<p>“If I should rage and tear my hair, that would not give me back my -money.”</p> - -<p>“Philosophy is a fine thing, that is sure,” said the marquis. “It helps -us to take things as they come, it makes us superior to adversity, -and—But it occurs to me that I am invited out to dinner, to eat a -truffled turkey. I promised to be on hand at the overture, and a man of -honor has only his word. Au revoir, my dear friends.<a name="page_280" id="page_280"></a>”</p> - -<p>The marquis rose and was about to leave the room, when Dalville ran -after him and stopped him.</p> - -<p>“I beg your pardon, my dear Monsieur de Cligneval,” he said under his -breath, “but you probably have forgotten a little debt of a hundred -louis. If I venture to remind you of it, you will understand that just -at this time I am in need of whatever I possess.”</p> - -<p>“My dear friend, what do you say? Pardieu! it had slipped my mind -entirely.”</p> - -<p>“You were to repay it that same week, and as it was two months ago, I -thought you had forgotten that trifle.”</p> - -<p>“Entirely, my dear friend, entirely; I have no memory except for -important things, and a hundred louis, you will agree, is the merest -bagatelle. Send to my house.”</p> - -<p>“They could not give me your address at your former residence.”</p> - -<p>“True, I am on the wing. I will send the money to you—that will be the -better way. But they are waiting for me; the turkey is probably served. -It’s a party of gentlemen only, and I promised to be prompt. I am very -particular about keeping my word.”</p> - -<p>“I can rely, then, upon——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you shall hear from me to-morrow at the latest. Adieu; pardon me -for leaving you so abruptly, but a truffled turkey admits of no -postponement.”</p> - -<p>And Monsieur de Cligneval, who was in truth very particular about -keeping his word when a dinner or luncheon was concerned, shook off his -creditor and escaped from the salon. But as he was by no means anxious -to meet Dalville frequently at his friend La Thomassinière’s, monsieur -le marquis, when he reached the reception-room, told a servant to go to -his master and tell him privately that Monsieur de Cligneval had -something to impart to him in confidence.<a name="page_281" id="page_281"></a></p> - -<p>The servant did the errand and La Thomassinière hastily left the salon -and joined the marquis, whose obsequious servant he deemed himself very -fortunate to be.</p> - -<p>“What is it, my dear marquis? I am at your service,” cried the parvenu.</p> - -<p>“Sh! let us go into your study, my friend. Dalville thinks that I have -gone, and I don’t want him to meet me when he goes away.”</p> - -<p>They went into Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s study, and there the -marquis seemed to hesitate, as if he did not know whether he ought to -speak.</p> - -<p>“I am dreadfully perplexed,” he said at last to La Thomassinière, who -was waiting humbly to hear what he had to tell him.</p> - -<p>“Perplexed!—you! Is it possible that a marquis can ever be perplexed? -Nonsense, you are joking!”</p> - -<p>“No, my friend, no. Mon Dieu! because one happens to have been born in -an exalted sphere, because one enjoys some consideration and has some -little power, do you suppose that one is not human just the same, and -subject to all the weaknesses that nature has allotted to us?”</p> - -<p>“Surely not, monsieur le marquis! and——”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul! we are all very much alike! In the eyes of men of -intelligence what does a little more or a little less nobility amount -to?—For my own part, I give you my word that, if you were a duke, I -should esteem you no more highly!”</p> - -<p>“You are too kind, monsieur le marquis!”</p> - -<p>“No, I am frank, that’s all.”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière was wondering how this discussion would take the -marquis to the truffled turkey that awaited him, when Monsieur de -Cligneval resumed:<a name="page_282" id="page_282"></a></p> - -<p>“It was about Dalville that I wanted to speak to you in private. That -young man allowed himself to be taken in like an idiot.”</p> - -<p>“Like an absolute idiot, monsieur le marquis.”</p> - -<p>“And he was so conceited, so self-sufficient! He wouldn’t take anybody’s -advice; he thought that he knew how to manage his business. It was a -pitiable thing!”</p> - -<p>“It was, as you say, pitiable.”</p> - -<p>“The idea of entrusting all his money to Destival! He must have lost his -senses.”</p> - -<p>“However that may be, monsieur le marquis, I always come back to my -principle—I never forgive a man for allowing himself to be robbed.”</p> - -<p>“And you are quite right. Let him rob others—that is to say, make sport -of others—and I’ve not a word to say; that is cleverness, -tact!—However, this Dalville is in a most infernal position!”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I thought as soon as he told me he had nothing left.”</p> - -<p>“If he even had any social rank—a title—any of those things that may -lead to everything.”</p> - -<p>“In short, if he were noble.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! in that case he might get out of it—but when a man isn’t noble -it’s essential that he should be rich!”</p> - -<p>“To be sure—that’s another of my principles.”</p> - -<p>“And it’s all a part of the system of equality and philosophy that I was -describing to you just now. I was interested in this Dalville; but my -friendship for you takes precedence of everything; that is why I -conceive it to be my duty not to conceal anything from you.”</p> - -<p>“Conceal nothing, I pray, monsieur le marquis!”</p> - -<p>“Do you know what he said to me just now when I was leaving the salon?”</p> - -<p>“No, I haven’t any idea.<a name="page_283" id="page_283"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t you overhear a word?”</p> - -<p>“Not a single word.”</p> - -<p>“Well, my dear fellow, he was asking me to lend him money.”</p> - -<p>“Asking you to lend him money?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear fellow; on my word, that did seem a little bit hasty on -his part, I admit.”</p> - -<p>“Hasty! you are very generous, monsieur le marquis! It was much worse -than that.”</p> - -<p>“In the first place, I don’t know him well enough to——”</p> - -<p>“And even if you did know him very well—whoever heard of lending money -to a man who is ruined, and who has just told you so?—I know him better -than you do, and I wouldn’t lend him.”</p> - -<p>“In the second place, it’s the very worst form to borrow money at a -third person’s house.”</p> - -<p>“It’s shocking form!”</p> - -<p>“As if he couldn’t have come to my house like a man—or waited till -another time! But no—he attacks me in your salon! I had to promise to -make him a loan—otherwise he wouldn’t have let me go.”</p> - -<p>“That is true, I noticed that; and yet you had told him that a truffled -turkey was awaiting you, and it seems to me that such a consideration -should have imposed silence on him.”</p> - -<p>“You must realize that if he sets about borrowing money in this way from -everybody he meets at your house, you will be placed in a false -position, and a great many of your acquaintances will be kept away from -here; for I don’t know of anything that people dread more in society -than to be asked to lend money.”</p> - -<p>“Great heaven!” cried La Thomassinière, pacing the floor excitedly. -“Why, a man like that would be a<a name="page_284" id="page_284"></a> veritable scourge, worse than the -plague! I believe that I should prefer to see Madame Thomas appear!”</p> - -<p>“I assure you, my friend, that that would do you less harm.”</p> - -<p>“Never fear, I will attend to his case. And I won’t beat about the bush -either. To-morrow my concierge will receive my orders: we shall never be -at home to Monsieur Dalville. You hear—<i>never!</i>”</p> - -<p>“Do just what you think best, my friend. I am very sorry for the young -man, for I liked him much. Still, I felt bound to let you know.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you have done me a very great service, monsieur le marquis! A -service that I shall never forget as long as I live! Think of receiving -under my roof a man who tries to borrow money from my friends! who might -end by trying to borrow from me! Remember that he has only been ruined a -few days, and if he is borrowing already, what will he do after a little -while? Can anyone tell where it will stop?”</p> - -<p>“I have warned you, I have done what honor demanded, and now I will go -and say a word to the turkey I have mentioned. Adieu, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“I hope that you will dine with us to-morrow, monsieur le marquis. You -will not meet Dalville in my house, I assure you.”</p> - -<p>“In that case, I will join you. You will understand that it is painful -to close one’s purse to misfortune; but with the best will in the world, -one can give only what one has. Until to-morrow then, my dear La -Thomassinière.”</p> - -<p>“Your very humble servant, monsieur le marquis.”</p> - -<p>When the marquis had gone, La Thomassinière considered whether he should -return to the salon. He decided to join Dalville—indeed he considered -it his duty<a name="page_285" id="page_285"></a> to begin to treat him coolly, so that the young man would -not be tempted to disregard the orders which he proposed to give to his -concierge.</p> - -<p>Dalville had remained with Athalie. That young lady, after -compassionating the young man, and assuring him that she was grieved by -his misfortune, remembered that a new play was to be given at the -Français that evening, and she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“I must not fail to be there. Have you hired a box, Monsieur Auguste?”</p> - -<p>“I no longer hire boxes, madame,” was the reply; “I purchase my ticket -modestly at the box-office. Sometimes I even stand in the line, and do -not indulge myself with a seat in the resplendent orchestra.”</p> - -<p>“Stand in the line!” said Athalie; and her smile became less expansive. -“Oh! how shocking!”</p> - -<p>A minute or two later the young coquette noticed that there were several -spots of mud on Dalville’s boots.</p> - -<p>“How is this, monsieur? You, who are always so exquisitely shod—you -must have been splashed to-day! I can hardly believe it is you.”</p> - -<p>“Still another result of my penury, madame. When I had a cabriolet, it -was a simple matter for me always to have my boots spotlessly clean; but -when one goes on foot, one must expect to be more open to criticism in -one’s dress.”</p> - -<p>“What! you no longer have a cabriolet?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, I have mustered it out of service, as well as my groom, and -I have kept only my faithful Bertrand; for he is a friend rather than a -servant, and one doesn’t part with a friend just because one is -unfortunate.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? why, what you say is very true,” replied Athalie, going to -a mirror to arrange her curls.<a name="page_286" id="page_286"></a> “Bless my soul! how pale I am to-day! It -frightens me! I am going to have one of my nervous attacks, I feel -sure.”</p> - -<p>It was at that moment that Monsieur de la Thomassinière entered the -salon, assuming a more self-important air, a heavier tread than usual, -and with a frown already prepared, lest his visitor should ask him for a -loan.</p> - -<p>“Who on earth was it who desired to see you, monsieur?” queried Athalie, -still looking at herself in the mirror.</p> - -<p>“A person who had some very important information to communicate, -madame, and who preferred not to come in, knowing that I had company; -indeed, it is a nuisance to have company all the time, and I propose to -adopt the plan of not receiving visitors when I am at home.”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! you can do better than that, Monsieur de la Thomassinière,” -said Auguste, laughingly. “You should imitate a lady of my acquaintance, -who, when she had not put on her red paint and white paint and blue -paint—in a word, when she had not finished beautifying herself—used to -go to the door herself and say: ‘I am not at home.’”</p> - -<p>“Ha! ha! that is very good!” said Athalie; “but I feel rather -uncomfortable, and I believe that I will go and lie down.”</p> - -<p>The petite-maîtresse left the room with a slight nod to Auguste, while -La Thomassinière continued to pace the floor, frowning ominously.</p> - -<p>“Well, Monsieur de la Thomassinière, how’s business?” said the young -man, leaning back in his chair, while the parvenu seemed not to know -what to do with himself.</p> - -<p>“Business, monsieur? Oh! you mean speculation.<a name="page_287" id="page_287"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Are you still making money fast?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur; a man ought to make money, it’s a duty, it’s what we -were made for.”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! then you must teach me your secret, for I have never known how -to do anything but spend it. But I must mend my ways; I must turn my -attention to making my living, and for that purpose it seems to me that -I cannot apply to a better man than you.”</p> - -<p>La Thomassinière, convinced that Auguste was leading up to a request for -a loan, pretended that he had not heard, and said, with a glance at his -wallet:</p> - -<p>“I lack thirty thousand francs of the amount necessary to buy some notes -that have just been offered me—a splendid chance. I know that I can -obtain that amount easily enough, that I have only to open my mouth and -mention my name; but it annoys me, because I can’t endure to have -recourse to anyone, even though it is only for an hour.”</p> - -<p>Auguste was diverted by this comedy, and said after a while:</p> - -<p>“By the way, Monsieur de la Thomassinière, how is your good mother, the -excellent Madame Thomas, whose unexpected arrival caused you so much -pleasure the last time that I dined with you?”</p> - -<p>The parvenu blushed, bit his lips and stammered:</p> - -<p>“She’s—she’s very well, monsieur; that is to say, I presume she’s very -well; but since I returned from England—why,—why, of course I’ve had -other things to think about. And—Great heaven! it just occurs to -me—I’ve three letters to write to London—to noblemen who are expecting -to hear from me—thoughtless creature that I am! I cannot stay with you -any longer, Monsieur Dalville; my business calls me away—and business -before everything.<a name="page_288" id="page_288"></a>”</p> - -<p>With that, La Thomassinière abruptly left the salon, without saluting -Auguste, whom he left there alone.</p> - -<p>“The stupid ass!” said Dalville, as he took his hat; “does he suppose -that I didn’t notice the change in his manner as soon as he knew that I -was a ruined man? And Athalie! I thought that she had more feeling! But -what can one expect from a woman to whom dress and pleasure are -everything? And such is this ‘society,’ where everyone seeks to shine, -whose suffrage is eagerly sought, and in which we pass a great part of -our lives! Are all these people worth the trouble of wasting a regret on -them, I wonder?”</p> - -<p>And Dalville left La Thomassinière’s house, vowing that he would never -go there again.</p> - -<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII<br /><br /> -THE FIFTH FLOOR</h2> - -<p>“Lieutenant,” said Bertrand to Dalville, one morning, “we have forgotten -something in our reformation, but the approach of rent-day reminds me of -it: it’s the matter of lodgings. You must agree, lieutenant, that a -fifteen-hundred franc suite is rather too heavy for our budget, in which -the expense account is always lengthening, while the receipt account is -a blank page.”</p> - -<p>“You are right, Bertrand, we must give notice.”</p> - -<p>“When I mentioned the subject to Schtrack yesterday, he told me that -there’s an Englishman who will take the apartments at any time if we -want to leave them; it seems to me, lieutenant, that it would be the -wisest plan to move right away.<a name="page_289" id="page_289"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Do what you choose, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Especially as there’s a small bachelor’s apartment on the fifth floor, -that might suit us: two rooms and a large dressing-room. It’s vacant, -and if it won’t be unpleasant for you to stay in this house——”</p> - -<p>“Why should it? Have I any reason to blush because of my changed -fortune? I am the dupe of villains, but I have made no dupes. We will go -up four flights. Hire the bachelor’s apartment.”</p> - -<p>“Very good, lieutenant. We will be all settled there to-morrow. No -wagons to pay for moving—that’s another saving.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand was well pleased to stay in the house with his friend Schtrack; -and the next morning, as soon as Dalville had gone out, he and the -concierge carried the furniture from the first floor to the fifth. But -as two small rooms would not contain the furniture that filled six large -ones, he left in the old apartment all that he considered superfluous, -and the new tenant purchased it, the proceeds serving to restock -Bertrand’s cash-box at an opportune moment.</p> - -<p>On returning home, Auguste, from long habit, stopped on the first floor. -He rang, and waited in vain for Bertrand to admit him; then he -remembered that he no longer lived there, and went on upstairs; but, in -spite of himself, a sigh escaped him as he left his former apartment -behind; and when he entered his new abode, the cramped space and the -prospect of roofs from all the windows, extorted another sigh from his -breast. We are men before we are philosophers, and the knowledge that we -owe to the arguments of reason does not win an easy victory over our -natural inclinations.</p> - -<p>However, Auguste did his best to smile when Bertrand said to him:<a name="page_290" id="page_290"></a></p> - -<p>“We shall be very comfortable here, lieutenant; shan’t we? The rooms are -small, but we have everything under our hand. And what’s the use of -having so many useless rooms? For, now that we’re not rich any more, -almost nobody comes to see us. If we want to exercise, we can go out. -But the air’s better here than it is on the first floor. And the view! -Why, we overlook all the houses round.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, this is all that we need,” Dalville replied; and Bertrand, -observing that his master’s smile was a little forced, made haste to -add:</p> - -<p>“I have already noticed, at that window in the roof over there, a very -good-looking young girl.”</p> - -<p>“Where? where?” cried Auguste, running to the window.</p> - -<p>“See, close by us, where the window is open. We can look right into her -room, which is very convenient. And there’s the girl I saw just now. She -has evidently noticed that she has a new neighbor, and she isn’t sorry -to be looked at.”</p> - -<p>“She is really very good-looking: a good figure, and a saucy expression, -eh, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“So it seems to me, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“She’s working with a frame; she must be a lace-maker.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you can hardly expect to find duchesses living in chambers under -the eaves.”</p> - -<p>“Somebody’s opening a window just beyond her—do you see—where there -are clothes hanging on a line?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! what a lovely blonde, Bertrand! Do you see her?”</p> - -<p>“I can’t see so well as you, but I should say that she’s young, too.<a name="page_291" id="page_291"></a>”</p> - -<p>“She is lovely, I give you my word; much more so, in fact, than the -first one, who is still looking at us. Gad! Bertrand, we shall do -excellently well here, and I like the rooms very much.”</p> - -<p>“They’re very nice, aren’t they, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“The view alone is enough for me; I couldn’t see all these sweet -creatures from downstairs, could I?”</p> - -<p>“It would have been rather hard.”</p> - -<p>“I am delighted to live on the fifth floor.”</p> - -<p>“And I’m overjoyed to have you satisfied, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand rubbed his hands, because he had restored Auguste’s good -spirits by flattering his weakness; and Auguste, whom the sight of all -those roofs had depressed at first, could not tear himself away from his -window, because from it he could look into the rooms of his two charming -neighbors.</p> - -<p>The one with the mischievous eye and free-and-easy manner did not keep -her eyes fixed on her frame, but glanced often at the young dandy who -had taken up his abode under the eaves. Although in less affluent -circumstances, Auguste had made no change in his dress; for the dress of -a man of fashion never changes, whether his income is larger or smaller. -Moreover, Auguste was a very good-looking fellow, with distinguished -manners, and that fact seemed to arouse the young working girl’s -curiosity, for she had not always such good company opposite her.</p> - -<p>The young woman soon laid aside her work altogether; she walked about -her room, arranged her bureau drawers, lighted her fire, looked at -herself in the mirror, adjusted her neckerchief and prepared her dinner; -each of her actions being accompanied by a glance at the opposite -window. Auguste, who saw all that went on in her room, kept at his post, -saying from time to time:<a name="page_292" id="page_292"></a></p> - -<p>“Upon my word, Bertrand, it’s very amusing to live on the fifth floor.”</p> - -<p>He looked also at the window where he had seen a pretty blonde; but she -had simply taken in some of the linen that was drying, then closed the -window without glancing at her neighbors.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, it had grown dark and the dinner hour had arrived. Auguste -left his window and went blithely down the five flights. He returned -home earlier than usual that evening and opened his window, although it -was midwinter. He saw that there was a light in both of his neighbors’ -rooms. The lace-maker had little curtains that covered only the lower -sash; and as her window was on a lower level than Dalville’s, he could -look over the little curtains into the room, which was brightly lighted, -and see the girl going to and fro between the mirror and the fireplace, -and apparently engrossed by her little cap, and a saucepan that was on -the fire.</p> - -<p>“For heaven’s sake, doesn’t that girl think about anything but her -cooking?” said Auguste to himself; “this afternoon she was getting her -dinner, and now I suppose she’s getting her supper. There seems to be no -lack of appetite under the eaves. True, Bertrand did tell me that the -air was sharper. Ah! now she’s going back to her mirror. She is a flirt, -I noticed that this afternoon; her hair is dressed with more care than -it was. Can she be expecting company? Why not? Isn’t one at liberty to -enjoy oneself in an attic as well as elsewhere? Are the rich alone -privileged to receive their friends? Their friends! what do I say? One -is much more likely to receive them on the fifth floor; and flatterers -and parasites and parvenus don’t disturb one here. It really is most -delightful to room on the fifth floor.—Ah! what do I see?<a name="page_293" id="page_293"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste saw the young lace-maker, who, after adjusting her cap to her -satisfaction, removed her jacket and short skirt, and donned a white -chemise; while the young man, his eyes glued upon her little room, -exclaimed excitedly:</p> - -<p>“Very pretty! very pretty, on my word! I never saw anything better on -the first floor! Ah! this apartment of mine is beyond price!”</p> - -<p>Her toilet completed, the young woman set out her supper on a small -table; she laid two covers.</p> - -<p>“The deuce!” muttered Auguste; “the company that she expects consists of -but one person; the party will be no larger than those in the private -rooms at the Tournebride. But no matter! let us wait and see what -happens.”</p> - -<p>A young man in a blouse and otter-skin cap arrived and was received with -a joyful exclamation, to which he replied by a kiss so heartily bestowed -that Dalville fancied that he heard the report; and he scratched his -ear, muttering:</p> - -<p>“The devil! the devil! shall I keep on looking? Why not? I shall at -least know what to expect.”</p> - -<p>The supper was on the table; but the gallant in the otter-skin cap had -more love than appetite. He continued to snatch kisses, dallying the -while with the girl, whom he seemed inclined to lead away from the table -rather than toward it.</p> - -<p>“The deuce!” said Auguste, “it’s evident that people make love under the -eaves no less than on first floors. This fellow in a jacket seems to -know as much about it as the most skilful boudoir seducer. The deuce! -the deuce!”</p> - -<p>And Auguste finally left the window in a pet, exclaiming:<a name="page_294" id="page_294"></a></p> - -<p>“I don’t need to see any more; these young women who invite their best -friends to supper ought to have their curtains so arranged as to reach -to the top of the window.”</p> - -<p>Auguste walked about his apartment for a moment or two, but he soon made -the circuit of it. Bertrand was in bed and asleep. As he scrutinized his -new abode, Auguste noticed the absence of several articles of furniture -to which he had become accustomed, but which had not been taken up to -the fifth floor, where they had retained only what was absolutely -necessary. Dalville realized that that sacrifice was indispensable; but -his brow darkened, he threw himself into a chair, and unpleasant -thoughts assailed him. It was very late, when, in an effort to dispel -those thoughts, he returned to his window. There was no longer a light -in the young lace-maker’s window, and Auguste was not sorry, for he had -seen enough in that direction. He looked toward the window where he had -seen an attractive blonde; and there, although he could see a glimmer of -light, a dilapidated curtain, torn in several places, prevented him from -looking into the room.</p> - -<p>After looking about at the other houses nearby, thinking of <i>Le Diable -Boiteux</i>, of which that picture reminded him, Auguste, having no -Asmodeus to assist him to see what was taking place under the roofs, was -about to leave his window. Twelve o’clock had struck long before, the -most profound silence reigned in the street; the place that is -resplendent with light and movement at nine o’clock is often dark and -gloomy a few hours later.</p> - -<p>But, as he cast a last glance at the house opposite, Auguste saw the -window opened, of which the torn curtain had prevented a view of the -interior. A not unnatural curiosity led the young man to continue to -look;<a name="page_295" id="page_295"></a> and, his light having gone out, he did not turn to relight it, -although it did not occur to him that he was able thus to see without -being seen.</p> - -<p>The room, which he could now see quite plainly, presented a melancholy -appearance: bare walls, a wretched sack of straw in one corner, a table, -and a chair or two—nothing else was to be seen in that poor abode, -where want and misfortune seemed to dwell. The room was dimly lighted by -a flickering lamp.</p> - -<p>An elderly man was alone in the room; his dress, although shabby, was -not that of a workman; his hair was white and his face looked worn and -haggard; everything about his person and in his manner denoted an -ominous and desperate agitation.</p> - -<p>Auguste’s heart swelled with pity as he gazed at that old man; curiosity -gave place at once to profound interest, and it was a secret -apprehension that led him to follow his every movement.</p> - -<p>After opening the window, the old man went to the back of the room, -walking with care and apparently listening. He opened softly the door of -a small dressing-room, in which Auguste caught sight of a bed. Doubtless -the bed had an occupant, for the old man stopped, and stood for some -moments gazing at the person who was sleeping there; then he wiped away -with his hand the tears that flowed from his eyes.</p> - -<p>After a few moments he stepped forward, taking care to make no noise, -and imprinted a kiss on the brow of the person in the bed; he seemed -unable to tear himself away and to give over his silent contemplation. -He fell on his knees and raised his hands as if praying to God for the -person from whom it was so hard for him to part. Then he rose and sank -into a chair, as if overwhelmed by grief. At that moment Auguste could<a name="page_296" id="page_296"></a> -distinguish nothing clearly; his eyes were filled with tears, which -rolled unnoticed down his cheeks.</p> - -<p>But suddenly the old man, as if he had ceased to listen to aught save -his despair, sprang to his feet and ran to the window, cast a last -glance about him, and climbed out. His foot was already on the edge when -a cry of horror arose.—“Stop! stop!” Those were the only words that -Auguste was able to articulate. His own body was half out of the window; -he wished to save the unfortunate man, but was afraid to leave his post -lest he should accomplish his deadly purpose before he could go -downstairs and up again.</p> - -<p>Auguste’s cry startled the poor fellow; he stopped and turned his head -toward the little room, thinking that the tones that had gone to his -heart had come from there. His strength abandoned him, the gloomy frenzy -which impelled him gave place to weakness, to the prostration which -always succeeds paroxysms of nervous excitement. He sank into a chair, a -woman’s name issued from his mouth, and his tears flowed afresh.</p> - -<p>“I can go down,” thought Auguste; “I have time enough now to go to him.”</p> - -<p>Running hurriedly to his desk, Auguste seized his wallet, then rushed -downstairs four at a time. He woke Schtrack, who opened the door for -him; then ran across the street and knocked at the door of the old man’s -house. The shower of blows led the concierge to think that the house was -on fire, and that some obliging passer-by had stopped to inform him. He -rose hastily, ran to the door in his shirt, and exclaimed, still half -asleep:</p> - -<p>“Which chimney? Where’s it coming out? Has it got much headway?—Wife! -wife!—Where’s the firemen?<a name="page_297" id="page_297"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Don’t get excited; there’s nothing wrong,” said Auguste; “but I -absolutely must speak to the old man who lives on the fifth floor. -Here.”</p> - -<p>And Auguste put a hundred-sou piece in the concierge’s hand and hurried -upstairs, leaving that worthy rubbing his eyes, as he stared at the coin -in his hand, and finally went out into the street to make sure that -there was no smoke to be seen anywhere.</p> - -<p>When Auguste reached the top floor, the lamplight shining under the -ill-fitting door guided his steps.</p> - -<p>“Who’s there?” asked the old man, surprised that anyone should call at -his room so late.</p> - -<p>“Open, in heaven’s name!” Auguste replied; “it’s a friend, it is one who -wishes to dry your tears.”</p> - -<p>The word “friend” seemed to confound the unfortunate man. However, he -made up his mind at last to open the door, and gazed in surprise at the -young man, whose features were entirely unknown to him, and who came at -one o’clock in the morning to offer his services. But Auguste’s face was -gentle and kindly, and his eyes expressed the tenderest interest in the -old man, who allowed him to enter his bare room.</p> - -<p>“What do you want, monsieur?” he asked in a faltering tone.</p> - -<p>“To comfort you—to save you from despair.”</p> - -<p>“But, monsieur, who told you——”</p> - -<p>“I saw you just now. You were on the point of carrying out a ghastly -plan.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! so it was your voice, monsieur!—Poor Anna! I thought it was -yours!—But she was asleep; she is sleeping still. Oh! monsieur, I -implore you, never let her know. And yet what am I to do here on earth, -penniless, without food? She is killing herself to support me! She -deprives herself of everything for my sake!<a name="page_298" id="page_298"></a>”</p> - -<p>The unhappy wretch, abandoning himself to his grief, did not notice that -he was raising his voice.</p> - -<p>“Hush!” said Auguste; “you’ll wake her. Let us not talk so loud. Tell me -your troubles; I tell you again, I propose to put an end to them.”</p> - -<p>Auguste’s tone and his pleasant voice inspired confidence in the unhappy -father; he sat down beside the young man, as far as possible from the -small dressing-room, and began his story in an undertone.</p> - -<p>“I was not born in poverty, monsieur, and perhaps that is my misfortune. -My family was highly considered; my name——”</p> - -<p>“I do not ask it, monsieur; I do not need to know your name, to make me -wish to be of use to you; I wish to know your misfortunes only.”</p> - -<p>The old man’s amazement redoubled. With another glance at Auguste, he -began once more:</p> - -<p>“I received a superficial education; but I was to have twenty thousand -francs a year, and I was assured that I knew quite enough. I was left my -own master altogether too early in life. I was passionately fond of -pleasure; I was especially addicted to that charming sex which—of which -I must say no evil, since it is my Anna’s. But I abandoned myself -blindly to my passions, and I squandered my fortune with mistresses who -deceived me, and with false friends who helped me ruin myself.”</p> - -<p>Here Auguste could not restrain a sigh, but he motioned to the old man -to go on.</p> - -<p>“Sometimes I determined to reform, but I was never able to listen to the -counsel of reason. When I was thirty-nine, I had spent all my properly -and I was entirely unused to work.</p> - -<p>“Thereupon a generous woman, who loved me for myself alone, determined -to throw in her lot with mine.<a name="page_299" id="page_299"></a> She possessed a competence; she married -me and gave me my Anna. I might have been happy, but I had become so -accustomed to fashionable life that I had a craving for spending money. -I longed to supply my wife with the beautiful things that I saw on other -women; it angered me to see women who were not her equals wearing -cashmere shawls. In vain did she tell me that my love alone was enough -for her. I persuaded myself that she was concealing her wishes from me, -and that she suffered all sorts of privations. Endeavoring to add to our -means, I did the wildest things: I gambled, I mortgaged our property, -and I reduced to want the woman who had entrusted her destiny to me. -Thereupon, realizing the error of my ways, I tried to find employment, -but I was no longer young, and I could not succeed in obtaining it. -Regret tore my heart, and blanched my hair prematurely; I look to you -like a very old man, and I am not yet sixty. My wife did not reproach -me; she died commending our daughter, then eight years old, to my care. -I tried to utilize what little talent I had, but it was very little, and -as I grew older I rarely found anything to do. Meanwhile my Anna was -growing, and she began very early to work to support her unhappy father. -If you knew, monsieur, all that I owe her! How many nights she has -worked, in order to add to her earnings! Never any rest, never any -pleasure for her; and yet, not a word of complaint; it is she who -comforts me when she sees that I am more than ordinarily depressed, when -I reproach myself for my misconduct. Oh! I do not try to conceal my -wrong-doing, monsieur. It was my folly alone that led me to lose my own -fortune and squander that of my wife. My daughter might be happy, and -yet for ten years past, only toil and tears have been her lot! And I -alone am<a name="page_300" id="page_300"></a> the cause! Do you still think that I am deserving of your -pity?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur,” said Auguste, pressing the stranger’s hand. “But what -impelled you to such a desperate resolution to-night?”</p> - -<p>“Despite my failings, monsieur, I have always been careful of my honor; -I have thrown away my fortune, but at least I have no reason to reproach -myself for failing to keep my engagements. Two years ago I met a man -whom I had known in my prosperous days; he came to me and called me his -friend as of old. I told him my troubles; he placed his purse at my -disposal and lent me twelve hundred francs. ‘You may take your own time -about paying me,’ he said. Alas! a long illness prevented me from -earning anything; however, my creditor made no demand on me, but the -excellent man, who is in business now, was unfortunate himself and lost -heavily by several failures. Two months ago he came to ask me if I could -repay him, but it was impossible. He did not reproach me, and he did not -come again; but I learned yesterday that a heartless creditor of his had -caused his imprisonment for a bill of one thousand francs. That news -made me desperate. If I had paid my debt, that honest man would still be -at liberty! Alas! I have brought misfortune upon everybody who has taken -an interest in me! My Anna deprives herself of everything for her -father’s sake.—Ah! monsieur, ought I still to cling to an existence -which is a weary burden to me?”</p> - -<p>Auguste took out his wallet and took from it three one thousand-franc -notes, which he placed in the old man’s hand, saying:</p> - -<p>“Pay the twelve hundred francs that you owe, and with what is left buy a -small shop for your daughter. I am sure that happier days are in store -for you.<a name="page_301" id="page_301"></a>”</p> - -<p>The old man could not determine whether he was the dupe of a dream. What -had happened to him seemed so extraordinary, that he dared not give way -to his delight. He looked first at Dalville, then at the bank-notes -which he had put in his hand, and could only falter:</p> - -<p>“Great God! is it possible? Such unforeseen good-fortune! Excellent -young man!—Pardon me, monsieur! Why, you are an angel sent to us from -heaven!”</p> - -<p>“No, I am no angel,” said Auguste, with a smile; “on the contrary, I -have all the failings of mortals; but I am happy to be able to assist -two unfortunate fellow-creatures so easily.”</p> - -<p>“But, monsieur, this is a considerable sum——”</p> - -<p>“It is not enough to pay for the lesson you have given me.”</p> - -<p>“How so?”</p> - -<p>“Adieu, monsieur, it’s very late; get some rest now; you need it, and I -trust that it will be of the sweetest.”</p> - -<p>“What! you are going to leave us already? Oh! please let me tell my -daughter how much I owe you. Allow her too to thank our benefactor. Ah! -you don’t know my Anna—as lovely as she is good. The sight of her will -bring home to you all that you have done for me by giving me the means -to make the dear child happy!”</p> - -<p>The old man walked toward the dressing-room, but Auguste stopped him, -saying in an undertone:</p> - -<p>“Don’t wake her, I beg you. I will see her another time; don’t disturb -her sleep.”</p> - -<p>“As you insist, monsieur, I obey you; but tell me your name, I pray; let -me know to whom I am indebted.”</p> - -<p>“I will tell you to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“My name is Dorfeuil, monsieur; I am most anxious that you should know -to whom you have restored life and honor.<a name="page_302" id="page_302"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste escaped from the old man’s thanks and finally left that abode -whither he had carried joy and repose. He went down the five flights in -high spirits, and better pleased with himself than he had ever been.</p> - -<p>“There are two people whom I have rescued from despair,” he said to -himself; “and all I have to do is to imagine that Destival carried off -another three thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>Returning to his fifth floor apartment, Auguste went to bed and did not -wake until the morning had far advanced.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, lieutenant, that you slept rather well in your new -lodgings?” said Bertrand as he entered Auguste’s room.</p> - -<p>“I really believe that I never slept so well on the first floor.”</p> - -<p>But the ex-corporal was amazed to see that his master did not once go to -the window, and at the end of the day he expressed his surprise.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you like our view any more, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“No, my friend, I have reflected, and I think that it’s a risky thing to -look into other people’s rooms.”</p> - -<p>“But I should say that you saw some very pretty little things, didn’t -you, lieutenant?”</p> - -<p>“I saw some very sad things, too. All things considered, I think that -it’s better not to pay any attention to what goes on in our neighbors’ -houses.”</p> - -<p>Auguste had another reason for not going to his window; he did not want -to be seen by the old man, who would have recognized him, and whom he -did not propose to visit again. He knew that poor Dorfeuil’s daughter -was lovely; he distrusted his own weakness and preferred not to run the -risk of spoiling his kindly action.<a name="page_303" id="page_303"></a></p> - -<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII<br /><br /> -THE GRISETTES AT THE VILLAGE.—THE EVENING PARTY AND THE GHOST</h2> - -<p>“We won’t go to see Monsieur Auguste again,” Denise declared on her -return to the village; and when her aunt asked her if the fine gentleman -in Paris had given them a warm welcome, the girl could not keep back the -tears as she murmured:</p> - -<p>“We waited at his house more than three hours, and he only spoke to us -for a minute!”</p> - -<p>“What! he didn’t thank you for your chickens, my dear child, or say -anything about my cake?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“What more do you want, my child? In Paris, you see, people are always -in such a hurry that they don’t have time to talk; it ain’t as it is -with us.”</p> - -<p>Denise did not tell her aunt that Monsieur Dalville did not so much as -thank her for her present, for that would have made Mère Fourcy angry, -and the girl still hoped that the young man would come to see them; he -was so pleasant when he came to the village that she would soon forget -his coolness in the city.</p> - -<p>“And what about that money?” asked Mère Fourcy; “what did he say about -that, my child?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing, aunt—that is to say, we are to do what we please with it.”</p> - -<p>“Then we must have the house rebuilt and the garden sowed; that will be -Coco’s own property.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, aunt.<a name="page_304" id="page_304"></a>”</p> - -<p>Denise allowed her aunt to have her way; she no longer had any heart for -anything, her melancholy seemed to increase every day, and the child’s -endearments were powerless to divert her. She sought relief from her -sorrows in toil; but in the midst of her rustic duties, which were -formerly her delight, Denise would pause, heave a sigh, and stand -sometimes for many minutes, lost in thought.</p> - -<p>When Mère Fourcy surprised her in one of these fits of melancholy, she -would run to her and ask:</p> - -<p>“What on earth is the matter with you, girl?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing, aunt,” Denise would reply, trying hard to smile.</p> - -<p>“But you was standing there without moving, and you didn’t say a word.”</p> - -<p>“Because I was thinking, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“What about, my child?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t remember.”</p> - -<p>“You’re sick, that’s what’s the matter with you!”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I don’t know, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Pardi! I can see it plain enough. You’re growing thin, and you’re pale -as a ghost, and you don’t eat anything. You must get married, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! I don’t want to, aunt!”</p> - -<p>“Then you must take medicine, for, I tell you, you need to take -something.”</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy could think of nothing save a husband or medicine capable of -restoring Denise’s bloom; but the girl declared that it would return -with the warm weather, because she hoped that the return of the spring -would bring Auguste back to the village.</p> - -<p>The winter days were very long, especially to the village girl, who no -longer took any pleasure in the evening reunions, who listened without -interest to the jokes<a name="page_305" id="page_305"></a> of the young men, and who had no one for whom she -cared to beautify herself. Although one may find enjoyment in musing -beneath an oak tree’s shade, although the sight of green grass and -verdant shrubbery may allay the pangs of love, the interior of a -farm-house, and the quacking of geese and ducks must be intolerable to a -heart that craves silence and solitude. Denise, obliged to conceal her -unhappiness from her aunt, remained in her room and watched the Paris -road.</p> - -<p>One day when a sharp frost had hardened the ground, although the sun -still made the gnarled and leafless trees attractive to the eye, Denise, -who was at her chamber window, heard talking and laughing on the path -leading to their house. The voices were evidently not those of -villagers, and, in fact, two ladies dressed like Parisians appeared on -the tree-lined path, looking about them, evidently with no very clear -idea where they were going, and stopping every minute to laugh, and to -rest by the hedge.</p> - -<p>Denise recognized one of them as the young woman whom she had met at -Auguste’s rooms in Paris, and who had walked with her to the stage -office, manifesting the deepest interest in her. The sight of a person -who knew Dalville, who had come perhaps with a message from him, caused -the girl keen pleasure, and she at once left her room, to go out and -accost the strangers.</p> - -<p>Denise was not mistaken: Virginie, to whose mind the pretty village -maiden she had met at Auguste’s apartment recurred now and again, had -spoken of her to one of her friends. This friend was a tall brunette of -some thirty years, with a fine figure, but with a bold expression that -would have intimidated a dragoon. A dressmaker by trade, but -passionately fond of the theatre, she neglected her thread and needle to -enact tragic princesses<a name="page_306" id="page_306"></a> and heroines of melodrama in private theatres. -Despite her determined manner, sentiment was Mademoiselle Cézarine’s -weakness; she always had a passion on the carpet, and would have gone on -the stage for good and all, had she been able to overcome an unfortunate -lisp. For the rest, Mademoiselle Cézarine was a good-natured soul and -incapable of trying to seduce a friend’s lover.</p> - -<p>A fine winter’s day suggested to Virginie the idea of a trip to -Montfermeil. At the first mention of the country, Cézarine had -exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“I’ll go with you, my dear; I feel the need of dithtraction to-day. -Théodore hath been playing trickth on me. Let’th go and thee your little -peathant; we’ll drink milk, and perhapth that will pathify my mind.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s go,” Virginie assented; “I don’t know the exact address, but I -know it’s Montfermeil, and my tongue ain’t in my pocket.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we’ll thoon find the plathe. Do you thuppothe that I, who could -find Théodore in any corner in Parith, won’t very thoon make a thorough -thearch of a village?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll introduce you as a relative of mine; for we must have some -excuse.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you be alarmed. Haven’t I acted Themiramith? Don’t I carry -mythelf like a queen?”</p> - -<p>“I know you’ve played Semiramis, but there are times when no one would -suspect it.”</p> - -<p>“Let’th be off and take the thage.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I’m sure that the little girl will be glad to see me. My -dear, you are going to see a case of perfect innocence.”</p> - -<p>“Tho much the better; I don’t like anything but innothenthe, now I know -that rathcal Théodore is falth to me.<a name="page_307" id="page_307"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Great heaven! are you going to talk about your Théodore all the way? -that will be amusing!—By the way, there’s one difficulty—I haven’t a -sou.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’ve got enough for both. Wait till I count. I’ve got a hundred and -fifteen thouth.”</p> - -<p>“With that sum we can go to the Mississippi. Put on your Sunday hat and -your home-raised cashmere; and off we go.”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Cézarine put on her bird-of-paradise hat, which the sun had -faded to a pale yellow, and the shawl, once of amaranthine hue, in which -the flowers had become so blended with the background that it was -difficult to distinguish them. But when one indulges frequently in grand -passions, one sometimes makes sacrifices, and Mademoiselle Cézarine -preferred one glance from the man of her choice to the diamonds of a -Russian prince; therein she differed essentially from Mademoiselle -Virginie.</p> - -<p>The young women took their seats in the stage; there were no other -passengers except two old peasants, at whom they made faces all the way, -because they detected an unpleasant odor about them. At last they -arrived at Montfermeil, and, Virginie having inquired where Denise -lived, they were directed to the path where the girl discovered them.</p> - -<p>“My dear love,” said Cézarine, “I don’t thee the ruthtic roof that -thelterth your young friend, and I am beginning to be doothid hungry.”</p> - -<p>“Wait, it must be close by.”</p> - -<p>“What a lovely morning! If that ungrateful Théodore had only come with -uth!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to eat up your hundred and fifteen sous in one meal! Dieu! what a -fool you are to go wild like this over a man who ruins you! Let’s go on -a little farther.<a name="page_308" id="page_308"></a>”</p> - -<p>“My dear, it’th too much for me; it’th no uthe for me to thay: ‘I mutht -forget him!’”</p> - -<p>“I’ll sing it for you, if you want; perhaps that will have more effect -on you.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! he hath thuch lovely whithkerth. It wath hith whithkerth that -fathinated me firtht.”</p> - -<p>“You ought to have had them made into a cravat.”</p> - -<p>“You’re alwayth joking. How lucky you are, Virginie! you don’t know what -a violent pathion ith.”</p> - -<p>“The deuce I don’t! I’ve had more of ‘em than you have!—Oh! see that -pretty little house, and the farm—That must certainly be the place.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe your village girl livth in thuch a nithe houthe.”</p> - -<p>“Why not, pray? If you had seen the plump chickens she brought Auguste, -you wouldn’t be surprised.”</p> - -<p>The appearance of Denise put an end to their uncertainty. The girl ran -to meet Virginie, kissed her, and made a respectful curtsy to Cézarine, -who cried:</p> - -<p>“What! ith thith your young village girl? How pretty she ith! The -deuthe! what a pretty fathe! Ah! I’m very glad now that Théodore didn’t -come!”</p> - -<p>Virginie trod on Cézarine’s foot, as a hint to her to be quiet, and said -to Denise:</p> - -<p>“I haven’t forgotten you, you see, my dear; I have come to see you -without ceremony, and brought my cousin with me. We don’t put you out of -the way, do we?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, madame! on the contrary, I am very glad. It’s very kind of you -to come. My aunt will be delighted to see you—and madame too.”</p> - -<p>“Will you let me kith you, my child?” said Cézarine.</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, with pleasure. But come—come into the house. You may not -have dined yet?<a name="page_309" id="page_309"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Well, hardly, my dear; all I’ve had ith a little piece of thauthage -when I got up.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Virginie, treading on Cézarine’s foot again, “my cousin and -I have begun to realize that fresh air sharpens the appetite. But we’re -going to the inn——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I hope that you’ll stay with us, madame. It would be very unkind of -you to refuse.”</p> - -<p>“Dieu! how pretty the ith! the hath Théodore’s nothe.”</p> - -<p>“We accept, my dear Denise, so long as it won’t put you out. Besides, -the merest trifles from people one likes always give more pleasure—than -the dainty dishes one mightn’t find somewhere else——”</p> - -<p>Denise’s only reply was to run ahead to tell her aunt, and Virginie said -to her friend:</p> - -<p>“For heaven’s sake, be careful what you say, and remember to behave -decently. What with your Théodore, whom you lug into the conversation at -every turn——”</p> - -<p>“And you lothe yourthelf in your thentences and can’t find your way out -of them!”</p> - -<p>“No matter—long sentences are what you want with peasants; they don’t -understand ‘em, but they think they’re fine.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll thay Théodore ith my huthband and that he’th in the army.”</p> - -<p>As they talked, the ladies reached the farmyard, where the geese, ducks, -dog and goat greeted them with a little impromptu concert.</p> - -<p>“Oh! how I love the country!” cried Virginie, running forward to kiss -Coco, while Cézarine did her utmost to keep her shawl out of the dog’s -mouth. Meanwhile, Mère Fourcy came out to receive the travellers whom -her niece had announced as fashionable ladies from Paris, of Monsieur -Auguste’s acquaintance, and to whom the good woman conceived that she -owed the greatest respect.<a name="page_310" id="page_310"></a></p> - -<p>“This is my aunt, madame,” said Denise to Virginie; and the latter -saluted the old woman with the patronizing air of a woman of fashion, -saying:</p> - -<p>“I am very glad to make the acquaintance of your venerable aunt. Dieu! -what an antique cast of countenance! I am very fond of elderly people. -Let me embrace you, madame.”</p> - -<p>Having embraced Mère Fourcy, Virginie called Cézarine:</p> - -<p>“Cousin, come here and let me present you to our excellent aunt.”</p> - -<p>“One moment, pleathe,” said Cézarine, “until I get rid of thith -mitherable dog of herth, that hath grabbed my cathmere. Oh! I know what -the matter ith—day before yethterday I wrapped up a leg of mutton in -it——”</p> - -<p>Virginie coughed to drown Cézarine’s words, and the latter at last -escaped from the dog and bestowed a regal salutation on Mère Fourcy.</p> - -<p>“This is my cousin,” said Virginie, presenting her friend to Denise’s -aunt. “I told her about your lovely niece, and she could not resist the -desire to make her acquaintance and yours, venerable aunt; we left our -hotels and climbed into the wretched chamber vessel called a stage, -where we had no other company than a couple of old clowns who smelt of -rancid butter. But when we are going to see people we like and esteem, -we take a standing jump over all such little annoyances, don’t we, -cousin?”</p> - -<p>“Yeth, my dear,” Cézarine replied, walking like Semiramis.</p> - -<p>“It’s very kind of you, madame,” said Mère Fourcy, “and we appreciate -your courtesy. But you must have something to eat.<a name="page_311" id="page_311"></a>”</p> - -<p>“We have already dined <i>à la fourchette</i>, but we don’t like to decline.”</p> - -<p>“For my part, I could eat all day long in the country,” said Cézarine.</p> - -<p>The ladies entered the house, and while the table was being laid, -Cézarine petted Coco.</p> - -<p>“What a hanthome boy! what a fine profile!” she exclaimed. “He’ll look -like Théodore. Ith he yourth, my beauty?”</p> - -<p>This question was addressed to Denise, who blushed as she replied:</p> - -<p>“What did you say, madame?”</p> - -<p>“You’re infernally stupid!” cried Virginie; “the idea of asking this -child such a question, as if she was old enough to—Why, she hasn’t -begun to think of such things.”</p> - -<p>“Look you, my dear, I don’t know her ekthact age. Bethideth, I’ve got a -thithter who wath a mother at thirteen.”</p> - -<p>“Is she a Creole, then?”</p> - -<p>“Yeth, a Creole from the Pont-aux-Choux.”</p> - -<p>Luckily Mère Fourcy was in the cellar at that moment, so that she did -not hear the colloquy between the two ladies. Denise longed to learn -something about Auguste, but she dared not take the liberty to ask -Virginie; she was afraid that that young woman would divine her profound -interest in him, and the poor child would have been terribly abashed to -have those fine ladies of Paris, both of whom she believed to be friends -of Auguste, know her heart’s secret. To that sweet child love was all in -all; she was very far from suspecting that to her two visitors it was a -very small matter.</p> - -<p>While Denise was preparing the repast, Virginie insisted upon helping -Mère Fourcy to set the table, which<a name="page_312" id="page_312"></a> the old woman would not allow; and -during the contest between the peasant and the Parisian, a bottle -slipped from under the arm of the former and fell at Cézarine’s feet, -where it broke and spattered her dress.</p> - -<p>“O Dieu! my merino is all thpotted!” she cried; “what am I going to do? -I haven’t got another.”</p> - -<p>“You can wear your velvet,” said Virginie, motioning to her to be -careful what she said. Cézarine, engrossed by her dress, paid no heed -but continued to complain.</p> - -<p>“It’th jutht the dreth that ith motht becoming to me; I wore it when I -captivated Théodore.”</p> - -<p>“That’s her husband, who’s in the army—he’s a general.—Come, cousin, -you have made enough fuss over your dress. You have plenty of others, I -should say.”</p> - -<p>“I thertainly did have all thothe I put up the thpout——”</p> - -<p>“Up the spout, Mère Fourcy, means cutting them up into towels. You see, -we are all so changeable in Paris—we have to have a new dress every -week; we throw our money out of the window! A wicked place that Paris -is! Happy the people who live in villages! Ah! the country! trees and -animals and rye bread—that’s what I call happiness! I hope to end by -buying a little château or a cottage—it’s all one to me, so long as -it’s in the country. As for Denise, whom I love as if I was her mother, -if there’s one thing I’d advise her to do, it’s to stay here and not go -to Paris again. However, I fancy she don’t care much about it; and the -way Monsieur Dalville received her the last time—why, it made me -frantic! And to think that the poor child had brought him fresh eggs and -such a fine cake!”</p> - -<p>Denise, returning with a huge soup-kettle full to the brim, overheard -Virginie’s last words and halted behind Cézarine, motioning to Virginie -to say nothing to her<a name="page_313" id="page_313"></a> aunt. Virginie, being accustomed to dissemble, -understood the girl’s signs and continued, trying to repair her blunder:</p> - -<p>“After all, the young man is very excusable, for you see, Madame Fourcy, -there are people in Paris who don’t like cake; it isn’t as it is in the -village, where it takes the place of salad. And then, Auguste is a -little thoughtless; but his heart’s in the right place! yes, he has a -very kind heart! I know him better than anybody. Besides, at this time -above all others, I shouldn’t think of speaking ill of him; and although -he’s ruined——”</p> - -<p>“Ruined!” cried Denise; and in her emotion the girl dropped the kettle, -whose contents completed the disfigurement of Cézarine’s gown.</p> - -<p>“Great God! but I’m unlucky to-day!” she cried, as she gazed at her -garment; “how do you expect me to go back to Parith, and play -<i>Andromaque</i> on Monday, in thith dreth?”</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy lost herself in apologies; but Denise paid no heed to the -accident she had caused; she ran to Virginie, exclaiming:</p> - -<p>“Ruined! Monsieur Auguste ruined! Oh! mon Dieu! madame, how did it -happen, pray?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you directly, my dear love.”</p> - -<p>Virginie, first of all, seated herself at the table; Cézarine did the -same and forgot the accidents that had happened to her dress as she -helped herself to double portions. Mère Fourcy stood respectfully before -the young women, and poor Denise, with her eyes fixed on Virginie’s, -waited impatiently until she should choose to tell her what had happened -to Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Pray be seated, venerable aunt,” said Virginie to Mère Fourcy, who -believed that she was entertaining ladies from the court.<a name="page_314" id="page_314"></a></p> - -<p>“Indeed, madame, I shall not think of it!”</p> - -<p>“I thall refuthe to eat if you continue to thtand,” said Cézarine, as -she ate her third egg.</p> - -<p>“I know too well what I owe you, madame.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t owe us anything at all, Mère Fourcy; on the contrary, we -ought to be waiting on you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, madame! the idea!”</p> - -<p>“Respect the wrinkled—that’s my motto. Sit down, I say!”</p> - -<p>“How well madame would play the mother of Coriolanuth!”</p> - -<p>“Let’s drop Coriolanus, cousin, and give Madame Fourcy a chair.”</p> - -<p>As she spoke, Virginie rose from the table, seized Mère Fourcy’s arms -and led her to a chair. As the peasant woman continued to resist, -Virginie pushed her backward and ended by taking her by the shoulders -and forcing her to the floor beside the chair. The good woman fell -almost under the table, while Virginie, thinking that she was seated, -resumed her own place. But when she found that she could not see her, -she said:</p> - -<p>“I am afraid that I have given you rather a low chair, but, at all -events, you’ll be more comfortable than if you were standing.”</p> - -<p>“That’th a very nithe theat you’ve got!” said Cézarine, as she assisted -Mère Fourcy to rise. “Why, did you fall? Thee what cometh of holding -back! Did you hurt yourself?”</p> - -<p>“You’re very kind, madame—just a little bit, on the hip.”</p> - -<p>“That can’t help doing you good; it thtirth up the blood. Take a theat, -pray.”</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy did not wait to be urged any more; and when tranquillity was -restored, Denise said once more:<a name="page_315" id="page_315"></a></p> - -<p>“And Monsieur Auguste, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! to be sure! I haven’t told you how he came to be ruined. The -first reason why I haven’t is that I don’t know anything about it; but -still, it’s easy enough to guess: the fellow acted like a goose, -gambling, spending a lot, and paying his mistresses. I’ve said to him -twenty times: ‘Auguste, you’re driving too hard!’ Yes, I’ve told him so -very often, but I always used the familiar thou, because I knew him when -he was such a little fellow!”</p> - -<p>“I should have said the young gentleman was about your age,” said Mère -Fourcy.</p> - -<p>“So he is, very near; but we were brought up together—we had the same -nurse—so that I’m deeply attached to him; and although he lives on the -fifth floor now, that won’t prevent my going to breakfast with him, as I -told Bertrand yesterday, when he told me that the funds were low.”</p> - -<p>“But Monsieur Auguste must be very unhappy, it must make him very sad to -be ruined,” sighed Denise.</p> - -<p>“He, my dear girl! not a bit of it! Oh! you don’t know him; he’s just as -wild and heedless as ever. Bertrand said so yesterday. Poor Bertrand! I -saw a tear in his eye while he was telling me about his master’s -follies! He’s a faithful servant, that fellow, a real friend! Give me -something to drink, Semiramis, for, I notice that, while I am talking, -you do nothing but fill your own glass. Semiramis is the name of an -estate belonging to my cousin; she has estates in all the suburbs of -Paris.”</p> - -<p>“I say, Denise,” cried Mère Fourcy, “if that gentleman’s lost his money, -hadn’t we ought to give back what he left for Coco? What a pity the -cottage is all built!”</p> - -<p>“What’s given is given, Madame Fourcy,” said Virginie; “that’s a -principle I’ve never departed from. It’s<a name="page_316" id="page_316"></a> a mistake to act on the theory -of returning what you’ve received.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! if I had all I’ve given to Théodore!”</p> - -<p>“He’s a husband of my cousin. She’s given him the measles twice, and you -can understand that she wouldn’t be overjoyed to have them returned. -Give me something to drink, Semiramis.”</p> - -<p>Denise took no further part in the conversation; she was pensive and -entirely engrossed by what she had learned on the subject of the young -gentleman from Paris. The two grisettes, finding themselves very -comfortable at the table, jabbered to their hearts’ content. Mère Fourcy -opened her eyes and ears, not always able to understand the pretty -stories that those ladies told her; but as they did not give her a -chance to put in a word, there was nothing for her to do but to stare in -amazement.</p> - -<p>They had been at table a long time, Mère Fourcy seated between them, -doing nothing but turn her head from side to side. Denise had left the -room, unobserved; the poor child’s heart was heavy; thinking that -Auguste was in distress, she longed to let her tears flow and wished to -conceal them from the Parisians. Coco, who was playing in the yard, saw -her pass. The boy saw that she was unhappy, so he dropped his toys, ran -to her and said:</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter, my little Denise?”</p> - -<p>“You don’t know, Coco, that your kind friend, who has given you so many -things, is poor now, and unhappy perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“We must carry him some more eggs and cake, my little Denise; he’ll like -to have them, if he’s poor. When I lived in the old hut with grandma, I -used to be so happy when you brought me some white bread! I didn’t use -to have it very often then.<a name="page_317" id="page_317"></a>”</p> - -<p>Denise kissed Coco; what the child said had given rise to a secret hope -in her heart. She wiped her eyes and returned to the living-room, where -the party had been increased by the arrival of a villager, formerly the -school-teacher, who had come to pay Mère Fourcy a visit, and at sight of -the two young ladies from Paris, had come near knocking over a wardrobe, -in order to make a more graceful bow; while Virginie winked at Cézarine, -who hid her face in her napkin to avoid laughing in the face of the -newcomer, whose features were an exact reproduction of the absurd masks -sold in Carnival time.</p> - -<p>“Good-day, neighbor Mauflard,” said Mère Fourcy to the -ex-school-teacher.</p> - -<p>“Good-day, neighbor Fourcy.”</p> - -<p>“How goes it, neighbor Mauflard?”</p> - -<p>“Very well, neighbor Fourcy. Faith, I didn’t have anything to do, so I -says to myself: ‘I’ll just go and see neighbor Fourcy.’”</p> - -<p>“That’s right good of you, neighbor.”</p> - -<p>“But if you’ve got company, I don’t want to be in the way.”</p> - -<p>“Do stay, Monsieur Mauflard,” said Virginie; “we should be terribly -distressed to frighten you away.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe that monthieur ith afraid of the fair thex.”</p> - -<p>The neighbor replied with a second bow, so low that he could have picked -a coin from the floor with his teeth; then he took a chair and seated -himself.</p> - -<p>“You’ll take a drink, neighbor Mauflard, won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“With pleasure, Mère Fourcy.”</p> - -<p>A glass was filled for neighbor Mauflard, and this he emptied after -bowing to the whole company; then he settled back in his chair, -murmuring:<a name="page_318" id="page_318"></a></p> - -<p>“That’s good, very good—always the same.”</p> - -<p>“Who is neighbor Mauflard?” Virginie asked Aunt Fourcy in a whisper.</p> - -<p>“Oh! he’s a very fine man. He used to keep a school in the village; but -not long ago he retired, as he didn’t have but two scholars.”</p> - -<p>“I’m thorry for that; I’d have thent Hecuba to him.”</p> - -<p>“What does she mean by Hecuba?”</p> - -<p>“That’s my cousin’s daughter—a charming child; she isn’t three yet, and -she bites at everything.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’th tho; the’d bite at marble!”</p> - -<p>“Neighbor Mauflard is one of the most knowing men hereabout.”</p> - -<p>“Anyone can see that by looking at him. But he don’t say anything. Have -another glass, Monsieur Mauflard?”</p> - -<p>The neighbor’s only reply was a prolonged snore; according to his -custom, he had already fallen asleep.</p> - -<p>“Why, he’s asleep!” said Virginie.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, that’s his way; as soon as he comes in, he sits down and shuts -his eyes.”</p> - -<p>“That certainly makes him a very pleasant companion!”</p> - -<p>“He’th like that villain of a Théodore, who alwayth uthed to go to -thleep ath thoon ath he had thaid thome blackguardly thing to me.”</p> - -<p>“She means her husband, who must always have his siesta. He brought that -habit from Spain, with chocolate.”</p> - -<p>“I say, Denise,” cried Mère Fourcy; “I know why neighbor Mauflard came -here to-day; didn’t we say at Claudine’s last night that we’d have the -party here to-night?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! dear, yes!” Denise replied dejectedly; “that was a very unfortunate -idea of yours.<a name="page_319" id="page_319"></a>”</p> - -<p>“A village party!” said Cézarine, leaving the table; “oh! what fun that -will be! I’ve often heard of them, but I never thaw one.”</p> - -<p>“Nor I,” said Virginie; “and yet I’ve seen a great many things. I say! -if we should pass the night here, we could attend the party. What do you -say, cousin?”</p> - -<p>“I thay that cabs won’t cotht any more to-morrow morning than to-night.”</p> - -<p>“It isn’t a question of cabs. I know that we didn’t bring our own -carriage, so as not to tire our horses; but we must find out whether it -will inconvenience our venerable aunt to put us up to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we’ve got room, madame.”</p> - -<p>“It will be very kind of you to stay,” said Denise, hoping to have more -talk of Auguste with Virginie.</p> - -<p>“But the ladies will have to be satisfied with rather a hard bed.”</p> - -<p>“We shall be very comfortable.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not hard to pleathe; I’ve thlept on thraw more than onth.”</p> - -<p>Virginie nudged Cézarine and added hastily:</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! in the country—as a joke—just for sport.”</p> - -<p>“Yeth, and I rather like it; it ith great fun—it prickth.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I don’t propose that you shall be pricked,” said Mère Fourcy; “I’ll -fix up a bed for you in the little back chamber.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t put yourself out in the least, dear aunt, I beg; the pleasure of -staying with you, of seeing the spectacle of a village party, is all we -want,” said Virginie. But the old woman turned a deaf ear and went to -prepare a chamber for her guests, while Denise lighted a great lamp to -illuminate the living-room; for it was growing dark, and the party would -soon begin.<a name="page_320" id="page_320"></a></p> - -<p>During these preparations Virginie whispered to her friend:</p> - -<p>“These good people take us for princesses.”</p> - -<p>“Well, it theemth to me that I cut a pretty good figure.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but don’t make stupid remarks at the party. For my part, I like it -here very much; I would willingly spend a fortnight here.”</p> - -<p>“It thertainly wouldn’t cotht much to live here.”</p> - -<p>“But if all the men are as agreeable as neighbor Mauflard, they must be -a lively set of fellows.”</p> - -<p>Night came, and the regular party-goers, who had arranged to meet at -Mère Fourcy’s on that evening, began to arrive. One old woman brought -her spinning-wheel, another her knitting; many brought nothing, because -they were to tell stories, which are of no small importance at a village -party. The men brought bottles and pitchers, and every one was provided -with his own supper.</p> - -<p>Virginie and Cézarine, seated in a corner of the main room, where it was -not very light, despite the lamp, scrutinized the villagers and made -comments which luckily they did not hear.</p> - -<p>“Oh! what funny creatures!” said Virginie. “Don’t they look countrified! -I’d like to show them stars on the ceiling!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! thethe village folkth are more knowing than they look.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet that I play a trick on ‘em and fool ‘em all.”</p> - -<p>“Virginie, you mutht behave yourthelf, you know.”</p> - -<p>“That’s all right, Semiramis, I know how to behave.”</p> - -<p>“Look at that tall young fellow over there—he’th a handthome man. He -hath Théodore’th legth.”</p> - -<p>“He looks like a terrible fool!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t care for that—he ithn’t a bit bad-looking.<a name="page_321" id="page_321"></a>”</p> - -<p>When they first entered the room, the villagers did not notice the two -Parisian ladies; but when they did see them, they gathered in groups and -began to whisper together. Cézarine walked toward them and said with an -amiable air:</p> - -<p>“We don’t wish to embarrath you, worthy villagerth; we have come to take -part in your games.”</p> - -<p>“We’re very fond of country life,” said Virginie; “and before buying a -farm, we want to know what people do on farms.”</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy’s arrival gave the villagers all the information they -desired.</p> - -<p>“They’re great ladies from Paris,” she told them. “They have a beautiful -house, but they ain’t a bit proud; they decided to pass the night here, -so’s to be at the party. You’ll see how polite they are.”</p> - -<p>The peasants bowed low to the great ladies; some young gallants of the -village, in order to win favor with the strangers at once, began to push -one another and exchange fisticuffs, and yelled with delight when one of -them fell to the floor.</p> - -<p>“Our youngsters are beginning their fooling,” said the old men; and -Virginie remarked to her friend:</p> - -<p>“If they begin like this, I wonder where they’ll end!”</p> - -<p>Amid the uproar, Monsieur Mauflard continued to snore in his chair; and -one of the village wits exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Look—Père Mauflard’s asleep. I say! we must put up a game on Père -Mauflard. What do you say?”</p> - -<p>“Count me in on that,” said Cézarine, seating herself beside the tall, -gawky youth whom she considered handsome, and who lowered his eyes and -flushed to the ears when the lady from Paris looked at him.</p> - -<p>“What shall we do to Père Mauflard?” asked a peasant.<a name="page_322" id="page_322"></a></p> - -<p>“Take his hat.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that ain’t funny enough.”</p> - -<p>“Steal his handkerchief.”</p> - -<p>“Or his snuff-box.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! he’ll guess right off that it was us who took that. That ain’t a -good trick.”</p> - -<p>“Do you want a good trick?” asked Cézarine; “if you do, jutht quietly -take off his breecheth.”</p> - -<p>All the villagers gazed at one another in amazement, for the trick -proposed by the lovely Parisian seemed rather strong to them; and -Virginie trod on her friend’s foot and whispered:</p> - -<p>“Will you keep quiet? What are you thinking about? As if anyone ever did -such things as that here!—My friends,” Virginie continued, addressing -the villagers, “my cousin said that because she assumed that Père -Mauflard wears drawers.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! but he don’t!” said a stout woman, laughingly. Whereupon all -the peasants cried:</p> - -<p>“Oho! Fanchon knows all about it! How do you know that, eh, Fanchon? -Well, on my word! it seems that Fanchon—So you know that, do you, -Fanchon?”</p> - -<p>Fanchon laughed on, and the noise finally woke Père Mauflard, who rubbed -his eyes and asked what the matter was.</p> - -<p>But Denise’s aunt restored order by arranging the whole party in a -circle. The seats of honor by the fireplace were offered to the two -ladies. Cézarine, who had seated herself beside the tall lout, said that -she was very comfortable and that the heat made her ill. Virginie sat -between two old men. Denise took Coco in her lap; she alone had no share -in the pleasures of the occasion, and her heart as well as her thoughts -bore her far from the village.<a name="page_323" id="page_323"></a></p> - -<p>An old woman began a tale of robbers; another told a ghost story; and as -neither of them interested Cézarine, while the simple folk tremblingly -huddled together, she played games with the tall youth, and chucked him -under the chin, saying:</p> - -<p>“How much he looks like Théodore!”</p> - -<p>An old peasant took the floor and announced that he proposed to sing the -lament composed on the extraordinary death of Etienne de Garlande, -formerly lord of Livry, who espoused the cause of Amaury de Montfort -against Louis le Gros; the lament had only seventy-two stanzas.</p> - -<p>As each stanza, sung to a most doleful tune in the measure of -<i>Malbrouck</i>, lasted nearly five minutes, Virginie rose at the second, -took a candle, whispered to Mère Fourcy that she was going to bed, and -vanished without diverting the peasants’ attention from the dirge.</p> - -<p>But Cézarine, who was not at all anxious to listen to the seventy-two -stanzas, interrupted the peasant in the middle of the fourth, saying:</p> - -<p>“My dear friend, your thory ith very pretty, but it will end by putting -everybody to thleep like neighbor Mauflard, who hath been thnoring for -an hour. If you thay tho, I’ll give you a then from a tragedy. Do you -know what tragedy ith, my friendth?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame,” said the villagers.</p> - -<p>“And comedy—have you ever been to one?”</p> - -<p>“No, madame.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I know what it is,” said one of the young blades; “I’ve been in -Paris. It’s a place where you see men and women behind a curtain that -goes up; and then there’s lamps, and they say silly things and wave -their arms about, and you can’t understand nothing at all; but it’s -almighty fine.<a name="page_324" id="page_324"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That’th the very thing, my dear boy; you know all about it. Tho you’ll -be able to explain to the company what they can’t grathp right away. I’m -going to give you a thene from <i>Andromaque</i>. Come with me, my fine -fellow, you’re going to be Pyrrhuth.”</p> - -<p>Cézarine took the tall youth by the arm, placed a wooden bench at the -rear of the room, unfolded her shawl and draped it round her body, and -removed one of her garters, which she knotted about the young peasant’s -brow; he allowed himself to be thus decorated, not daring to stir. The -peasants, their eyes fixed on Cézarine, waited impatiently to see what -she was going to do. After removing her hat and arranging her hair on -top of her head, Cézarine ordered the tall youth to stand on one end of -the bench and took her own place on the other end, saying:</p> - -<p>“Now we’re going to begin. But firtht I think I ought to tell you a -little about the thubject of the play. Lithen: Andromaque ith a queen -whothe huthband hath been killed; Pyrrhuth here wanth to marry her, and -the won’t. That’th the whole of it—now you underthtand; don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes,” said the peasants; “anyway Jean-François’ll explain the -rest.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I’ll begin; and you, Pyrrhuth, do me the favor not to keep -your eyeth on your big toe all the time, for Pyrrhuth ought not to look -like a zany.”</p> - -<p>The gawky youth, in order to obey the lovely lady, at whom he dared not -glance, raised his eyes and thereafter did not take them from the -ceiling.</p> - -<p>Cézarine assumed a noble pose and began:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“And what more wouldtht thou I thould thay to him?<br /></span> -<span class="i1">Author of all my i11th, thinktht thou he knowth them not?<br /></span> -<span class="i1">My lord, thee to what low ethtate thou dotht reduth me.<a name="page_325" id="page_325"></a><br /></span> -<span class="i1">I have theen my father dead, and our abode on fire;<br /></span> -<span class="i1">I have theen the liveth of my whole family in peril,<br /></span> -<span class="i1">And my blood-thtained huthband dragged amid the dutht.”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>“Poor soul! think of her seeing all that!” said the peasant women. “Is -that all true, Jean-François?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes! of course it’s true! Don’t she tell you she saw it?”</p> - -<p>“My children,” said Cézarine, “if you interrupt me, I than’t be -inthpired any more; a little thilence, if you pleathe.”</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i6">“I breathe again, I therve;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">I have done more, thometimeth I have ta’en comfort<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Becauthe my fate hath exiled me here and not elthwhere;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Becauthe, happy in my mithery, the thon of tho many kingth,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Thinthe he mutht therve, hath fallen beneath your thway;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">I have thought that hith prithon would become hith refuge;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Of yore the conquered Priam wath by Achilleth thpared;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">I from hith thon e’en greater kindneth did antithipate.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Forgive me, Hector dear——”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>“Friend Pyrrhuth, pray attend to bithneth. Are you looking for thpiderth -on the theiling?”</p> - -<p>The tall youth looked toward the door, and Cézarine resumed:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Forgive me, Hector dear——”<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>“Thilenth, my children,” she said, pausing again; “I beg the perthon who -ith thnoring tho loud to do me the favor to go.”</p> - -<p>Cézarine was about to continue her declamation when there came another -prolonged groan. All the villagers looked at one another, saying:</p> - -<p>“Who on earth is making such a noise as that?”</p> - -<p>“It ain’t me.”</p> - -<p>“Nor me.<a name="page_326" id="page_326"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Nor it ain’t Père Mauflard neither.”</p> - -<p>Another groan woke the echoes of the living-room. Terror was depicted on -every face, and the peasants crowded closer together.</p> - -<p>“Great God! what can that be?” they exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“You are frightened at nothing at all,” said Cézarine; “it’th thome -brute prowling round the yard.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that ain’t no brute’s voice, I tell you! it’s more like some dead -man’s soul.”</p> - -<p>“I say! perhaps it’s Jacques Ledru, as died a week ago!”</p> - -<p>“Ain’t it more like to be the ghost of Mère Lucas, who was so ugly when -she was living? Perhaps she’s bent on tormenting us still.”</p> - -<p>To set their minds at rest, Cézarine was on the point of resuming her -tirade, when the gawky youth, whose eyes were fixed on the door, uttered -a horrible yell and fell from the bench, thereby causing Andromaque to -fall upon him.</p> - -<p>“What is it? what’s the matter?” cried the terrified peasants in chorus.</p> - -<p>The tall youth, who had not the strength to speak, pointed to the door; -then hid his face in his hands. All the villagers looked at the place at -which he pointed: the door was thrown open, disclosing in the doorway a -white phantom of extraordinary size, whose eyes flashed fire.</p> - -<p>At that horrible sight, all the women uttered heart-rending shrieks and -tumbled over one another in their haste to get away from the door. Most -of the men did the same, shouting: “Let’s get out of this!” But, as they -could not escape by the door, where the phantom stood on guard, they -pushed one another toward the end of the room; and in the hurly-burly, -chairs and benches were overturned, as well as the table that held the -lamp,<a name="page_327" id="page_327"></a> which fell to the floor and was extinguished. The sudden darkness -added to the general alarm; those who had not seen the lamp fall thought -that the phantom had caused that terrifying obscurity by his mere -presence; the shrieks redoubled; it was impossible to see, they fell -over one another, and everyone thought that it was the devil falling -upon him. To add still more to their terror the phantom uttered -blood-curdling grunts and piteous groans.</p> - -<p>The confusion lasted several minutes, the peasants shrieking in terror -and offering up prayers. Mademoiselle Cézarine alone was not heard to -bewail her fate, although she too had fallen, with the tall youth. The -latter had the courage to look toward the door, where he saw the -gleaming-eyed phantom.</p> - -<p>“It’s still there!” he said under his breath; “it don’t go away!”</p> - -<p>Whereupon Mademoiselle Cézarine was heard to say in a stifled voice:</p> - -<p>“Don’t thtir, my children, and above all thingth, don’t light any -candleth, or the devil will come and carry uth off!”</p> - -<p>Suddenly the barking of a dog was heard in the yard; it was soon -followed by yells from the phantom, who was struggling with the beast -and calling the peasants to its assistance.</p> - -<p>“Mère Fourcy, call off your dog, for heaven’s sake! What an ugly beast! -he’s biting my legs! Come and drive him away, Cézarine!”</p> - -<p>That voice, which was recognized as belonging to Virginie, put an end to -the terror of the peasants, who began to suspect that they had been -fooled by the young ladies from Paris; to put them entirely at ease, the -dog pulled off the sheet in which Virginie had enveloped<a name="page_328" id="page_328"></a> herself, and -took in his jaws a lantern which she had placed on her head, wrapping -the sheet about it and allowing the light to shine through two small -holes.</p> - -<p>The dog raced about the room with the lantern, and the light disclosed a -ridiculous tableau. The men and women were inextricably commingled, and, -even without mischievous intention, the proprieties had not been -altogether respected, because, when one is frightened, one conceals -oneself as best one can. The position of Cézarine and the tall youth was -the most equivocal; but the light of the lantern lighted the room but -dimly, and there were many things which there was no time to see. They -began by setting free Père Mauflard, who had a table, two benches and -three nurses upon him; then the lamp was relighted and they could -recognize one another. Amid the tumult Denise had remained quietly in a -corner with Coco; but, on hearing Virginie’s shrieks, she flew to her -assistance and helped her to rid herself of the sheet in which she was -entangled.</p> - -<p>“Why! was it you playing ghost?” inquired the young girl.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear, I thought I’d act a scene from a fairy pantomime for you; -and if it hadn’t been for your infernal dog, who jumped at—at the base -of my back, while I was giving a groan, I’d have frightened you a great -deal worse!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! what a pity!” said Cézarine, with a languishing glance at the gawky -youth, “it was so nithe! I’m very fond of fairy thenes.”</p> - -<p>“Your fairy scene is to blame for my being all bruised up,” said Père -Mauflard.</p> - -<p>The peasants, offended because they had been made game of, refused to -prolong the festivity, and left Mère Fourcy’s house, saying:<a name="page_329" id="page_329"></a></p> - -<p>“What do fine ladies like them amount to anyway! one wants to see Père -Mauflard’s drawers, and the other dresses up as a ghost; they act as if -they was pretty gay girls!”</p> - -<p>When the neighbors had gone, no one thought of anything but retiring. -Virginie and her friend went to their chamber and to bed, and soon fell -asleep, one nursing her bites, the other lisping that the tall young man -had many of Théodore’s attributes. Mère Fourcy and Coco went to sleep -also. Denise alone could obtain no rest; she thought constantly of -Auguste, of the change in his fortunes, and of what she could do for him -to prove her friendship. But she no longer felt any inclination to ask -the advice of the ladies from Paris, because all the foolish antics in -which she had seen them indulge had somewhat lessened her esteem for -them. She felt that she must be guided by her heart alone; she was sure -that it would never give her any advice for which she would need to -blush.</p> - -<p>The next morning, after breakfast, the ladies, being already sadly bored -in the country, where they desired at first to pass a fortnight, bade -Mère Fourcy and Denise adieu and took their places in the Paris coach.</p> - -<p>“Ah! my dear,” said Virginie, “how I long to be in Paris! it seems to me -that it’s six months since I saw Rue Montmartre and the Ambigu-Comique.”</p> - -<p>“What do you think of me, who haven’t theen Théodore for twenty-four -hourth!”</p> - -<p>“Say what you will, there’s no place but Paris for fun and dress and the -theatre and punch!”</p> - -<p>“Ah! if I had to live in the country, I thould die there!<a name="page_330" id="page_330"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX<br /><br /> -A MAN IN A THOUSAND</h2> - -<p>After his visit to the old man on the fifth floor, Auguste had made a -vow to be prudent and to profit by the lesson which the unfortunate -Dorfeuil had unconsciously given him. But an old proverb says: “Drive -away the natural, and it returns at a gallop;” and Auguste’s nature -still impelled him to do foolish things. Moreover, being unable -thenceforth, by reason of an instinctive delicacy for which he cannot be -blamed, to seek diversion at his window, he was driven to seek it -elsewhere. From his more prosperous days Auguste had retained the habit -of playing the grand seigneur, of reckoning the cost of nothing, of -following only his first impulse. He was as generous to the unfortunate -as to his mistresses: to confer pleasure on others is such a gratifying -habit that it is very hard to abandon it. There are people, however, who -have never known that gratification.</p> - -<p>Upon examining his cash-box, Bertrand had discovered the enormous -deficit consequent upon Auguste’s visit to the old man. Unable to -understand how his master could have spent so much money in so short a -time, Bertrand concluded that they had been robbed, and made an infernal -row. He proposed to go down and cudgel Schtrack and his wife, to teach -them to allow thieves to enter the house; but Auguste detained him, -saying:</p> - -<p>“Don’t get excited, my dear fellow, we haven’t been robbed.<a name="page_331" id="page_331"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Why, monsieur, we had about ten thousand francs left three days ago; -now I can find only seven—and you say we haven’t been robbed!”</p> - -<p>“No, Bertrand; it was I who took the money.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! excuse me, lieutenant; if you have got it, that’s different.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say that I have it; I tell you that I had a use for it.”</p> - -<p>“A thousand crowns in three days! you’re doing well, lieutenant. I don’t -quite see why we came up to the fifth floor, for you didn’t spend any -more on the first.”</p> - -<p>“I met an old friend, Bertrand,—he was in destitution.”</p> - -<p>“We may very well be there, too, and it won’t be long either, if we go -on at this rate. Excuse me, lieutenant, I know how generous you are, I -know your kind heart; but still you must remember that you haven’t -twenty thousand francs a year any more; and when you can’t have anything -but a piece of beef for dinner, it don’t seem to me that it’s the time -to give other people partridges.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be angry, Bertrand; I am going to be prudent—yes, miserly.”</p> - -<p>“Miserly! nonsense, lieutenant! you’ll never have that fault! In fact, I -don’t believe it would help us now.”</p> - -<p>“I am not without prospects; I am promised a place in a government -office.”</p> - -<p>“Really?”</p> - -<p>“With a salary of six thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“Impossible!”</p> - -<p>“Quite possible, on the contrary; but you see everything in dark -colors.”</p> - -<p>“It is you who see everything in rose color, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“If that place should fail me, it is probable that I shall go into a -banking-house, as bookkeeper.<a name="page_332" id="page_332"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Did you ever keep books, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“No; but what difference does that make? Do you suppose that one has to -study for a place like that, as one would study mechanics? With a neat -handwriting, familiarity with rates of exchange and mathematics, and a -little intelligence, you can fill any sort of clerkship. I know that -there are people who study two or three years to learn how to copy a -letter, and others who consider themselves Archimedeses, Newtons or -Galileos, because they pass their lives doing sums.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me, monsieur, that when a man has a place, he ought to -work.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, I will work, Bertrand; that won’t trouble me any. I have -done nothing, because I had nothing to do; but the moment I have -employment, you will see how ardently I will go at my work. Ah! I wish I -were there now!”</p> - -<p>“So do I, monsieur; in the first place, because you would be earning -money, and in the second place, because, when a man is busy, he does -fewer foolish things. Who is it who is going to get these places for -you?”</p> - -<p>“For the first one, a lovely woman, who has a cousin who’s very intimate -with the minister’s secretary. Oh! I tell you, Bertrand, these -women—they’re the only ones to obtain things; and, say what you will, -their acquaintance isn’t always a burden; when they take a person under -their protection, they go about it with such zeal, such ardor, that they -can’t fail.”</p> - -<p>“And the other place, lieutenant—is it a woman who is going to obtain -that for you, too?”</p> - -<p>“No, it’s a young man, with whom I have dined quite often—an excellent -fellow, and most obliging. His uncle is partner in a bank; he has -promised to speak to him about me, and the first vacant place will be -given me.<a name="page_333" id="page_333"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That would come in very handily, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“But you must see that, in order to make yourself agreeable to those -whose support you require, there is always more or less money to be -spent: with the charming young woman, it’s theatre parties and little -presents; with the young man, luncheons and dinners to be given him; for -it isn’t fashionable to help people unless you believe them to be in -comfortable circumstances.”</p> - -<p>“I understand: one must be ruined altogether before one has any -resources.”</p> - -<p>“That is called sowing that you may reap.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve been sowing a good long time, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you that within a fortnight I shall have employment.”</p> - -<p>“When that day comes I’ll go for a walk with Schtrack.”</p> - -<p>“Give me some money, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Money, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Eugène is going to dine with me to-day; he’s the young man whose -uncle is a banker. To-night I am going to call on the charmer whose -cousin is to say a good word for me. There will be cards, no doubt, and -if I have the look of being hard up and of being afraid to lose a few -francs, people won’t condescend to look at me.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, yes, I understand; you want money, so that you can sow.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my friend.”</p> - -<p>After filling his purse, Auguste went to meet the friend with whom he -had an appointment, and whom he was to entertain at dinner, together -with several others who might possibly be useful to him. Dalville took -his guests to one of the very best restaurants; he would have felt -ashamed to dine at a place where they would have been<a name="page_334" id="page_334"></a> as comfortable -and as well served at less expense, but which was not so highly -considered in fashionable society. During dinner they thought of nothing -but laughing and joking, and Auguste was very careful not to mention his -desire for employment; that would have seemed to indicate that he was in -straitened circumstances, which would produce an ill effect. Not until -the dessert, while they were drinking their champagne, did Eugène say to -Auguste:</p> - -<p>“Are you still wanting something to do?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes; I am tired to death of idleness; I am sick of a life of -pleasure.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a good idea; work—it will be a little change for you, and it -helps to reform wayward youth. My uncle will think so. I’ll speak to him -about you when I see him.”</p> - -<p>Auguste dared not say that he would like to have him make a point of -seeing his uncle. The young men, having had an excellent dinner, left -Auguste, making all sorts of proffers of service, and renewing their -assurances of devotion; and he betook himself to the lovely woman who -had promised to assist him and who was to have mentioned him to her -cousin.</p> - -<p>Ladies are beyond question better advocates than men; it certainly is -easier for them to succeed, for they obtain with a smile what has been -denied again and again to obscure merit, to shamefaced poverty. This -fact does credit to our gallantry at least, if not to our justice, and -it is in human nature to submit to be seduced by beauty.</p> - -<p>Madame Valmont was greatly interested in Auguste, who accompanied her -excellently on the piano, and sang nocturnes in her salon with excellent -taste. She had kept her word by inviting her cousin that evening, in -order to introduce Auguste to him. The cousin was a<a name="page_335" id="page_335"></a> man of fashion, who -was received in the best society; addicted to making promises freely and -forgetting on the morrow what he had promised the night before; but -desirous of playing the patron even when he did not patronize, and -deeming himself a mortal of superior mould before whom everyone should -bow.</p> - -<p>Having listened to Auguste’s rendition of a nocturne, he informed his -cousin that he sang divinely and that he would be delighted to do -something for him. When he said this, the cousin expected very humble -acknowledgments from Auguste; but our friend was not the man to bend the -knee in order to obtain favors from anyone. The man who is conscious of -his own worth never stoops to humble himself before his fellowmen, and -to lavish obsequious flattery on those whose merit consists solely in -their rank and wealth—very slender merit indeed in the eyes of those -whose deserts are genuine, but very great in the eyes of the multitude, -who prostrate themselves before fine clothes, decorations and the -glitter of gold pieces, and would dance under a monkey’s window if the -monkey would toss money to them. <i>Numerus stultorum est infinitus.</i></p> - -<p>Auguste, who was not of the right temperament to dance for a monkey, did -not lavish compliments on the cousin with the air of beseeching his -patronage; and the cousin, who was accustomed to be lauded and fawned -upon by the poor devils who desired his countenance, was amazed that the -young gentleman who had been commended to his attention, did not fulfil -his devoirs by paying homage to him. So that he began to consider that -Dalville was not such a good singer after all; and to put the finishing -touch to his disgust, Auguste, who had bet on him when he took his seat -at the écarté table, presumed to criticise his style of play and to try -to prove<a name="page_336" id="page_336"></a> to him that he lost a game by his stupidity. The cousin was -exasperated, and he left his cousin’s house, declaring that the young -man whom she had taken under her protection was incapable of filling the -most trivial office in the service of the government.</p> - -<p>“Well!” said Auguste to Madame Valmont, at the end of the evening, “when -may I call upon the minister’s secretary?”</p> - -<p>“Really, I don’t know what to say. My cousin did not seem very well -disposed when he went away. But what a strange man you are! Instead of -trying to make a favorable impression on him, you expressed an opinion -contrary to his several times, you said nothing agreeable to him, and -you annoyed him at the card table.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, madame, I understand: I am not worthy of an office because I -did not cringe and crawl, and because I presumed to demonstrate to that -gentleman that he did wrong to play his second queen.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say that, my dear Auguste. However, it was a mere spasm of -ill-temper; I will see my cousin again and speak to him, and I still -have hopes.”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, don’t take any more trouble. I am touched by your interest -in me, but I would rather be unemployed than pose as the humble servant -of idiocy and self-conceit.”</p> - -<p>Auguste went home, raging against the vanity, arrogance and pettiness of -mankind. Bertrand, who was impatiently awaiting his return, called out -as soon as he appeared:</p> - -<p>“Well! what about that government office, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“My friend,” said Auguste, squeezing Bertrand’s hand, “we will eat black -bread, we will drink water, but I will not be the lackey of men whom I -despise; I will not<a name="page_337" id="page_337"></a> burn incense to insolent pride and stupidity! I -will not debase myself before my fellowmen!”</p> - -<p>“No, ten thousand squadrons! You mustn’t do that, lieutenant. I see the -place has gone to the devil, eh?”</p> - -<p>“I must needs do homage to a fellow who assumed the most patronizing -airs; agree with everything he said, even when it lacked common sense; -and even say that he played well when, by his own stupid play, he caused -me to lose thirty francs that I had bet!”</p> - -<p>“Thirty francs at one crack! That was rather a big stake, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“What would you have? I was determined to test my luck.”</p> - -<p>“But black bread and water make a wretched meal.”</p> - -<p>“I still have some hope. Eugène is going to speak to his uncle, and -perhaps I shall have better luck in that direction.”</p> - -<p>Several weeks passed, and Auguste finally met his friend, who said to -him:</p> - -<p>“I have spoken to my uncle; you can go to see him—I believe that he has -a vacant place.”</p> - -<p>The next morning Auguste called upon the gentleman referred to. He -entered the office and in due time reached the sanctum of Eugene’s -uncle, who was seated at his desk writing, and, without looking up, -motioned to Auguste to wait.</p> - -<p>Auguste, receiving no invitation to be seated, began by taking a chair -and stretched out his legs, already looking with disfavor upon the -gentleman who was not courteous enough to offer him a seat.</p> - -<p>Five minutes passed and still the banker wrote on. Auguste, losing -patience, said at last:</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, I came here to apply for employment; Eugène must have told -you——<a name="page_338" id="page_338"></a>”</p> - -<p>“One moment—I will be at your service directly, monsieur; I am very -busy.”</p> - -<p>Five minutes more passed, and Auguste said to himself:</p> - -<p>“The devil! I chose my time very badly. Is the man going to write like -this for an hour? His business must be very important!”</p> - -<p>But, after five minutes more, another person entered the office and went -up to the gentleman who was writing.</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, my dear fellow,” he said. “Ah! you are engaged? Very -well! I’ll come again.”</p> - -<p>The gentleman at once laid aside his pen, rose, and detained the new -arrival, saying:</p> - -<p>“Why, is it you, my friend? Don’t go, deuce take it! No one ever sees -you now! I dined yesterday with someone who talked to me about you. -Well, have you sold that cargo of Martinique coffee, the price of which -I predicted would fall?”</p> - -<p>The newcomer was about to reply when Auguste, rising, walked between him -and the banker, and having put on his hat, said to the latter:</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, you have kept me waiting for half an hour, unable to give me -a minute, and you have the impertinence to enter into conversation in my -presence with this gentleman who has just arrived! I have only this much -to say to you—that you’re a knave and a rascal! If you can find time to -answer that, here’s my address, and I shall expect to hear from you.”</p> - -<p>With that Auguste stalked from the room, leaving the <i>busy</i> gentleman -utterly bewildered by the compliment paid to him, and unable to find a -word to say in reply.</p> - -<p>Again Bertrand was awaiting his master’s return; but when Auguste -appeared, the other divined the result of his quest. The young man’s -eyes shone with anger.<a name="page_339" id="page_339"></a></p> - -<p>“Black bread and water, eh, monsieur?” asked Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“Yes, my friend, yes. Ah! these men! Upon my word, I have good grounds -for becoming a misanthrope. I have never known the world so well as -since I lost my money. Parvenus who think that they may presume to go -any length because they are millionaires! Men of intellect who think of -nobody but themselves, and who, provided that they are coddled and -amused, show the most absolute indifference to everything else! People -with the most polished manners who cheat you out of your money! -Conceited asses who want to be flattered, fools who flatter them, -parasites who suck your blood, swindlers who ruin you, and men who turn -their backs on you when you’re unlucky! Those are what I see now. And -they are just what have always been seen, so ’tis said. Men are the same -everywhere; they were no different before the Flood, and the study of -history is simply the study of the passions which have ruled the actions -of the human race for ages.”</p> - -<p>“In all this, my lieutenant, you forget the women, who——”</p> - -<p>“Ah! let us say no ill of them, my friend, they are a hundred times -better than we. Do we not find enjoyment even with those whom we -deceive? That is one pleasant memory, at all events, of which misfortune -cannot deprive us.”</p> - -<p>“That reminds me, monsieur, that Mademoiselle Virginie came to see you -to-day.”</p> - -<p>“Poor Virginie! she doesn’t know as yet of the change in my fortunes. -Well! what did she say, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“She said, first of all, that it wouldn’t be well for an asthmatic -subject to come up so high; then she asked me whether you had come up so -many flights so that you<a name="page_340" id="page_340"></a> could go down in a parachute; but when I told -her how you had been swindled, why, I must do her the justice to say -that she seemed deeply moved; she shed some tears and asked me for a -glass of kirsch to pull her together. She’s coming to breakfast with you -some morning.”</p> - -<p>“I shall be very glad to see her; she, at all events, won’t avoid me -when she meets me.”</p> - -<p>“And those good people at Montfermeil—pretty Denise—do you think, -monsieur, that they wouldn’t be glad to see you again?”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid that the cold welcome I gave Denise when she came to -Paris——”</p> - -<p>“She won’t remember, monsieur, when she finds out that you’re -unfortunate. And that child you’re so fond of—that you think is such a -fine little fellow—why not go to see him?”</p> - -<p>“Why? You seem to forget, Bertrand, that I can no longer do anything for -him! I promised to educate him, to take charge of his future—and all my -plans are destroyed!”</p> - -<p>“But I should say, monsieur, that you have already done a great deal for -the little fellow; instead of coming to Paris, he will remain in the -village, and he won’t be any worse off for that.”</p> - -<p>Auguste could not make up his mind to appear in the guise of a ruined -man to the good people who had seen him scattering gold in profusion; a -false shame deterred him from going again to the village, and he who had -just been declaiming against the passions of men showed that he was not -himself exempt from pride and vanity.</p> - -<p>Auguste left Bertrand and went out in search of distraction and to -dispel the black mood to which his reflections gave birth. Bertrand, -left alone, reflected that<a name="page_341" id="page_341"></a> all hopes of employment had vanished, and -said to himself:</p> - -<p>“What are we going to do when we haven’t anything left, which won’t be -long? Shall I let him live on black bread and water? Sacrebleu! no, that -shall never be! I am not capable of filling a clerk’s place—besides, he -wouldn’t want me to leave him—but can’t I work without his suspecting -it?”</p> - -<p>Bertrand thought a few moments, scratched his head, then exclaimed -joyfully: “Why the devil didn’t I think of it sooner?” Then he went -slowly downstairs and hunted up his friend Schtrack.</p> - -<p>“You make breeches, old fellow, don’t you?” said Bertrand to the -concierge; “in fact, you’re a tailor——”</p> - -<p>“Ja.”</p> - -<p>“Do you always have plenty of work?”</p> - -<p>“Ja, I haf more than I can do.”</p> - -<p>“That’s because you don’t often work. Are you willing to give me some?”</p> - -<p>“Preeches?”</p> - -<p>“Whatever you choose, so long as I have work to do. I shall make a mess -of it at first, but you can show me and I’ll do better soon. You see, -I’m anxious to work, I’m no more of a fool than you are, and it seems to -me that I can do whatever you do. So you’ll give me some work, will -you?”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! Monsieur Pertrand, do you mean it?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes; I want to do something; I am tired of sitting all day with my -arms folded; so I’ll fold my legs, that will be a change. Is it agreed?”</p> - -<p>“Ja, Monsieur Pertrand.”</p> - -<p>“That’s good; but not a word of this before my master, or I’ll begin my -apprenticeship by sewing up your tongue.<a name="page_342" id="page_342"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I won’t say ein wort.”</p> - -<p>That same evening, as soon as Dalville had gone out, Bertrand went down -to the concierge’s quarters, and, seating himself in a small room behind -the lodge, went to work with great zeal. At first the ex-corporal had -much ado to use a needle, and he frequently thrust it into his finger; -but when Schtrack said: “You’ve hurt yourself, mein friend!” Bertrand -rejoined: “Don’t you suppose a bayonet hurt more than that?”</p> - -<p>Bertrand passed a large part of the day at work and sometimes he worked -very late. By dint of application, he began to make himself useful; he -earned very little, but he hoped to become more skilful in time.</p> - -<p>Auguste had no suspicion of anything; he was rarely at home and never -inquired what Bertrand was doing. But, when he looked at his faithful -companion, he noticed that his eyes were very red and that he had a -tired look.</p> - -<p>“You’re not sick, are you, my friend?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“I, monsieur—I was never so well.”</p> - -<p>“You have a tired look, and your eyes seem weak.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s because I read a great deal at night.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know that you were so fond of reading.”</p> - -<p>“That depends on the book, monsieur; I’m reading the life of the great -Turenne.”</p> - -<p>“You must know it by heart.”</p> - -<p>“I never get tired of it, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Auguste asked no more questions. Some time after, one night when he -could not sleep because, with all his philosophy, his reflections were -beginning to be less cheerful, Auguste got out of bed and determined to -try reading himself. He went to Bertrand’s room to get a light, and was -amazed to find that his companion was absent. Bertrand’s bed was not -disturbed, so that he had not retired; and yet it was late when Auguste -came home,<a name="page_343" id="page_343"></a> and Bertrand was apparently waiting for him to come in -before going to bed.</p> - -<p>That midnight absence disturbed Auguste. He had no idea that his -faithful follower would go about to wine-shops with Schtrack, in their -present condition, and as he wished to find out at what time Bertrand -left the house, he went downstairs, having decided to rouse Schtrack if -necessary; he was determined to learn what had become of Bertrand.</p> - -<p>It was three o’clock in the morning and everybody in the house was -asleep, but Auguste saw a light in the concierge’s lodge; the door was -ajar and the light came from the room at the rear. Auguste went in and -discovered Bertrand seated on a table beside the sleeping Schtrack, -working resolutely on a piece of cloth in which his tired eyes could -hardly follow the threads which were his guide.</p> - -<p>At sight of his master, Bertrand stopped, crestfallen. Auguste was so -moved that he stood for some moments unable to speak. At last he cried:</p> - -<p>“What! you, working, Bertrand? Have you turned tailor?”</p> - -<p>“Why not, monsieur? I handled a musket a long while, and now I am -handling a needle; they say that an honest man honors whatever he -touches.”</p> - -<p>“And you pass your nights working! you are ruining your eyesight in -order to work a little more!”</p> - -<p>“This is a mere chance, monsieur; there was a piece of work to be done -in a hurry to-night, and I thought—But it’s the first time, I swear!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! don’t try to deceive me any more! It’s for me that you sit up all -night and deprive yourself of rest. It’s to spin out our funds a little -longer that you are ruining your health. And I—I pass my days in -idleness; I<a name="page_344" id="page_344"></a> squander in an hour or two what you work like a dog as many -nights to earn.”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur, no, I work because I like it, because it amuses me; and -if I should try to be less of a burden to you, would there be any harm -in that? Haven’t you been doing everything for me for a long time? and -do you propose to forbid your old comrade to do something for you?”</p> - -<p>Auguste could not reply, but he opened his arms to Bertrand and pressed -him to his heart; then he forced his faithful servant to go upstairs -with him and go to bed.</p> - -<p>The next day, at daybreak, Auguste sent for an upholsterer.</p> - -<p>“What idea have you got in your head now, monsieur?” queried Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“I mean to sell our furniture, turn everything we own into cash, and -then leave Paris and seek in some other land a means of turning to -account such talents as I have. You will go with me, won’t you, -Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Anywhere, monsieur, anywhere you choose. But why this sudden decision? -Couldn’t you do it without leaving Paris?”</p> - -<p>“No, my friend; in this city, where I have lived the life of a man of -wealth, it would be hard for me, I know, to turn my trifling talents to -account. Forgive this last exhibition of weakness.”</p> - -<p>“Before we resort to this step, is there no longer any hope of your -finding employment?”</p> - -<p>“Hope is the very thing that is using up what little means I have left. -Besides, here in Paris I am not able to resist my taste for dissipation. -Perhaps I shall be wiser in some other country. So we must make our -preparations to start. If this experiment isn’t successful at all events -it’s proper to make it.<a name="page_345" id="page_345"></a>”</p> - -<p>“But, lieutenant——”</p> - -<p>“No objections, Bertrand. Your conduct suggested mine, and my mind is -made up. We leave Paris to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand saw that it was indeed useless for him to try to combat his -master’s plan; he realized too that it was the only course that remained -for them to take, for he could not long support his master with the -twenty sous that he earned by tailoring. So that he set about making -preparations for departure.</p> - -<p>Auguste, who liked to carry out his plans promptly when he had -determined upon them, effected a sale of his furniture during the day, -and the proceeds, added to what cash he had left, made about six -thousand francs.</p> - -<p>“I should like to know,” he said to Bertrand, “if, with this amount of -money, we can’t go to the ends of the world in search of fortune?”</p> - -<p>“It is certain, lieutenant, that there are a great many people who began -with much less.”</p> - -<p>When everything was ready, Auguste, who proposed to go first to Italy, -engaged seats in the Lyon diligence. Bertrand went to say good-bye to -Schtrack.</p> - -<p>“Farewell, old fellow,” he said; “we’re going round the world; if I come -back, I’ll have another drink with you.”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! Good-bye, Monsieur Pertrand.<a name="page_346" id="page_346"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX<br /><br /> -POOR DENISE</h2> - -<p>Auguste and Bertrand had been gone several hours, and Schtrack was -standing in the doorway trying to catch another glimpse of them, when a -young village maiden, carrying a large bag of money in one hand, rushed -into the courtyard and asked for Monsieur Dalville.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville?” repeated Schtrack, taking his pipe from his mouth; -“he isn’t here any more, mamzelle.”</p> - -<p>“Not here! What do you mean, monsieur? This is certainly where he lived. -I came here once before. You remember the time, don’t you—when you -wouldn’t let me go upstairs?”</p> - -<p>“Ah, ja! You had a little poy mit you then.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur. But where does Monsieur Dalville live now? Do you know, -monsieur? It is absolutely necessary that I should see him and speak to -him! Oh! if I only could have got this money sooner—what I owe him! But -tell me, monsieur,—must I go somewhere else?”</p> - -<p>“My little mamzelle, I don’t think you will find Monsieur Dalville very -easy.”</p> - -<p>“Why not, monsieur? I am ready to go anywhere—no matter where.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you it’s too late. How do you expect to find the address of a -man who’s going round the world?”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?—Monsieur Auguste——<a name="page_347" id="page_347"></a>”</p> - -<p>“He started off this very day mit my friend Pertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Gone!”</p> - -<p>“Ach ja! He got ruined here, so he’s going to try to make a fortune -somewhere else.”</p> - -<p>“He has gone away! You don’t know where he is?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do—don’t I tell you he’s gone round the world?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! how unlucky! I have come too late!”</p> - -<p>With that Denise lost consciousness and fell; but Schtrack caught her in -his arms, and after laying his pipe on the post, carried her into the -house. He took her into his lodge. When she swooned, the girl dropped -the bag that she carried; it burst, and the five-franc pieces rolled -about the courtyard. Schtrack, sorely embarrassed because he happened to -be alone for the moment, ran from Denise to the money and from the money -to his pipe, crying:</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! this girl has to go and faint just when my wife ain’t in! -Well, well! my pipe’s gone out, and the money’s rolling all about! -Sacretié!”</p> - -<p>Luckily for the old German and for Denise, another lady entered the -house at this juncture. It was Mademoiselle Virginie, who had come to -invite herself to breakfast with Auguste, and who, when she saw the -five-franc pieces scattered about the courtyard, exclaimed in surprise:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! what magnificence! They throw money out o’window here! I seem -to have come just in time.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t touch! don’t touch!” cried Schtrack from his lodge; “it belongs -to this girl who won’t open her eyes.”</p> - -<p>“Well, old Dutchman, am I touching your money? What an uncivil old -villain it is! What do you take me for, Monsieur Helvetian?—What girl -can he be talking about?<a name="page_348" id="page_348"></a>”</p> - -<p>And as she spoke, Virginie walked toward the lodge, and she uttered a -cry of surprise when she saw the young girl from Montfermeil, whom -Schtrack was drenching with vinegar.</p> - -<p>“It’s Denise! it’s my poor Denise!” she said, pushing Schtrack aside and -taking charge of the young woman.</p> - -<p>“Poor Denise! She ain’t so poor, for I tell you that bag of crowns is -hers,” said Schtrack, returning to the courtyard to recover his pipe and -pick up the money.</p> - -<p>Virginie’s efforts were soon successful in restoring Denise to -consciousness. When she opened her eyes they rested on Virginie, and she -exclaimed, sobbing bitterly:</p> - -<p>“Oh! he has gone away, madame!”</p> - -<p>“Who, pray, my dear love?”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Auguste.”</p> - -<p>“Auguste gone away! nonsense! he’ll come back, of course, won’t he?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, madame! I shall never see him again. He’s gone a long way.”</p> - -<p>“I say, Dutchman, is it true that Auguste has left Paris?”</p> - -<p>“Ja! ja! he’s gone round the world with Pertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Round the world! Great God! And I came to ask him to invite me to -breakfast! Come, my little Denise, don’t cry like that!—Poor child! she -makes me feel sad.—So you loved Auguste, did you, my dear child?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, madame!”</p> - -<p>“There! I knew it! she loved him! I suspected as much.—And he swore -that he loved you too, of course; for these villains of men, they swear -to that as if they were just saying good-morning.”</p> - -<p>“No, madame, Auguste didn’t love me, I’m very sure of that!”</p> - -<p>“Then it’s very kind of you to weep for him.<a name="page_349" id="page_349"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I can’t help it.”</p> - -<p>“I know well enough that love is stronger than we are. I know all about -that! I have been through it. There are men that one can’t help -persisting in loving.—And you came to Paris to see him?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, madame, and to give him this money. When you came to see me three -weeks ago, you told us that Monsieur Auguste was ruined. I didn’t know -anything about it before.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I remember; and I played ghost; and if it hadn’t been for -your dog nipping the calf of my leg, I’d have had the whole village in -the air.”</p> - -<p>“Last summer Monsieur Auguste gave me a thousand crowns for little Coco; -but he was rich then; to-day, as he isn’t rich any more, it seemed to me -that I ought to give back that money. We had used it for building a -cottage and laying out a garden; but I made my aunt understand that we -mustn’t tell Monsieur Auguste that we had used the money at all. My -aunt’s kindhearted too. Besides, it was no more than our duty. As I -succeeded in getting the last of the money yesterday, I started to bring -it to him right away. I came alone so as not to be delayed, and after -all I got here too late! He has gone, and he isn’t coming back again!”</p> - -<p>Denise began to cry again, while Schtrack returned with the money and -handed it to her, saying:</p> - -<p>“There ain’t a single one missing; count ‘em, mamzelle.”</p> - -<p>“Alas! what shall I do with it now? This money was for him,” said -Denise.</p> - -<p>“You had better take it home again, my child; a person can never have -too much of it,” Virginie replied, while Schtrack, still holding the -bag, repeated:</p> - -<p>“Count ‘em, mamzelle, if you blease.<a name="page_350" id="page_350"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you see that she don’t want to count it, you pig-headed old -fool?” said Virginie. “We all know that the Dutchman is honest.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind, count just the same, mamzelle, if you blease.”</p> - -<p>Virginie decided to count the money, because Schtrack would not -otherwise have left them in peace. Meanwhile Denise said to the -concierge:</p> - -<p>“Did Monsieur Auguste look very sad when he went away, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Sad? no, mamzelle, he was fery glad to go, judging from what he said.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet he’s gone to pick up a legacy,” said Virginie, “and that’s why -he went off so sudden. Didn’t he tell you so, Dutchman?”</p> - -<p>“No, he haf not said anything of a legacy, but he sold<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a> all his -furniture.”</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> Schtrack is supposed to pronounce the word -<i>vendu</i>—sold—like <i>fendu</i>—split or broken;—hence the -misunderstanding.</p></div> - -<p>“What’s that? He smashed all his furniture? Had he gone mad, then?”</p> - -<p>“I tell you he sold everything, to get money.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! sold his furniture! Why don’t you say what you mean—with your -Zurich French!”</p> - -<p>“You see how badly off he must have been,” said Denise, “to sell -everything he had!”</p> - -<p>“That don’t prove anything, my dear girl; in the first place, as he was -leaving Paris, he didn’t need any furniture; and then there are people -who prefer to live in furnished lodgings. For my part, I’ve sold my -furniture four or five times, and yet I stay in Paris; you see that -every day.—But after all, in which direction has the fellow gone? -Didn’t he tell you, monsieur le concierge?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; he’s gone round the world.<a name="page_351" id="page_351"></a>”</p> - -<p>“The deuce! that’s a definite address! Think of writing: ‘To Monsieur -So-and-So, going round the world!’—And he’s taken Bertrand with him, -has he?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’m fery sorry for it, because Pertrand was just beginning to work -fery gut.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, work? at what, pray?”</p> - -<p>“At making preeches, bantaloons; it was me who taught him.”</p> - -<p>“My dear man, I think you must be dreaming now. Bertrand, the old -soldier, Auguste’s faithful servant, make breeches?”</p> - -<p>“Like a horse.”</p> - -<p>“You’re crazy!”</p> - -<p>“No, no, I ain’t; Pertrand, he did work. He passed every night working, -and my wife told me he did it to help his master, who was throwing away -all his money.”</p> - -<p>Virginie was speechless, but Denise exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“I understand only too well. Dear old Bertrand! I knew he was a fine -fellow! He worked to help Auguste, who didn’t know anything about it, -probably.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! he was going to sew up my tongue if I said a word.”</p> - -<p>“Well, madame, if Monsieur Auguste hadn’t been without means, would -Bertrand have worked at tailoring—worked all night?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, my dear girl, I don’t understand it at all. The last time I saw -Auguste he treated me to punch, and yet he must have moved up to the -fifth floor even then. To be sure, he had such a kind heart, he was so -generous!—Well, well! there she is crying again! My dear Denise, you’ll -make your eyes as red as a rabbit’s; and that won’t bring Auguste back. -Poor child! how she loves him! Those ne’er-do-wells must have some kind -of magic power, to inspire such passions. Don’t get<a name="page_352" id="page_352"></a> excited, -Denise—he’ll come back, he hasn’t gone away forever. You’ll see him -again, I’m sure of it; and when he knows how much you love him, I -propose that he shall love you and cherish you; I’ll tell him what grief -and torture he has caused you; I’ll tell him how good, how gentle and -sweet you are. Come, don’t cry any more. Kiss me, Denise; Auguste will -love you, for you well deserve it.”</p> - -<p>Virginie was deeply moved; Denise’s suffering had melted her; for the -first time in a very long while, genuine tears fell from her eyes as she -threw her arms about the village girl.</p> - -<p>Nothing pacifies the wretched so quickly as to find that someone else -shares their distress. Denise listened to Virginie’s entreaties; she -exerted herself to summon her courage; she wiped her eyes, rose, and -said with a long-drawn sigh:</p> - -<p>“I’ll go back to the village then.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear girl, that’s the wisest thing you can do.”</p> - -<p>“But suppose he should come back, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll let you know, I’ll come and tell you; I promise to do my -utmost to learn something about him.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! how good you are, madame!”</p> - -<p>“Why, no—the trouble is that you’re a slip of a girl who ought to be -kept under glass.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur le concierge,” said Denise, “if you hear anything about -Monsieur Auguste, don’t forget to ask where he is, and find out where a -person can write to him.”</p> - -<p>“Ja, mamzelle.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you be afraid, little Denise: I’ll come often and ask Dutchy if -he knows anything. He’s a good fellow, though he does smoke all the -time, is Monsieur—What’s your name?<a name="page_353" id="page_353"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Schtrack.”</p> - -<p>“Schtrack! Oh! what a name! Schtrack! I believe that that means -blackguardism in German. Never mind—au revoir, Monsieur Schtrack. Come, -my love, I’ll walk to the diligence office with you.”</p> - -<p>Denise left Auguste’s late abode, and, with her arm through Virginie’s, -returned to the diligence office, carrying the bag of money which she -had no choice but to take back to the village. Virginie offered to take -the trip with her, but the girl declined her offer with thanks, and, -after urging her to try to find out something concerning the man whom -she had hoped to find in Paris, she entered the stage and rode sadly -back to Montfermeil, saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“Alas! I am not lucky in my trips to Paris.”</p> - -<p>XXI</p> - -<p>THE TRAVELLERS’ FIRST ADVENTURE</p> - -<p>Auguste and Bertrand had taken the Lyon diligence. The young man was -inside, and his companion on the box,—in order to enjoy the fresh air, -so he told Auguste, but in reality as an economical measure.</p> - -<p>It was the first time that Auguste had ever found himself in a public -conveyance; accustomed as he was to drive in a light cabriolet, drawn by -spirited horses, and to follow naught save his own desires and stop -whereever he chose, it was not without a feeling of disgust that he -found himself compelled to travel with people whom he did not know, to -be pushed by this one, elbowed by<a name="page_354" id="page_354"></a> that one, and forced to listen to -conversations which had no interest for him.</p> - -<p>At his left was a stout party of some fifty years, with a cotton cap on -his head, surmounted by a red handkerchief, and over it all a -helmet-shaped cap trimmed with fur, with vizors before and behind. At -his right was an old woman, whose face luckily was concealed beneath a -shabby black satin bonnet, over which was thrown a green veil that no -one was tempted to raise.</p> - -<p>The vehicle had barely started when the man on Auguste’s left began to -perform like neighbor Mauflard, and the lady on the right followed his -example. But in his sleep the stout gentleman dug his elbow into -Auguste’s ribs, and the old lady dropped her head on his shoulder. -Finding his hands full with repelling the elbow of the one and avoiding -the other’s head, he said to himself: “It’s great fun to travel by -diligence! Oh! my pretty cabriolet, which Bébelle drew so swiftly -through the dust, where art thou? Alas! if I had been more prudent, I -should still possess thee; for if I had not begun to anticipate my -income, I should not have encroached on my capital; if I had not done -that, I should not have dreamed of disturbing my funds, which were -safely invested; and I should have found that twenty thousand francs -absolutely assured was better than thirty thousand due solely to -speculation.—Pray remove your head, madame, if you please.—In that -case, I shouldn’t have put my property in the hands of that knave of a -Destival, who consequently would not have run away with it; and then I -should still be as rich as ever. I should have been able to do good with -my money; and I would have gone to Montfermeil again and kept my promise -to that pretty boy; I would not have made love to Denise, as she loves -some man in the village who is<a name="page_355" id="page_355"></a> probably married to her before now; but -I would have seen her married, and would have reminded her in jest of -that fall from her donkey in the woods; perhaps—Oh! for heaven’s sake, -monsieur, keep your arms still—you are breaking my ribs!”</p> - -<p>Auguste’s opposite neighbors were two gentlemen and a lady. The latter, -who sat between the two men, was directly opposite Auguste; but as she -wore a very large hood, and as she kept her head lowered, he could not -see her face.</p> - -<p>“Probably she isn’t pretty,” said our traveller to himself, “or she -would have raised her head before this.”</p> - -<p>The lady’s dress was very simple—a travelling costume. The two men -beside her were travelling salesmen, one in wines, the other in linens; -they had begun a conversation which seemed likely not to end before they -reached Lyon.</p> - -<p>Auguste was dazed by their constant chattering about casks, <i>veltes</i>, -<i>jouys</i>, Rouen silks, good years and failures; and, disgusted by the -proximity of the sleepers, he was regretting that he was not with -Bertrand, and longing for the first halt, when the lady in the hood -moved her foot and touched Auguste’s. A “pardon, monsieur” was instantly -pronounced in a very pleasant voice. This incident roused Auguste from -his despondency, inspiring the wish to see the face of his vis-à-vis; -and as his legs were in close proximity to hers, he moved them slightly -and said a few words as to the lack of space in diligences;—an excuse -for beginning a conversation. The lady replied with a “Yes, monsieur,” -but did not raise her head; whereupon our young man’s curiosity became -all the keener. She did not seem disposed to talk, but she did move her -knees, which touched those of her vis-à-vis. Auguste was conscious of a -desire to press one of those<a name="page_356" id="page_356"></a> knees between his own, but was deterred by -this thought: “Suppose she should prove to be ugly! How I should regret -having made her acquaintance!”</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding, the young man ventured to press one knee gently; she -did not withdraw it, but she did not raise her head; and Auguste, -secretly enjoying the knee-play, said to himself: “Perhaps it’s as well -that I can’t see her features, for I can at all events imagine that she -is charming, adorable. With that idea in my mind, the mere rustling of -her dress causes me a pleasant sensation, and it helps me to forget the -tedium of the journey. Ah! madame, if you are ugly, do not look up, I -pray, for you would thereby put an end to a too delicious illusion.”</p> - -<p>As they descended a hill, a violent jolt nearly overturned the -diligence. The stout man and the old lady woke with a jump. At the same -moment the hooded lady uttered a shriek of alarm and raised her head. -Auguste saw a pretty face of twenty to twenty-five years, fresh and -blooming, regular features, expressive eyes—in short, a charming -ensemble which delighted him and caused him to press more tenderly the -knee that was between his.</p> - -<p>But she had already dropped her head again. The scare was at an end, the -commercial travellers resumed their conversation, Auguste’s neighbors -closed their eyes once more, and he, enraptured by what he had seen, -moved constantly nearer to his vis-à-vis, who allowed him to place his -feet on hers.</p> - -<p>“She is lovely,” thought Auguste, “but her actions are very strange. If -she allows me to press her knees like this, it must be that she likes -it, or that she doesn’t dare to take offence. In the first case, she is -a woman who is not inclined to avoid adventures; in the second case, she -is an innocent young thing, who has never<a name="page_357" id="page_357"></a> travelled by diligence -before. I will satisfy myself that the second conjecture is the true -one; we should always look at the best side.”</p> - -<p>The diligence stopped at Corbeil. The two salesmen hastily left the -vehicle; the stout man extricated himself from his corner with -difficulty; the old woman of the green veil dropped into the arms of the -man who held the door open, and Auguste, having alighted, offered his -hand to the young lady in the hood. But she replied with a faint sigh:</p> - -<p>“Thanks, monsieur, I am not going to get out.”</p> - -<p>“She isn’t going to get out!” repeated Auguste to himself, as he stood -by the door. “Poor thing! she isn’t coming to the inn to dine, which -ordinarily indicates obligatory economy.”</p> - -<p>“Coming to dinner, lieutenant?” inquired Bertrand, who had climbed down -from his seat on the box, and was awaiting Auguste at the inn door.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, here I am.”</p> - -<p>“Have you left anything in the diligence?”</p> - -<p>“No, but I would have liked——”</p> - -<p>“Do you hear that? they say that the passengers must hurry.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand came forward to see what was keeping his master by the -diligence; he spied the young lady and muttered:</p> - -<p>“Morbleu! another! I might have known that there was a petticoat at the -bottom of it! Remember, lieutenant—we left Paris in order to be good, -to reform.”</p> - -<p>“You are right, my friend,” said Auguste; and he turned regretfully away -from the vehicle and followed Bertrand to the inn.</p> - -<p>The travellers’ dinner was soon at an end; urged on by the driver, they -all returned to their places, the old<a name="page_358" id="page_358"></a> lady carrying her dessert. -Auguste gazed with renewed interest at the young woman, who probably had -dined on a modest loaf, and he placed his knees against hers once more -with greater respect than before, because the idea of misfortunes puts -thoughts of pleasure to silence.</p> - -<p>The old woman requested Auguste to break some nuts which she had brought -from the table, the stout man offered him snuff, the commercial -travellers entered into conversation with him, everyone trying to become -better acquainted with his fellow-passengers. The little lady in the -hood alone held her peace. But darkness began to fall. Auguste longed -for it; his neighbors dozed, the salesmen did likewise, and he moved his -knees forward, trying by that means to establish an understanding with -his vis-à-vis, and saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“If she is unfortunate, I must try to comfort her. Moreover, I squeezed -her knees this morning, and should I act as if I thought her less -attractive just because she hasn’t the means to dine at inns? That would -be worthy of Monsieur de la Thomassinière.”</p> - -<p>As he did not wish to give his vis-à-vis such an opinion of him, the -young man tenderly pressed the limb which she abandoned to him, and -ventured to take a hand, which she did not withdraw. Night does not -always bring gloomy thoughts, and Auguste looked forward to obtaining a -kiss from the little lady, who seemed of so yielding a humor. But his -two neighbors embarrassed him; at the slightest motion on his part -toward leaning forward, the old lady and the stout man fell across his -back, and he could not return to his place until he had thrust them back -into their corners. The two salesmen, too, in their slumber, leaned -against the young woman who separated them, and their heads frequently -came in contact with her hood.<a name="page_359" id="page_359"></a></p> - -<p>“Riding in a diligence is not all pleasure,” said Auguste in an -undertone.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! it isn’t all pleasure, monsieur,” replied the young woman.</p> - -<p>But, in order to enjoy greater pleasure, the young man leaned forward -again and bestowed a loving kiss on one of the salesmen, whose face was -at that moment in front of the hood. The salesman woke, trying to guess -the source of that mark of affection, and Auguste was amazed to find -that the young woman’s chin was less soft than her hand.</p> - -<p>The salesman could see nobody save his neighbor who was likely to have -kissed him while he slept; and although he was unaccustomed to inspire -passions, he was convinced that he had kindled a flame in the heart of -the young woman by his side. As he did not choose to be behindhand with -her, the young man, who had hitherto had no thought for anything but his -samples, and the duties imposed on his wares, began to think of -something different, and to play with his hands on the young woman’s -knees. She made no resistance, while the two men, who seemed to be -playing the <i>pied de bœuf</i>, seized each other’s hand and pressed it -with a vigor which surprised them both.</p> - -<p>The first rays of dawn surprised the travellers in this situation. -Auguste laughed heartily, the salesman testily withdrew his hand and the -young woman her knee; but she glanced furtively at Auguste, and he -promised himself compensation for the blunders of the night.</p> - -<p>In the morning they arrived at Auxerre; again the young woman remained -in the diligence. Toward evening they halted at Avallon, where they were -to dine. The young woman alighted, but she did not enter the inn; having -purchased a loaf of bread and some other things,<a name="page_360" id="page_360"></a> she sat down a short -distance from the inn. Auguste, who had followed her with his eyes, -allowed Bertrand to go in alone, saying that he was not hungry as yet, -and joined his fair fellow-traveller, with whom he entered into -conversation.</p> - -<p>“Are you leaving Paris, madame?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur”—with a sigh.</p> - -<p>“Have you lived there long?”</p> - -<p>“I was born there, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“And you are turning your back on your native place?”</p> - -<p>“I have no choice, monsieur”—with another sigh.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to live in Lyon, madame?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you have no settled plan?”</p> - -<p>“I am so unfortunate, monsieur!”</p> - -<p>“You arouse my profound interest, madame; but we can talk more -comfortably elsewhere than on this road. If you will take my arm, -madame, we might take a walk about the place until it is time to start.”</p> - -<p>“With pleasure, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>The lady took Auguste’s arm, and they walked away from the inn, talking.</p> - -<p>“If I were not afraid of being too inquisitive, madame, I would ask what -makes you leave Paris.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I am very willing to tell you, monsieur. I am the child of -respectable tradespeople; they married me when very young to a man whom -I did not love; but I felt bound to obey, in order to gratify my -parents.”</p> - -<p>“That was very good of you, madame.”</p> - -<p>“There was a very agreeable gentleman who had courted me before I was -married; I didn’t love him either, but I listened to him to gratify -him.”</p> - -<p>“I understand, madame.<a name="page_361" id="page_361"></a>”</p> - -<p>“My husband didn’t make me happy; he was never willing that I should go -out, and I stayed at home because that gratified him. But sometimes I -had visitors, among others the gentleman who used to court me.”</p> - -<p>“And that didn’t gratify your husband?”</p> - -<p>“Apparently not, monsieur; for not long ago, happening to find him with -me, he turned me out of doors. I undertook to be angry, and he beat me, -monsieur; and said he’d do it again whenever he chose.”</p> - -<p>“He is a man who has a most brutal way of procuring himself pleasure.”</p> - -<p>“As I didn’t care to be beaten again, I left my husband, and started for -Lyon, having barely enough to pay for my passage.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose then, madame, that you have friends in Lyon?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it was that gentleman who used to come to see me—he said that he -was going there. However, I am no more anxious to go to Lyon than -anywhere else. I wanted to get away from my husband, who made me so -unhappy.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the fellow-travellers had reached a small restaurant. Auguste, -remembering that his companion had not dined, proposed that they should -go in and regale themselves, and she assented—to gratify him.</p> - -<p>They entered the restaurant. Auguste asked for a private room, because -one does not need witnesses to console a young wife whose husband has -beaten her. He ordered as toothsome a repast as the place could afford, -because he forgot as usual that he was no longer rich, and readily fell -into his former habits. The Avallon restaurateur was put to his mettle -to provide a dainty refection for the strangers who had honored his -establishment. The dinner was served; Auguste urged the young<a name="page_362" id="page_362"></a> woman to -partake, and she, although she said that she complied only to gratify -him, ate everything and did not need to be urged to drink freely of a -native wine which the host declared to be of the vintage of the year of -the comet.</p> - -<p>Dining together, they became more and more friendly. At first Auguste -seated himself opposite the young lady; but he reflected that they were -much nearer than that in the diligence, and that it was, to say the -least, unusual for two persons to keep at a respectful distance, -tête-à-tête in a private dining-room, when they have pressed each -other’s knees before witnesses. So he took his seat beside the young -lady, who sighed from time to time, but did not repulse the young man, -who seemed most anxious to console her. He tenderly squeezed a very soft -hand, expressing great surprise that a husband could be so brutal as to -hurt such a charming woman.</p> - -<p>“Men are cruel,” said the young woman, who continued to keep her eyes on -the floor.</p> - -<p>“They are tyrants,” rejoined Auguste, pressing her plump hand to his -lips.</p> - -<p>“They cause all our misery!” added the young woman, as she allowed her -companion to kiss her.</p> - -<p>“Ah! they cause something very different!” cried Auguste, throwing his -arms about her.</p> - -<p>“They do! they do!” whispered the young woman, apparently no longer -conscious what they do or what she did; but after several meagre -repasts, it was no wonder that the wine of the comet year caused her to -lose her head.</p> - -<p>On recovering his wits, Auguste said:</p> - -<p>“By the way—the diligence?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s so—the diligence!” echoed the young woman, heaving a sigh, -presumably from habit.<a name="page_363" id="page_363"></a></p> - -<p>“I am inclined to think, my dear love, that it is high time to return to -it.”</p> - -<p>“Very well! let us return, my friend.”</p> - -<p>As you see, the wine of the comet had established most friendly -relations between the travellers. But as a general rule, affairs that -are negotiated in diligences are speedily consummated.</p> - -<p>Auguste summoned the keeper of the restaurant and paid for the dinner. -The young lady replaced her hood, which was no longer on her head, I -know not why. Then they left the private room and walked back, -arm-in-arm, toward the inn where they had left the diligence.</p> - -<p>As they walked Auguste talked with his companion, who seemed to him to -have a very sweet disposition, but whose wit did not respond to the idea -suggested by her decidedly expressive countenance. There are women whose -wit is all in their eyes, and with them one must content oneself with -pantomime.</p> - -<p>As they approached the inn Auguste espied Bertrand, striding back and -forth in front of the establishment, looking to right and left with -gestures of impatience, and swearing energetically from time to time. -When he caught sight of Auguste, he ran to meet him and made a horrible -wry face at the young woman who was hanging on his master’s arm.</p> - -<p>“Here you are at last, monsieur! Sacrebleu! I thought that you’d left me -here to chase the swallows!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t get excited, Bertrand, I am here. I am not lost, you see. Well, -when do we start?”</p> - -<p>“Start! start for where, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Why, for Lyon, of course!”</p> - -<p>“And is that why you let the diligence go—that you made me wait and -call you and look everywhere for you?<a name="page_364" id="page_364"></a>”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? the diligence has gone?”</p> - -<p>“Morbleu, yes! more than an hour ago; but the time evidently didn’t seem -long to you!”</p> - -<p>“The diligence has gone!” repeated Auguste, dropping his companion’s -arm; but she, evidently setting great store by its support, instantly -took it again, saying:</p> - -<p>“That’s very amusing! isn’t it, my dear friend?”</p> - -<p>“It no longer seems so amusing to me,” said Auguste; while Bertrand -walked away, and muttered with an oath, stamping the ground:</p> - -<p>“Her dear friend! Ten thousand bayonets! this is a very pretty mess!”</p> - -<p>“But couldn’t they have waited a little while for us, Bertrand?” asked -Auguste.</p> - -<p>“They waited two minutes, monsieur, and that’s a long time for a -diligence.”</p> - -<p>“And you didn’t go?”</p> - -<p>“Do you suppose that I would go without you? Ain’t I attached to you, -and to nobody else? What’s the sense of my being at Lyon if you ain’t -there?”</p> - -<p>“You did well, Bertrand. And our valises?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! they’re here. As I had a shrewd idea that there was something new, -I wouldn’t let them go without us.”</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul, my friend, we must make the best of this accident. After -all, it matters not whether we go to Lyon or somewhere else; and whether -we arrive there to-morrow or a week hence.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! my dear friend, it’s a matter of indifference to me too,” -said the young woman.</p> - -<p>Bertrand frowned and motioned to his master that he wanted to speak to -him in private. Auguste succeeded in making the young woman understand -that she must let go his arm for a moment, and he joined the -ex-corporal, who said to him with a stern expression:<a name="page_365" id="page_365"></a></p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, lieutenant, but who is this woman who sticks to your arm -as if you had glue on your sleeve?”</p> - -<p>“She’s a young woman who was with us in the diligence.”</p> - -<p>“And why didn’t she stay there?”</p> - -<p>“Because I took her to walk with me.”</p> - -<p>“Who is the woman?”</p> - -<p>“A very entertaining person.”</p> - -<p>“She didn’t tell you what she is doing, did she?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure: she’s going to Lyon, in order not to stay in Paris.”</p> - -<p>“The deuce! if that’s her only motive, I can understand that she doesn’t -care whether she goes there or somewhere else. But why is she leaving -Paris? A young woman don’t travel alone like this, just for the pleasure -of travelling.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! she had a very urgent reason—her husband beat her.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he was justified, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! Bertrand!”</p> - -<p>“Why does she call you her dear friend so soon?”</p> - -<p>“Because—because——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! because—I understand perfectly. But after all, monsieur, what -do you expect to do with this woman?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t quite know; but you must see that I can’t desert her here after -being the cause of her losing the diligence.”</p> - -<p>“I should say rather that she made you lose it by telling you fairy -tales, and arousing your pity by adventures that never happened, I’ll -wager. Besides, monsieur, a woman who takes up with the first man that -comes along can’t be anything but an adventuress. I’ll bet that you -don’t even know her name?<a name="page_366" id="page_366"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Faith, no. But what does the name matter? Can’t a person assume any -name at pleasure? Whether this young woman has told me the truth or not, -I won’t leave her penniless far from the place to which she is going.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! she hasn’t any money, eh?”</p> - -<p>“Why, she had nothing for dinner but bread.”</p> - -<p>“This is a very excellent find that you’ve made! So, monsieur, when you -left Paris, in order to be prudent and economize, here you are with a -woman on your hands barely sixty leagues from Paris!”</p> - -<p>“Bah! what can you expect? Is it my fault? Come, Bertrand, don’t scold; -hereafter I’ll reflect a little more; meanwhile let us abandon ourselves -to our destiny.”</p> - -<p>Auguste returned to the young woman and Bertrand followed him, saying to -himself:</p> - -<p>“I am very much afraid he’s incorrigible.”</p> - -<p>The young woman promptly resumed possession of Auguste’s arm.</p> - -<p>“My dear friend,” he said to her, “as the diligence has gone off without -us, we need not hurry now.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, not at all.”</p> - -<p>“We can even pass a day or two here.”</p> - -<p>“I should like to if it would gratify you.”</p> - -<p>“Then we will consider how we will continue our journey—whether by some -chance conveyance, by stage—or even on foot, so that we can admire the -country in case it is worthy of admiration.”</p> - -<p>“Whatever will gratify you, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“You see, Bertrand,” said Auguste in an undertone, “this little woman is -good-nature itself, she seeks only to gratify me.”</p> - -<p>“She doesn’t gratify me in the very least, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Because you don’t choose to be gratified.—By the way, as we are to -stay here,” continued Auguste, “we<a name="page_367" id="page_367"></a> will take rooms at this inn. -Bertrand, see that rooms are prepared for us.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur;—and for madame, too?”</p> - -<p>“That goes without saying.—By the way, as we are under the necessity of -economizing, one room will be enough for madame and myself. Isn’t that -so, my dear love?”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! yes, if that will gratify you.”</p> - -<p>“By the way, my dear love, you haven’t yet told me your name.”</p> - -<p>“My name is Adèle—or Madame Florimont, as you please.”</p> - -<p>“Rather as you please.”</p> - -<p>“Call me Adèle—I shall like that.”</p> - -<p>“Adèle it is.”</p> - -<p>“Madame Florimont!” muttered Bertrand with a shrug; “that’s a stage -name—she got that in the wings of some theatre.”</p> - -<p>“My name is Auguste, my dear Adèle; for it is right that you should know -who I am.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! mon Dieu! it’s all one to me!”</p> - -<p>“I see that you think more of the person than of the title, and that you -judge people by their faces; if that method never deceives you, I -congratulate you. But it is still light and the weather is fine; the -best thing for us to do before supper, I think, is to take a walk. Will -you come with us, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“No, lieutenant, I have no desire to walk.”</p> - -<p>Auguste walked away with the emotional Adèle. They traversed the pretty -little town of Avallon in every direction. Auguste commented upon what -he saw and the young woman invariably agreed with him; so that he -finally decided that a woman who can only assent to everything that is -said without making any observations<a name="page_368" id="page_368"></a> on her own account, is rather -monotonous company. But Madame Florimont had very pretty eyes, and it -was not long since she had first fixed them upon Auguste; so that, when -he had discoursed for some time without obtaining anything but -insignificant replies, he played with Adèle with his eyes, whereupon she -said in pantomime the sweetest things imaginable.</p> - -<p>Only in front of the shops did the young woman make any remarks of her -own motion. She stopped to gaze at a shawl and heaved a profound sigh.</p> - -<p>“Would you like it?” Auguste asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh! it would give me great pleasure.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, let’s buy it.”</p> - -<p>Giving way to his former habit, the young man bought the shawl for -Madame Florimont, who at once threw it over her shoulders, having rolled -up the little neckerchief which she wore about her neck, and placed it -under her arm. A little farther on she stopped and sighed again as she -eyed a pretty cap. At Auguste’s instance she tried it on; and as it was -wonderfully becoming under the great hood, the cap was purchased. Next, -it was in front of a jeweller’s establishment that the young woman -stopped and sighed: she wanted a little ring which would remind her of -the day she met Auguste! He considered that desire too flattering not to -be satisfied. But after that he took his companion back to the inn, not -allowing her to stop anywhere, lest she should sigh again.</p> - -<p>The young woman was very pretty in the shawl and cap. But when Bertrand -saw her in that guise, he took Auguste aside once more and said:</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, she wasn’t dressed like that this afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“You will certainly agree, Bertrand, that she looks much better -to-night?<a name="page_369" id="page_369"></a>”</p> - -<p>“But, monsieur, what are you thinking about?”</p> - -<p>“I am thinking about supper, for I am very hungry;—and you, my dear -friend?”</p> - -<p>“I too shall be glad to have supper.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand said nothing more; but he went into a corner and beat his head -against the wall. In due time the supper was brought; Auguste went to -the table with Adèle, and urged Bertrand to sit with them, explaining to -the young woman that he was his factotum, his cashier, and not his -servant.</p> - -<p>Bertrand made a wry face at the word cashier; but he decided at last to -seat himself respectfully at the other end of the table. To put him in -good humor, Auguste ordered several bottles of good wine. The ruse was -successful. By dint of drinking, Bertrand recovered his spirits and no -longer looked askance at the young woman.</p> - -<p>But when, after supper, he saw Auguste retire with Madame Florimont to a -room in which there was only one bed, he muttered:</p> - -<p>“You will certainly be taken for the lady’s husband, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, Bertrand, it will look very much like it to-night.”</p> - -<p>“But afterward?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! the most important thing to my mind at this moment, my friend, is -to get to bed. Do the same. Good-night; to-morrow it will be light.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Bertrand, filling his glass once more, “to-morrow it will be -light, and we shall still have this hussy on our hands! It would have -been just as well to stay in Paris and let me make breeches with -Schtrack.”</p> - -<p>And Bertrand fell asleep finishing the bottle.<a name="page_370" id="page_370"></a></p> - -<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII<br /><br /> -BERTRAND’S STRATAGEM</h2> - -<p>A night’s sleep suffices to banish the fumes of wine and to restore -calmness to our minds; a night of love often suffices to banish many -illusions and to restore calmness to our senses. After the night at the -inn with Madame Florimont, both Auguste and Bertrand reflected more -coolly concerning their position: the latter had not for a moment failed -to realize the fresh embarrassment in which Auguste had involved -himself; and Auguste, who perhaps was already weary of playing pantomime -with his young fellow-traveller, felt that he had made a fool of -himself. But how was he to rid himself courteously of a lady who -constantly said to him:</p> - -<p>“I will go wherever you please, my friend.”</p> - -<p>After breakfast, Auguste asked if they could obtain a conveyance to take -them to Lyon. To travel by post would be too expensive for people who -wished to be economical, although no one would ever have suspected -Auguste of such a wish, as he always insisted upon being entertained <i>en -grand seigneur</i>.</p> - -<p>A leather dealer, who owned a large two-seated cabriolet, offered to -take the travellers with him. To be sure, he would take four days for -the trip, because his business compelled him to stop at several places; -but they were in no hurry, so they made a bargain with the leather -dealer, who packed our three travellers in his vehicle.<a name="page_371" id="page_371"></a></p> - -<p>Auguste and the emotional Adèle took their places on the back seat, -Bertrand beside the tradesman on the front seat, and they started, drawn -by a single horse, large enough for two, but with no apparent -disposition to take the bit in his teeth.</p> - -<p>Bertrand chatted with the driver, a tall fellow of twenty-eight or -thirty years, who passed a large part of his life on his wagon, was -better acquainted with taverns than with his own house, where he spent -less than three months of the year, and declared that not a maid servant -within a radius of thirty leagues had been unkind to him.</p> - -<p>Auguste looked at the landscape and tried to make Madame Florimont talk.</p> - -<p>“What do you think of this view?”</p> - -<p>“Why, it’s very ugly.”</p> - -<p>“What? That wooded slope, the valley on the left, with the stream -flowing through it, and yonder pretty village in the background—you -call that ugly?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! it’s very pretty.”</p> - -<p>“Would you like to travel?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“Have you never been away from Paris?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I’ve been to Saint-Cloud and Passy.”</p> - -<p>“Would you like to go to Italy?”</p> - -<p>“If it would gratify you.”</p> - -<p>“But what about the gentleman who’s expecting you at Lyon?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I don’t know whether he’s waiting for me!”</p> - -<p>“I may be compelled by circumstances to leave you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! but I won’t leave you, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“But suppose I should return to Paris?”</p> - -<p>“I would go there.”</p> - -<p>“But what about your husband, who beat you?<a name="page_372" id="page_372"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I wouldn’t tell him that I had returned.”</p> - -<p>“I see that I shan’t be able to get rid of this woman!” said Auguste to -himself. “Infernal diligence! That great hood, those knees against mine, -that night on the road—all those things go to one’s head. You imagine -that you have made a glorious conquest; you fancy yourself in love, and -for twenty-four hours you are! But after that! Mon Dieu! what a mess I -have got into!”</p> - -<p>Bertrand, who had overheard a part of the conversation between Adèle and -Auguste, leaned over to the latter and said in his ear:</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon, lieutenant, but this woman seems to me as stupid as a -pot.”</p> - -<p>“So she seems to me, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Are we going round the world with a doll like that?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid so, my friend. She has determined never to leave me.”</p> - -<p>“I promise you that I will make her change her mind.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand said no more. They drove for some time in silence. From time to -time the leather dealer cast a furtive, lady-killer’s glance at Madame -Florimont, and said to Bertrand whenever they passed through a hamlet or -village:</p> - -<p>“I once knew a pretty woman here. I had an intrigue here. I set people’s -tongues to wagging here.”</p> - -<p>“It seems that you’re a sad rake.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! I’m well known in this region.”</p> - -<p>At nightfall they stopped at a small place where they were to pass the -night. They alighted at a wretched inn; the leather dealer went out to -attend to some business, and after supper Auguste, thinking that the -most sensible course to pursue with the emotional Adèle was to go to -bed, withdrew with her, leaving Bertrand with his pipe at a table.<a name="page_373" id="page_373"></a></p> - -<p>The tradesman returned in due time and Bertrand invited him to drink; he -was not the man to decline such an invitation. He was almost as -accomplished a drinker as Schtrack; after the second bottle they became -confidential and Bertrand said to his companion:</p> - -<p>“You look to me like a good fellow.”</p> - -<p>“You’re very kind!”</p> - -<p>“You might do us a great favor, my lieutenant and me.”</p> - -<p>“If it won’t cost me anything, I’m your man.”</p> - -<p>“It not only won’t cost you anything, but I’ll give you fifty crowns -bonus.”</p> - -<p>“Say it quick, then!”</p> - -<p>“Judging from all that you’ve told me, you’re not a foe of the fair -sex?”</p> - -<p>“On the contrary, I am their dearest friend.”</p> - -<p>“What do you think of that young woman who’s travelling with us?”</p> - -<p>“Why——”</p> - -<p>“Come, speak frankly.”</p> - -<p>“Faith, I think she’s very fine! she’s got a pair of eyes that she knows -how to work mighty well!”</p> - -<p>“So she takes your eye, does she?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure, she would if she was free; but you understand I can’t think -of——”</p> - -<p>“Well, listen to me; the very greatest service you could do us would be -to rob us of that beauty.”</p> - -<p>“You’re joking, aren’t you?”</p> - -<p>“No; this is how it is: my master is a reckless fellow; he is travelling -to learn how to be prudent, and you can understand that the way to do -that isn’t to travel with a little woman who, as you say, works her eyes -so well that she makes him long for her. But I must have common sense -for him: now the best thing that I can see to<a name="page_374" id="page_374"></a> do is to separate him -from this highway heroine, who, I am sure, pretends to be devoted to him -only because she thinks he’s rich.”</p> - -<p>“So she didn’t come from Paris with you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! it was a fine chance encounter we had in the Lyon diligence. It -would have done a hundred times better to upset us than to contain that -princess! But you, who are always on the road—she won’t be in your way -in your wagon; besides, I fancied that I saw you looking her over like a -connoisseur.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say no; but how do you expect——”</p> - -<p>“You’re a fine man, an attractive-looking fellow!”</p> - -<p>“I certainly am not very ill-looking,” said the tradesman, complacently -viewing himself in a fragment of looking-glass on the chimney-piece.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow, on the road,” said Bertrand, “I will take pains to refer to -the fact that we are hard up, while you, on the contrary, must jingle -your coins. When we reach the place where we are to sleep, my lieutenant -will pretend to be sick and say that he can’t continue his journey. The -next morning he will stay in bed; then you must seize the opportunity -for a tête-à-tête, make your declaration, and propose to the young woman -to take her off before we wake up. She’ll accept—I’d bet my moustaches -if I still had ‘em.”</p> - -<p>“Agreed, my fine fellow—and the fifty crowns?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll pay them to you when I see you ready to start. You can go to Lyon; -we won’t go there, so as not to run into you.”</p> - -<p>“Shake; I’ll abduct your charmer; and, as you say, she probably won’t -resist, because, although your companion’s good-looking enough, he -hasn’t this figure, this build—in fact, this fascinating air; ain’t -that so?”</p> - -<p>“I should say so! you remind me of a drum-major.<a name="page_375" id="page_375"></a>”</p> - -<p>The bargain being made, Bertrand and the tradesman, after drinking a -glass to the success of their scheme, went to bed.</p> - -<p>The next day they resumed their journey. Auguste seemed more bored than -ever by Madame Florimont’s company; he dared not tell Bertrand so; but -the ex-corporal observed the young man’s ill-concealed yawns and stifled -sighs while the emotional Adèle continued to tell him that it would be -her delight to stay with him always. After some time Auguste gave way to -the drowsiness that overpowered him. He fell asleep on the back seat of -the vehicle, beside the young woman, who said not another word. -Bertrand, pretending to think that she too was asleep, said to the -driver in an undertone:</p> - -<p>“Poor fellow! if only sleep might put an end to his anxieties and pay -his debts!”</p> - -<p>“Is he in debt, do you say?”</p> - -<p>“That is why we left Paris; and I am very much afraid that we shall be -pursued by creditors at Lyon.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a pity! A business like mine is the thing! it always goes right -on. Leather will never go out of fashion—it’s like bread.”</p> - -<p>“It is precisely the same thing. So you are well off, are you?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I am very comfortable.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand noticed that Madame Florimont raised her hood in order to see -the tradesman better; whereupon he said nothing more, but looked off -into the country so as not to interfere with his neighbor’s ogling of -the young woman, which she received with a smile, probably to gratify -him.</p> - -<p>They reached the place where they were to pass the night. Bertrand had -not as yet mentioned his project to<a name="page_376" id="page_376"></a> Auguste, but chance seemed to favor -him. On leaving the wagon, the young man was attacked by a violent -sick-headache, and immediately upon entering the inn went to his room to -lie down, telling Madame Florimont to order whatever she pleased.</p> - -<p>Bertrand made an excuse for leaving the tradesman alone with their -travelling companion; he went out to walk and did not return until very -late. The tradesman was alone, admiring himself in a mirror.</p> - -<p>“Well?” queried Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“You can pay me the fifty crowns.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean it?”</p> - -<p>“It’s all arranged: at daybreak to-morrow I abduct your charmer; she is -to tell your companion that he can lie abed as we don’t start till ten -o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“Morbleu! a victory wouldn’t give me more pleasure! My poor master! I -would like so much to see him become more reasonable! to see him get -over his nonsense! I’ll treat to a bottle—two bottles over and above -the bargain.”</p> - -<p>“I accept.”</p> - -<p>“So she didn’t make any very great resistance?”</p> - -<p>“I should say not! I had taken her fancy; besides, she told me that her -sense of delicacy wouldn’t allow her to travel with a man who is in -debt.”</p> - -<p>In his delight, Bertrand ordered several more corks drawn; he paid the -tradesman his fifty crowns on the spot, and he did not go to bed, so -that he might, unseen, witness Madame Florimont’s departure. She rose at -daybreak, without waking Auguste, and drove off with the leather dealer.</p> - -<p>“A pleasant journey!” exclaimed Bertrand as he looked after the wagon. -When it was out of sight he ran to Auguste’s room and woke him, crying:<a name="page_377" id="page_377"></a></p> - -<p>“Victory, lieutenant! I have driven the enemy from the citadel!”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” inquired Auguste, rubbing his eyes.</p> - -<p>“The matter is that I have relieved you of your emotional -travelling-companion, who went off this morning with our leather man.”</p> - -<p>“Is it possible, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes, monsieur; she’s gone, I tell you. You are not inclined to run -after her, I trust?”</p> - -<p>“God forbid!—So she has ceased to love me?”</p> - -<p>“As if that adventuress ever loved you! She goes with the first comer -who looks to be rich! And yet that’s the woman, monsieur, that you had -on your hands! You fall in love in a diligence, and crac! you scrape -acquaintance, and—Look you, lieutenant, I’m no lady-killer myself, but -it seems to me that a man ought to say these two things to himself in a -public conveyance: ‘If this woman is respectable, she won’t listen to -me; if she isn’t, it isn’t worth while to speak to her.’”</p> - -<p>“You are right, a hundred times right! But this folly shall be my last.”</p> - -<p>“Do you know that counting everything—conveyance, presents and board -bills—your intrigue has cost us at least five hundred francs? A pretty -beginning for a man who is going to try to make a fortune!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you’ll see, Bertrand, after this, that I’ll be so good——”</p> - -<p>“God grant it! But to avoid meeting that lady again, my advice is that -we don’t go to Lyon.”</p> - -<p>“Agreed; let’s push on to Italy at once. Beneath the beautiful sky that -saw the birth of Virgil and Tibullus, in the fatherland of all the -arts—there will I, impelled by a noble emulation, turn my talents to -account and try to<a name="page_378" id="page_378"></a> acquire additional ones. Perhaps fortune will smile -on my efforts! Music, painting, offer resources which I must not blush -to employ! We will spend very little and I will try to earn a great -deal; for, in all lands, the higher prices one charges, the more merit -is attributed to one. And then, when I have saved a neat little sum, we -will return to France to enjoy the fruit of my labors.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the talk, lieutenant; and, more fortunate than the great -Turenne, who was killed on the battlefield, we will enjoy the blessings -of peace after the war.”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII<br /><br /> -THE WEDDING PARTY</h2> - -<p>The travellers allowed the leather dealer plenty of time, in order not -to overtake Madame Florimont. The proprietor of a small <i>carriole</i> -offered to drive them whereever they chose to go, representing himself -as a public carrier, and assuring them that his vehicle was in condition -to take them to Naples, which journey it had made at least fifteen -times.</p> - -<p>Although the <i>carriole</i> bore no resemblance to the <i>berline</i> of an -ordinary carrier, our travellers made the best of it; but before -entering, Bertrand satisfied himself that there were no women inside. A -dress terrified him; he would not even have left his master alone with a -nurse.</p> - -<p>The vehicle contained no other passengers save an honest peasant of some -fifty years, whom Bertrand scrutinized a long while, to make sure that -he was not a<a name="page_379" id="page_379"></a> woman disguised, while Auguste took his seat, laughing at -his companion’s fears.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to Italy too, my good man?” Auguste asked the peasant.</p> - -<p>“Oh, nenni, monsieur,” was the reply; “I ain’t going so far as that; I’m -only just going to my sister’s, who lives a short three leagues out of -Lyon; she’s marrying her youngest son Eustache, my nephew.”</p> - -<p>“Oho! so you’re going to a wedding? That’s delightful! A wedding’s great -fun.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, monsieur; for we be all great jokers to our place! and sly -dogs!”</p> - -<p>“One can see that by looking at you.”</p> - -<p>“And the way we drink—it’s a regular benediction!”</p> - -<p>“That’s very good,” said Bertrand; “so you have good wines, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, famous! My sister’s got her own vineyard; she’s one of the biggest -farmers in the place; and see! when a woman marries off her son, why she -makes the corks fly, you know. The wedding’ll last at least a week. If -you think you’d enjoy it, messieurs, you’d better come with me; you’ll -be made welcome, and you’ll see some good fellows. My sister’ll be glad -to see you, and so will Cadet, for he likes folks from the city. You’re -Parisians, ain’t you, messieurs?”</p> - -<p>“As you say, Monsieur——”</p> - -<p>“Rondin, at your service. Well! do you accept?”</p> - -<p>Auguste looked at Bertrand; the idea of attending a village wedding was -decidedly attractive to him, and the ex-corporal, for his part, felt a -secret longing to make the acquaintance of Monsieur Cadet Eustache’s -wine; but the fear that his master would become too well acquainted with -the ladies of the party led him to resist the longing, and he whispered -to Auguste:<a name="page_380" id="page_380"></a></p> - -<p>“Decline, lieutenant; that’s the wisest thing to do, believe me; if we -keep stopping on the road, our tour of the world will be simply a short -trip to Bourgogne, which is not the land of your Virgils and Tibulluses; -and we shall return to Paris without making a fortune.”</p> - -<p>“I am very sorry to decline your invitation, Monsieur Rondin,” said -Auguste, “but my companion reminds me that our business requires our -presence in Italy as soon as possible. In truth, if we keep this -conveyance, I don’t think that we shall arrive there for a long time to -come; I believe that the knave is driving at a walk; so that his -miserable vehicle can make its sixteenth trip to Naples, no doubt.—I -say, driver—are you asleep, my friend? Do you think it’s a joke to -drive like this?”</p> - -<p>The driver turned and coolly informed his passengers that his horses -were going at their ordinary pace, which they never varied, but that he -would undertake to set them down without mishap at their destination.</p> - -<p>“That is very pleasant,” said Bertrand; “it means that we are to go all -the way to Italy as if we were following a hearse; if the driver has -made the trip fifteen times at this gait, he must have begun very young. -And you, Monsieur Rondin, on your way to a wedding—aren’t you in a -hurry?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! they’ll wait for me. Besides, Cadet must have a chance to rest -before he gets married.”</p> - -<p>“Has the groom been travelling too?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, he’s just come from Paris—that’s where he brought his -bride from.”</p> - -<p>“Aha! so he went to Paris for a wife?”</p> - -<p>“I’ll tell you, messieurs: Cadet’s a sly one, who’ll never let anyone -play it on him! The girls of his village, they’re a lot of hussies, and -so, to be sure of getting something good, he went to Paris to look for a -wife.<a name="page_381" id="page_381"></a>”</p> - -<p>“He must be a very clever rascal.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! he’s the shrewdest lady-killer within six leagues; his mother she -lets him do just as he wants to, so off he goes to Paris, where he had -business anyway. After some time he writes home as how he’s found the -woman as suits him. Well, well! she must be virtue and innocence itself, -you see! for Cadet knows what’s what in the matter of women.”</p> - -<p>“And he found this treasure in Paris?”</p> - -<p>“Not just in Paris, but in the outskirts. So, as he took his charmer’s -fancy, he brought her back with him, and he’s going to marry her. That’s -why I’d like to have you come to the wedding, to tell me what you think -of my nephew’s choice.”</p> - -<p>Auguste would have liked to make the acquaintance of the bride whom -Monsieur Cadet Eustache had found in the suburbs of Paris. He thought of -Denise, and imagined that Monsieur Rondin’s nephew had found some young -village maiden as fresh and pretty and alluring as the little milkmaid. -That thought made him sigh.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps she too is married!” he said to himself; “for she was in love -with someone; she told me as much when she said that she would never -love me.”</p> - -<p>Auguste had ceased to smile since his memories had taken him back to -Montfermeil. The peasant, surprised by his neighbor’s melancholy, dared -not suggest again his coming to the wedding, and Bertrand said under his -breath:</p> - -<p>“It would certainly be good fun to stay at table for a whole week; but -there’s always some pretty face at a wedding party, and I musn’t expose -my lieutenant to the risk of running off with another woman, for I -shan’t always have the good fortune to fall in with a leather -merchant.<a name="page_382" id="page_382"></a>”</p> - -<p>Nothing more was said, and the <i>carriole</i> crawled on. In four hours they -made but one league. At the end of that time, Père Rondin, who was fond -of talking, said to Auguste:</p> - -<p>“If you’re going to Italy on business, it’s safe to say you won’t get -there in time. Be you an attorney?”</p> - -<p>“No, I am a painter and a musician.”</p> - -<p>“A painter and a musician! Jarni! that’s just what we want! you could -play for our girls to dance, and paint a picture of the bride! That -would be a nice surprise for Eustache!”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu!” thought Auguste, “it would be funny enough if I should make -the first trial of my talents on these good people!—What do you say, -Bertrand? I rather like the idea of painting the bride’s portrait.”</p> - -<p>“You see, Cadet wrote me as how she’s a fine figure of a girl,” said -Père Rondin. “Be you good at catching resemblances?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I haven’t tried anything else as yet. However, I’ll paint whatever -you wish.—Come, Bertrand, this decides me. We’ll go to the wedding.”</p> - -<p>“The wedding it is, monsieur. But for God’s sake, don’t do anything -foolish, but remember your resolutions.”</p> - -<p>“Never fear, you will be satisfied with me.”</p> - -<p>Père Rondin was overjoyed that he had induced the travellers to attend -the wedding; he was even on the point of inviting the driver too, when -the vehicle, which was moving at a snail’s pace, was overturned into a -ditch, the only one by the road at that time, and the travellers rolled -over one another. Luckily they got off with a few bruises, and the -driver calmly busied himself with getting his horses on their feet, -informing his passengers that he was sorry that he had not warned them, -but that<a name="page_383" id="page_383"></a> ever since he had been driving over that road he rarely failed -to be upset there, because his horses had fallen into that habit.</p> - -<p>That accident put the finishing touch to the travellers’ disgust with -the wretched <i>carriole</i>.</p> - -<p>“It ain’t only a day’s walk from here to our place,” said Père Rondin; -“let’s foot it. We’ll get there a blamed sight quicker if we walk.”</p> - -<p>The peasant’s suggestion was accepted. They left the <i>carriole</i>. -Bertrand took one valise, Auguste absolutely insisting on taking the -other, and they started.</p> - -<p>It was a lovely country. They were delighted that they were travelling -on foot. Père Rondin was familiar with the roads. They halted only once -for refreshment, and the next morning they arrived at Monsieur Cadet -Eustache’s farm.</p> - -<p>They were not a hundred yards away when a tall youth rushed out and -threw himself on Père Rondin’s neck, crying:</p> - -<p>“Here’s uncle! come on, uncle! I’m only waiting for you to get married! -and I tell you, I just long to be!”</p> - -<p>“Good-day, Cadet. See, I’ve brought along a couple of good fellows, my -boy; this gentleman who makes pictures and music, and Monsieur Bertrand, -who drinks straight, I warn you.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Cadet Eustache bowed low to the two travellers, then said to -his uncle:</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you brought anybody else?”</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that, my boy?”</p> - -<p>“Why, if you’d had some more too, it would have been all the better, -because we mean to have some fun, you see! But never mind—they make two -more, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Haven’t you got many people at your wedding?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! there’s eighty of us already.<a name="page_384" id="page_384"></a>”</p> - -<p>“That’s doing pretty well, seems to me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! but we must have some fun! I want to have some fun! and it takes a -lot for that; for my part, I never laugh unless there’s at least a dozen -in company.”</p> - -<p>“I told you my nephew was a joker,” said Père Rondin to Auguste, who -looked at Bertrand and smiled, while the latter muttered:</p> - -<p>“This bridegroom impresses me as a big idiot.”</p> - -<p>“But take us into the house, Cadet; we’re tired, and we want something -to eat and drink.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! excuse me, uncle; you see, my wife that is to be is on my -brain.—Ah! messieurs, you’ll see, that’s all I’ve got to say; you’ll -see such a fresh and blooming young woman! She’s like a poppy! And a -figure! oh! I tell you—round and plump everywhere!”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you rascal! you seem to have found out about all this while you was -bringing her home.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, uncle! I should never have thought of such a thing, because she’s -innocence itself, you see, and she’d have given me a good crack! and -she’s a strong one, my girl is. She’s a good stout sample of virtue. -However, she’s my choice, and as you’ve got here, we’ll have the wedding -to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>During this dialogue they had arrived at the farm-house, which was a -substantial one and indicated that its owner was in comfortable -circumstances.</p> - -<p>“Jérôme,” said Monsieur Cadet to one of his men, “go and let everybody -in the neighborhood know that the wedding will be to-morrow, and that -we’re getting everything ready for the supper and the ball; and go and -tell the musicians I’ve engaged.—I’ll go and get my bride that is to -be; she and mother are at one of the neighbors’, but I want you to see -her right away, and these gentlemen too.<a name="page_385" id="page_385"></a>”</p> - -<p>“The fellow’s terrible far gone,” said Père Rondin as he escorted the -travellers into the house and invited them to be seated.</p> - -<p>Madame Eustache soon appeared; she kissed her brother, then proceeded to -kiss the new arrivals; for that is the way acquaintances are made in the -country.</p> - -<p>“But where’s the bride?” queried Père Rondin; “ain’t we going to see -her?”</p> - -<p>“In just a minute, brother; she’s gone to prink up a bit for the -company. Ah! my eye! she’s a fine girl, and Cadet knows what’s what!”</p> - -<p>“Has she got any money?”</p> - -<p>“She’s got a nice little pile that the gentleman she worked for gave -her; and he told my boy he was giving him a real <i>rosière!</i><a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a> And -Cadet’s a shrewd one, you know, and wouldn’t let anybody take him in.”</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[G]</span></a> <i>Rosière</i> is the name given to the maiden who is awarded -the prize for virtue in a village competition.</p></div> - -<p>“Morbleu!” whispered Bertrand to Auguste, “if the rosière corresponds -with the bridegroom, I’ll bet we’re going to see some stout Pontoise -cowherd.”</p> - -<p>At last they heard Cadet Eustache’s voice introducing his chosen bride -to the guests, and Auguste was not a little surprised to recognize -Mademoiselle Tapotte, Monsieur de la Thomassinière’s gardener.</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Tapotte had grown taller, and she was still very plump; she -was, in truth, a fine figure of a girl, and, as formerly, she kept her -eyes on the floor and bowed without looking at anybody.</p> - -<p>“Superb!” cried Père Rondin; “bravo! you’ve made a great find, Cadet, on -my word! And it’s a fact that you can still see on her cheeks the down -of chastity.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Cadet received these compliments with a smile and said:<a name="page_386" id="page_386"></a></p> - -<p>“I have the honor to present Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, who will be -Madame Eustache to-morrow if God lets us live.”</p> - -<p>Everyone kissed the bride—that is also the custom—and Bertrand, who -knew nothing of Auguste’s adventure at Fleury, was reassured at sight of -the maiden and flattered himself that she would not lead his master into -any fresh folly.</p> - -<p>But, when it came Auguste’s turn to kiss Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, -that young woman, despite her ingenuousness, raised her eyes, and a -little shriek escaped her when she recognized the young man.</p> - -<p>“I am very awkward,” said Auguste instantly, “to tread on your foot! I -beg your pardon, fair fiancée!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! was that what made her cry?” said Cadet, laughingly; “when anyone -treads on the feet of our girls about here, they don’t yell; they know -what it means. They ain’t like Suzanne! By the way, monsieur, uncle says -you make portraits; do you make faces too?”</p> - -<p>“What do you suppose that I make?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I mean a head, with eyes and a nose, et cetera.”</p> - -<p>“I generally find nothing else to paint.”</p> - -<p>“Pardi, monsieur, if you had time to catch the likeness of my bride, -just the face alone, I’d like it mighty well.”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t anything but my pencils in my valise, but I can try to draw -her.”</p> - -<p>“Draw her! Will that be just the same?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure.”</p> - -<p>“Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, monsieur is going to make your portrait; -he’s going to catch you.”</p> - -<p>The bride made some objection to allowing herself to be drawn; but -Monsieur Cadet was obstinate about it, and she finally consented to lend -her face to Auguste,<a name="page_387" id="page_387"></a> who asked for a room where he could work quietly -and without being disturbed.</p> - -<p>He was taken to a small room at the top of the house and furnished with -all that he required. Monsieur Cadet brought his fiancée, who seated -herself, with downcast eyes, beside the table at which Auguste was -working. Monsieur Cadet was preparing to watch the process of catching -his charmer’s likeness when Auguste said to him:</p> - -<p>“I am very sorry to send you away, but I cannot draw before anybody. If -you want your wife’s portrait, you must leave me alone with her; indeed, -that is the custom; a painter doesn’t like to have anyone see his work -before it’s finished.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, that’s right,” said Cadet; “and then, if I watched you, I -wouldn’t have any surprise.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I’ll go away. You needn’t be afraid to stay alone with -monsieur, Mamzelle Tapotte; he’s an artist—he’s going to catch you and -surprise me. Ah! how nice that’ll be!”</p> - -<p>Mademoiselle Tapotte smiled without raising her eyes, and Monsieur Cadet -left her alone with Auguste, while he went to oversee all the -preparations for the wedding.</p> - -<p>Bertrand was already at table with Père Rondin. They were soon joined by -several farmers of the neighborhood. Neighbors, male and female, kindred -and friends came to take up their quarters under Eustache’s roof on the -day before the wedding. Long tables were laid and covered with dishes -and pitchers. They laughed and sang and shrieked and made a great -uproar, for the hilarity of the peasant is exceedingly noisy. It seemed -as if the wedding festivities had already begun; and Bertrand, who found -the wine excellent and did not notice among the village<a name="page_388" id="page_388"></a> girls any faces -likely to inflame his master, concluded that they might safely pass a -week at the farm.</p> - -<p>But everybody asked for the bride, and Monsieur Cadet said:</p> - -<p>“Someone’s catching her just at this minute, getting up a surprise for -me, copying her face. I guess I’ll go and see how it’s coming on.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur Cadet went up to the room where he had left Auguste and -Mademoiselle Tapotte. But the door was locked, doubtless so that they -might not be disturbed. The groom tapped gently on the door, saying:</p> - -<p>“It’s me,—is it done?”</p> - -<p>“No, not yet,” Auguste replied.</p> - -<p>“Is it coming on all right?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s coming on well.”</p> - -<p>“What are you doing now?”</p> - -<p>“An ear.”</p> - -<p>“Is it a good likeness?”</p> - -<p>“It will be very striking.”</p> - -<p>Cadet went down to the company, exclaiming:</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t get in; he was just doing an ear, that’s going to be -striking. Oh! that painter seems to be a smart one! I tried to look -through the key-hole, but he must have her posed in profile, for I -thought I saw an eye instead of an ear. I’m going to put my wife’s -picture in our big room opposite the one of the boar my grandfather -killed.”</p> - -<p>At last, after two hours, Auguste appeared, leading the bride that was -to be, who would not have raised her eyes to look at a diamond, and who -was even more ruddy than usual. Everyone exclaimed at her beauty, her -bloom, and her innocent air, and Monsieur Cadet swelled with pride.</p> - -<p>The groom asked to see the portrait and Auguste exhibited a face which -was as like that of the queen of clubs<a name="page_389" id="page_389"></a> as one drop of water is like -another. The guests all went into ecstasies over it, saying that the -resemblance was striking, and furthermore that it had the advantage of -resembling the groom and Père Rondin as well. Monsieur Cadet was -overjoyed, and Auguste received compliments from the whole company.</p> - -<p>The rest of the day passed in dancing and recreation; many guests did -not leave the table except to go to bed, and Bertrand was among them.</p> - -<p>The wedding day arrived at last. At daybreak the farm-house was astir. -Monsieur Cadet donned a costume that he had had made in Paris: nut-brown -coat, waistcoat and trousers. Mamma Eustache went to dress the bride. -Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte was soon led in, armed with the virginal -bouquet; whereupon they set out for the church, with the musicians at -the head of the procession.</p> - -<p>Bertrand enjoyed the festivities immensely; Auguste too, seemed not to -be bored; he danced with the girls, while his companion kept the corks -popping. The whole night was passed in games, feasting and carousing. -But at midnight Monsieur Cadet led his wife away to the nuptial chamber, -leaving the rest to drink and dance. Two hours later they were amazed by -the apparition of the husband, in nightgown and nightcap, in the -ball-room, crying:</p> - -<p>“My friends, I am the happiest of men, that’s all I’ve got to say.”</p> - -<p>And Monsieur Cadet returned to his spouse amid a shower of -congratulations and jests from his friends, while Père Rondin said to -Auguste:</p> - -<p>“Didn’t I tell you my nephew was a sly one, and that it’s a sort of -rosière, as you might say, that he’s brought from Paris?<a name="page_390" id="page_390"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste added his congratulations to those of the other guests. At -daybreak, weary of dancing and eating, he went to bed, leaving the -dauntless Bertrand to hold his own with three farmers, two of whom were -all ready to slide under the table.</p> - -<p>Auguste and his faithful companion passed the week of the wedding -festivities at Monsieur Eustache’s farm; and during that time the bride -gave the young man several more sittings, for she always found something -to change in her nose or her eye or her ear.</p> - -<p>At the end of the week the travellers resumed their journey, not without -an invitation from Monsieur Cadet to repeat their visit.</p> - -<p>“<i>Beati pauperes spiritu!</i>” said Auguste as they left the farm. To which -Bertrand replied:</p> - -<p>“Yes, lieutenant. Here is one place at all events where you have behaved -yourself.”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV<br /><br /> -A SKETCH OF ITALY</h2> - -<p>Auguste and Bertrand arrived at Turin, undelayed by any fresh adventure. -They took rooms at a modest hotel, for, before continuing their journey, -Auguste desired to make the acquaintance of that pleasant Italian city, -where one may fancy oneself in France, and where reigns an attractive -mixture of French manners and Italian morals. The ladies of Turin are -pretty, agreeable and piquant; in addition to the charm of our -Frenchwomen they have more fire in their glance, a more sensuous -intonation to<a name="page_391" id="page_391"></a> the voice, more abandon in their bearing. Bertrand, -observing that his master gazed persistently at the Italian women, said -to him again and again:</p> - -<p>“Look out, lieutenant; we are travelling in search of fortune and not of -conquests; we didn’t come to Italy to admire black eyes and Greek -noses.”</p> - -<p>“True, Bertrand; but as we find them here, there’s no reason why we -shouldn’t admire them.”</p> - -<p>“Remember, monsieur, that the fine arts alone are to occupy your mind.”</p> - -<p>“The sight of a lovely woman kindles the flame of genius. Raphael was in -love with his Madonna model.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps that wasn’t the best thing he did, lieutenant.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand, you understand nothing about art.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not, but I know enough about it to calculate.”</p> - -<p>“I want to paint one of these charming heads that have caught my eye; I -want to take for a model one of the piquant faces that I notice among -the girls of this region.”</p> - -<p>“In that case you will do like Monsieur Raphael, you will fall in love -with your model.”</p> - -<p>“So much the better, if it results in my producing a chef-d’œuvre.”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid that it will result in your producing something else.”</p> - -<p>“Have you heard them sing, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Who, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“The young girls in the suburbs, the villagers, the simple -working-girls; they all sing with such taste and harmony! I hear -delightful concerts every evening when I am walking. We are in the land -of music, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“I should prefer to be in the land of gold mines.”</p> - -<p>“Here the common people, the workmen, are born musicians; the petty -tradeswoman seeks recreation after her<a name="page_392" id="page_392"></a> day’s labor with her guitar. The -boatman as well as the great nobleman, the peasant woman as well as the -rich lady, blends her voice with the chords that she strikes on that -instrument.”</p> - -<p>“It seems, then, that everybody plays it.”</p> - -<p>“And the Italian women have a nonchalant air when singing that forms -such a striking contrast to the fire of their eyes.”</p> - -<p>“I certainly shall go back to Paris and make trousers, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Auguste left Bertrand and went out to walk in the suburbs of the city. -The season being farther advanced in that beautiful climate, there was -already a wealth of verdure, shrubbery and fragrant groves, which the -Italian regards with the indifference of habit, but which arouse the -admiration of the stranger who sees for the first time that lovely sky, -that delicious landscape, and those flowering orange trees which spread -the sweetest of perfumes all about.</p> - -<p>In a pleasant country everything is calculated to inspire pleasure. The -climate of Italy seems to be the fitting climate of love. The aspect of -a wild landscape, of a rugged and sterile country inclines the soul to -melancholy and sadness; that of a verdant grove, of a valley studded -with flowers, makes our hearts beat more gently and gives birth to no -thoughts save of pleasure and of love.</p> - -<p>Auguste, who did not need to be in Italy to have his imagination take -fire, was conscious nevertheless of the soothing influence of the -climate; he sighed as he glanced at the lovely women who passed him by; -and as the young Frenchman was a comely youth, his sighs were answered -by some very expressive glances.</p> - -<p>Among the attractive young women whom he met in the street, Auguste -noticed one, modestly but respectably<a name="page_393" id="page_393"></a> attired, who usually had an older -woman on her arm. The young woman’s face was fascinating; but her timid -glances, far from challenging the young foreigner’s, were modestly -lowered when they met. Auguste followed them, however. Sometimes the -older woman turned her head, and, when she saw the young man, urged her -companion to quicken her pace. When they reached a distant suburb of the -city, the ladies entered a small isolated house. The young woman -afforded Auguste one more glimpse of her lovely features as she -furtively glanced at him; but the old woman closed the door behind them -and the enchanting image vanished.</p> - -<p>Auguste stood some time in front of the house which the pretty Italian -had entered; but at last, tired of staring at a door and windows that -did not open, he returned to his hotel, saying to himself:</p> - -<p>“She’s an angel! she is ideally beautiful, the model of the Venus de -Medici, of Girodet’s Galatea, of Psyche, of Dido; and I must make the -acquaintance of such charms.”</p> - -<p>The next day he went out to walk again, and again he saw the two ladies. -Grown bolder, he approached them and, as a stranger, asked the older one -for information concerning the first thing that his eyes fell upon. She -answered courteously, and the young woman, without joining in the -conversation, turned her beautiful eyes on the Frenchman from time to -time. The old lady, who was very talkative, soon informed the young -Frenchman that her name was Signora Falenza, and that her companion was -her niece Cecilia; that they were far from rich, and for that reason -lived in a retired quarter, and that they let a portion of their -lodgings when they had applications from quiet and orderly people, -because that enabled them to increase their slender income a little.<a name="page_394" id="page_394"></a></p> - -<p>The old woman had not finished speaking when Auguste asked her to let -the little apartment to him.</p> - -<p>“I have come to Italy to study painting,” he said, “and I have rather -neglected it; I have nobody with me but an old soldier, and we are as -orderly as young ladies. I flatter myself that you will have no cause to -regret having us for tenants.”</p> - -<p>Signora Falenza made some objections; but Auguste was so urgent that she -consented to show him the apartment. It consisted of two rooms, rather -shabbily furnished; to be sure, the price asked was very moderate. -Auguste expressed himself as delighted; he was satisfied with -everything, and, after casting a passionate glance at the fair Cecilia, -he hurried away to make his arrangements to return the same evening and -take up his abode beneath the same roof with the two ladies.</p> - -<p>“Pack our valises and pay our bill, Bertrand; we are going to move.”</p> - -<p>“Are we going to leave Turin, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, my friend; I am more pleased with it than ever!”</p> - -<p>“In that case, why do we leave this hotel, where we are well -accommodated, and at not too high a price?”</p> - -<p>“For economy’s sake, Bertrand; I have found much pleasanter lodgings, -which will cost only half as much; I trust that you won’t find fault -with me this time.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand frowned and muttered:</p> - -<p>“There’s a petticoat under this, I’ll wager.”</p> - -<p>However, he packed the valises, paid the bill, and followed his master, -who led the way to the suburb.</p> - -<p>“We don’t seem to be moving into the fashionable quarter, monsieur,” -said Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“What do we care, so long as the lodgings suit us?”</p> - -<p>“True.<a name="page_395" id="page_395"></a>”</p> - -<p>“See, there’s the house.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a long way from any other. Do you remember that we’re in Italy, -monsieur? It looks to me like a cut-throat sort of place.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that you’re afraid, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, lieutenant!”</p> - -<p>“You are growing absurdly suspicious. This is a very pleasant house; the -outlook is on fields and gardens. It’s very quiet here, and that is what -I like.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you like quiet now, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Very much.”</p> - -<p>Auguste knocked. The door was opened by Signora Falenza, at sight of -whom Bertrand said to himself:</p> - -<p>“If there’s only faces like this one here, we shall certainly be very -quiet.”</p> - -<p>The old woman escorted the strangers to their rooms, showing them every -courtesy. As they passed through a passageway they met the fair Cecilia, -who bowed pleasantly to the young Frenchman. Whereupon Bertrand heaved a -sigh and thought:</p> - -<p>“This is the economy the lieutenant mentioned!”</p> - -<p>The travellers being installed in their apartment, Signora Falenza left -them, saying:</p> - -<p>“When you gentlemen wish for anything, you need only come to my room; my -niece and I will hasten to offer our services.”</p> - -<p>“In that case,” thought Auguste, “I hope that I shall frequently have -occasion to seek them.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand inspected the two rooms, and at each object that he examined, -frowned and muttered:</p> - -<p>“This is very nice!”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed! a wretched bed and no pillows!”</p> - -<p>“So much the better! we will go and ask for one.<a name="page_396" id="page_396"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Two broken chairs!”</p> - -<p>“So much the better! I’ll go and change them.”</p> - -<p>“Closets that won’t lock!”</p> - -<p>“Bah! they’re good enough for what we have to put in them.”</p> - -<p>“A desk that I can’t find any key to!”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go and ask the ladies for it.”</p> - -<p>“Not a candlestick on the mantel!”</p> - -<p>“The ladies will give us one.”</p> - -<p>“Not even a jar of water.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps it isn’t the custom in the country.”</p> - -<p>“Well! it’s a very clean custom that don’t allow a person to wash his -hands! In fact, monsieur, we lack everything here.”</p> - -<p>“We shall lack nothing if we ask the ladies for it.”</p> - -<p>“The ladies! the ladies!”</p> - -<p>“And the low rent, Bertrand—don’t you take that into account?”</p> - -<p>“If there wasn’t anybody but the old landlady in the house, you wouldn’t -have been tempted to come here to live.”</p> - -<p>“That may be; but if I can enjoy the company of a pretty woman, and at -the same time reduce my expenses, it seems to me, Bertrand, that you -can’t object to that.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand said no more; he went into a corner and filled his pipe, and as -it was growing dark, Auguste went to his landladies’ room to ask for a -light. The old lady was absent, but her niece was there, and our -Frenchman, overjoyed at the opportunity of a tête-à-tête with the fair -Cecilia, sat down beside the young woman, who seemed less shy at home -than on the street, and who replied with a smile to the soft avowals -that he addressed to her. The conversation lasted until very late. -Auguste forgot Bertrand, who was without a light; he was in a fair way<a name="page_397" id="page_397"></a> -to forget a great many things, but Signora Falenza returned and by her -presence revived his memory. He went up to his own room; Bertrand had -thrown himself on the bed and was asleep. Auguste did not think it best -to wake him, and he too fell asleep, his mind full of the fascinating -Cecilia’s image, convinced that he had never been more comfortably -bedded.</p> - -<p>Three days passed in the new lodgings. Auguste almost never went out; he -watched for opportunities for a tête-à-tête with Cecilia; but the aunt -was seldom absent and kept a much closer watch upon her niece. However, -Auguste obtained a sweet avowal; he knew that he was beloved; but that -was not enough, and Cecilia’s eyes seemed to promise him more.</p> - -<p>Bertrand had become accustomed to his new quarters; but he said to his -master every day:</p> - -<p>“You came to Italy to study and work, monsieur; instead of doing that, -you pass all your time running after our young landlady.”</p> - -<p>“Cecilia is teaching me to speak Italian better, Bertrand; and I am -teaching her French.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t see what good this reciprocal teaching will do you.”</p> - -<p>“Why, the pleasure of it, Bertrand—is that to be counted nothing?”</p> - -<p>“Are we travelling for pleasure?”</p> - -<p>“Not entirely; but, when it offers itself, why not make the most of it?”</p> - -<p>“Remember, monsieur, that your pleasures have always cost you dear.”</p> - -<p>“You can’t say that I am squandering my money here; I have never been so -quiet and orderly. I never go out; these ladies, when I invited them to -go to the theatre, declined.<a name="page_398" id="page_398"></a>”</p> - -<p>“I agree that they are stay-at-homes and don’t try to make you take them -all over the city. But I don’t like that old Falenza with her reverences -and her compliments.”</p> - -<p>“Really, Bertrand, you are getting to be too particular. When you -travel, my friend, you must accustom yourself to the idea of finding -different customs and different manners.”</p> - -<p>“True, monsieur; but I’m very much afraid that the foundation is the -same everywhere! Selfish men, coquettish women, schemers who make a -great show of wealth in order to make dupes more easily, rascals who -open their mouths only to lie; and here and there a few honest people, -who nevertheless consider their own interests before everything. I fancy -that that’s what we shall find in every country.”</p> - -<p>“Travelling makes you very eloquent, Bertrand. Write down your -reflections; I’ll read them—when we return to France.”</p> - -<p>“It will be high time, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>Auguste was no longer listening to his companion; he had overheard -Cecilia’s voice, and he went to her. But the young Italian had but a -moment to speak to him, as her aunt would soon return. Yielding to the -young man’s urgent entreaties, she gave him an assignation for the next -day. A pretty little wood, about a fourth of a league from the city, was -the spot to which Cecilia was to go secretly. The time was agreed upon, -and they parted, to avoid arousing her aunt’s suspicions.</p> - -<p>Auguste returned to his room with the inward satisfaction that one -always feels at the approach of a long-desired moment. Never did evening -seem longer to him, and he retired early so that the morrow would come -the sooner.<a name="page_399" id="page_399"></a></p> - -<p>Day broke at last. Auguste rose, dressed himself with care, and went -out, leaving Bertrand still asleep. The place appointed for the meeting -was a very long way from Signora Falenza’s abode; but Auguste supposed -that Cecilia had chosen it from prudential motives. He traversed a large -part of the city, followed the bank of the Po, and at last reached the -little wood, where he hoped soon to see his young landlady.</p> - -<p>He waited patiently a long while; hope sustained him; it must be that -some accident had kept Cecilia at home. But several hours passed and the -fair Italian did not come. Auguste, weary of walking back and forth on -the same spot, decided at last to return to the house, cursing the -mischance that had prevented Cecilia from keeping her appointment.</p> - -<p>As he approached the suburb where he lived, Auguste saw Bertrand in -front of him, evidently returning home, like himself; he quickened his -pace in order to overtake him. When the ex-corporal caught sight of his -master, he uttered a cry of joy, saying:</p> - -<p>“Morbleu! you are not wounded?”</p> - -<p>“Why in the devil should I be wounded?” demanded Auguste.</p> - -<p>“What would there be so surprising about it, monsieur, when you have -been fighting a duel?”</p> - -<p>“A duel—I?”</p> - -<p>“At all events that’s what our landlady told me this morning; she -declared that a young man called for you at daybreak, and that from the -few words that fell from you she gathered that there was a duel in the -wind.”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! this is very strange!”</p> - -<p>“She even mentioned several places where she thought you might have gone -to settle your dispute; so that, since early morning, I’ve been running -in all directions,<a name="page_400" id="page_400"></a> and have been well laughed at by everybody that I -asked if they’d seen two men fighting.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand it at all, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that it isn’t all true?”</p> - -<p>“There isn’t a word of truth in it.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! that old signora shall learn that I’m not to be made a fool of like -this.”</p> - -<p>“Let’s hurry, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter, lieutenant? You seem anxious.”</p> - -<p>“Yes. I’m afraid that the niece has made a fool of me too. Here have I -been waiting for her in vain three hours and more at the other end of -the city.”</p> - -<p>“Ten thousand bullets! there’s something very crooked in this long -excursion they made us both take. Didn’t I tell you, lieutenant, that -the old woman made too many reverences?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps we are frightened without cause. But here we are. Knock, -Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand knocked, but no one opened the door. He knocked again until the -window panes rattled, and there was no response.</p> - -<p>“What does this mean, lieutenant?” he cried, looking at Auguste.</p> - -<p>“Why, it means that there’s no one here, that is very certain.”</p> - -<p>“Still, we must get in.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke, he broke in the door with a kick, and entered the house, -followed by his master. It was deserted; they had carried off everything -except a few wretched pieces of furniture, and the travellers’ apartment -too was dismantled.</p> - -<p>“We are robbed, monsieur,” said Bertrand.</p> - -<p>“It looks to me very much like it, my friend.”</p> - -<p>“Did you leave our money here?<a name="page_401" id="page_401"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Alas! yes, in the desk. It was all there except these ten gold pieces -that I have in my pocket.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! the rascals! To the devil with signoras, fine eyes and reverences! -Why did we leave our hotel?”</p> - -<p>“It was my fault, Bertrand, I realize it. It is my folly again that has -caused this misfortune. But what’s the use of talking? the harm is -done.”</p> - -<p>“We must enter a complaint, monsieur; we must obtain justice.”</p> - -<p>“Enter a complaint, my friend, in a country where we are strangers, and -when we have nothing with which to pay for obtaining justice, which is -very dear everywhere?”</p> - -<p>“In that case, monsieur, we must allow ourselves to be robbed and say -nothing, must we?”</p> - -<p>“That is the wisest course in this case, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“It’s very amusing!”</p> - -<p>“We must make haste, too, to leave this house, which was undoubtedly let -to those sharpers, and of which we have smashed the door; for we may be -asked by what right we are here, and be punished for breaking in as we -did.”</p> - -<p>“That would be the last straw! Ah! my poor old Schtrack, it would have -been much better to stay with you!”</p> - -<p>“Courage, Bertrand, let us rise superior to disaster. We have nothing -left—very good! that compels me to work. We will travel on foot; in -that way one doesn’t run the risk of making evil acquaintances as one -does in a diligence. And then our baggage is lighter than ever, and each -of us can say with the Greek philosopher: <i>‘Omnia mecum porto.’</i>”</p> - -<p>“That must mean that he hadn’t a sou, doesn’t it, lieutenant?<a name="page_402" id="page_402"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Pretty nearly that, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>“In that case we are getting to be mighty philosophical!”</p> - -<p>“Let’s leave Turin and go elsewhere in search of prudence.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! where shall we stop, monsieur?”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV<br /><br /> -WHICH COVERS A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS</h2> - -<p>Let us leave Auguste and Bertrand to pursue their travels, the one -promising never again to allow himself to be led astray by the sly -glances of the first pretty face he may meet; the other, swearing -because his advice was not heeded, and reviling the sex which led his -master into so many scrapes. You must forgive Bertrand, ladies, and -pardon his ill humor; he really had some reason to distrust beauty. But -if he had been twenty years younger, and some pretty creature had -undertaken to make a conquest of him, who can say that, like his master, -he would not have succumbed? Let us return to the village, to the little -milkmaid, from whom Auguste’s follies have kept us away too long; and -may the picture of innocence and of true love give our eyes a little -rest after that of the passions and intrigues of cities, and the -hypocrisy and selfishness of society. It is like turning to a lovely -landscape of Regnier after looking at one of Gudin’s tempests; but, if -the representation of the conflict causes us keen emotions, the sight of -a pure sky and fields bright with blossoms brings sweet repose to our -souls and often arouses pleasanter sensations within us.<a name="page_403" id="page_403"></a></p> - -<p>Denise took back to her aunt the three thousand francs that she had -intended to force upon Auguste; she heaved a profound sigh as she handed -her the bag of money.</p> - -<p>“Wouldn’t he take it?” asked Mère Fourcy.</p> - -<p>“Alas! it was too late, aunt! he had gone away! He’s gone round the -world! and God only knows when he will come back!”</p> - -<p>“It ain’t our fault, child; we got the money together just as quick as -we possibly could; for, you see, three thousand francs ain’t like a -cheese. If he’s gone travelling, it must be that he wasn’t in need of -money; at any rate we’ve nothing to blame ourselves for, and when he -comes to see us again, he’ll see what a pretty cottage we’ve had built -for Coco.”</p> - -<p>Denise felt confident that Virginie would keep her promise, that she -would succeed in finding out where Auguste had gone, and that she would -send her news of him; that hope was the sole joy of her life. Hope -always counts for much in the sum total of happiness that we mortals -enjoy on earth; how many people have never known any other happiness -than that which it gives!</p> - -<p>Virginie had said to Denise, to console her:</p> - -<p>“You will see Auguste again, and when he knows how dearly you love him, -I am sure that he will care for you.”</p> - -<p>Those words were engraved on the girl’s heart, and she said to herself -every day:</p> - -<p>“That lady will tell him that I love him, and when he comes here again I -shall blush to meet him! I shan’t dare to look him in the face! Perhaps -he won’t like it, but it’s his own fault; why did he tell me that he -loved me? Ought a man to say such things if he doesn’t mean them? I made -believe to laugh when I heard him, but in the bottom of my heart I -realized how happy it made me!<a name="page_404" id="page_404"></a> Of course he only meant to joke with me; -he talked to me as he does to all the women he thinks pretty. He doesn’t -know what misery he has caused me!”</p> - -<p>On the site of the hovel occupied by the Calleux family, a pretty -cottage had been built, consisting of a ground floor and attics only. -Behind it was a garden of considerable size, surrounded by a fence. The -cottage was constructed with the three thousand francs left by Dalville; -it belonged to Coco, although he was still too young to live there. But -Denise took pleasure in beautifying the little place for which the child -was indebted to his benefactor; and there she passed a large part of -every day, after performing her morning tasks, dreaming of him whose -return she never ceased to expect. There, alone with the child, she -talked to him about Auguste, taught him to love him, to remember that he -owed everything to him, and never to enter the cottage without giving a -thought to gratitude.</p> - -<p>The garden was carefully tended. Denise planted flowers there. She -remembered what she had seen in the lovely bourgeois gardens that she -had visited, and she determined that the garden of the cottage should be -laid out on the same plan. She desired that Auguste should be agreeably -surprised when he visited the cottage, and should compliment her on her -taste.</p> - -<p>“He will see these shrubs,” she thought, “these beds of verdure; and he -will be surprised that peasants should have done it all as well as -people from Paris.”</p> - -<p>But in another moment the girl would sigh and say to herself sadly:</p> - -<p>“If he has gone to the end of the world, it will be a long time before -he comes to see my garden.”</p> - -<p>The winter was succeeded by the lovely days of spring, and Denise heard -nothing from Virginie.<a name="page_405" id="page_405"></a></p> - -<p>“She hasn’t found out anything about him,” thought the girl; “otherwise -she would have come to tell me about it.”</p> - -<p>The hope of hearing from Auguste induced Denise to make another trip to -Paris. She easily obtained her aunt’s permission, and one morning she -appeared at Auguste’s former abode.</p> - -<p>As usual, Schtrack was smoking on a bench in front of his lodge. He -recognized the girl, and although it was nearly four months since she -had fainted in his arms, he called out when he saw her:</p> - -<p>“Wasn’t all the money in the bag?”</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur? what bag? Has Monsieur Auguste come back?” inquired -Denise, gazing anxiously at the old German.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! no! The young man is still travelling with Pertrand. But I -thought you haf come about the bag of money that fell in the yard, and -that you didn’t find it all. Sacretié! you see, Schtrack don’t joke -about questions of honor.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, monsieur! of course I didn’t come about that!—Haven’t you heard -from him, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“From who, my child?”</p> - -<p>“From Monsieur Auguste.”</p> - -<p>“How in the devil do you suppose I could hear from him when he’s gone -round the world?”</p> - -<p>“And that lady—have you seen her?”</p> - -<p>“A lady?”</p> - -<p>“The one who was here with me the last time I came, and who was kind -enough to help me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh ja! the demon! the hussy! the little grenadier!”</p> - -<p>“Has she been here, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Oh ja! she’s been twice to ask for news of the young man.<a name="page_406" id="page_406"></a>”</p> - -<p>“And she told you nothing about Monsieur Auguste?”</p> - -<p>“Sacretié! don’t I tell you that she came to ask about him? Don’t you -understand?”</p> - -<p>“Do you know her address, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“The little hussy’s?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t know it.”</p> - -<p>Schtrack resumed his smoking, and as Denise could learn nothing from -him, she turned away, regretting that she did not know Virginie’s -address. If she had, she would have gone to see her, not because she -supposed her to be any better informed than herself concerning the -whereabouts of the travellers, but because she could, at least, have -talked with her about Auguste; and it is so great a delight to talk of -the person we love, especially with someone who understands us!</p> - -<p>Several more months passed without bringing any news of Auguste, nor had -Virginie come to the village. Hope began to fade in Denise’s heart, but -love did not die out; that sentiment, when it is genuine, defies -obstacles, time, and absence, and it alone does not pass away when -everything about it passes away.</p> - -<p>Denise was seventeen years of age. She had grown no taller, but her -features seemed to have acquired a greater charm, her face more -expression; the secret sentiment that engrossed her thoughts gave to her -features a gentle melancholy which was most becoming to her sweet face. -Village maidens rarely have that look; perhaps that is why the young men -of Montfermeil and the neighborhood found in Denise a something that -fascinated them and turned their heads. But she had very little to say -to them, she no longer laughed and joked with them, she shunned their -dances and their sports; and the other girls sneered at the little -milkmaid, saying:<a name="page_407" id="page_407"></a></p> - -<p>“How high and mighty she is! She puts on the airs of a great lady! She’s -trying to copy city folks. But with her scowling face she won’t get any -lovers.”</p> - -<p>Despite the prophecies of the peasants, Denise, involuntarily and -unconsciously, made conquests every day; and the village maidens, with -all their loud laughter, their merriment and the lusty blows they dealt -out to the beaux of the neighborhood, saw that they all sighed for her -who did nothing to attract them. And as Denise, in addition to her sweet -face, was an excellent match, several young men applied to Mère Fourcy -for her hand.</p> - -<p>The excellent aunt had noticed that there had been something wrong with -her niece for a long time; but she was convinced that marriage would rid -her of that something which caused her to sigh night and day. Mère -Fourcy flattered herself that she had had much experience, and -remembered that a great many young women, after taking unto themselves -husbands, recover the fresh color that is beginning to fade. So one fine -morning she went to her niece, who was, as usual, alone in the garden of -Coco’s cottage.</p> - -<p>“My child,” said Mère Fourcy, sitting down beside her, “I have come here -to talk to you about something.”</p> - -<p>“Whatever you please, aunt,” replied the girl, with her eyes fixed on a -marguerite from which she had just plucked the petals, and in which she -had read that the young traveller loved her dearly.</p> - -<p>“My child, you were seventeen years old on Saint-Pierre’s day. A girl of -seventeen ain’t a child any longer—do you understand that, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, aunt!”</p> - -<p>“Besides, you’ve known all about housekeeping for a long time, and your -sewing’s like a charm, and you make cheeses that a body could eat all -day long without<a name="page_408" id="page_408"></a> hurting ‘em; and then you know all the ins and outs of -a house. You’re active and a good worker; you have three times more wit -than you need to guide a man who might try to go wrong; and morguenne! -the man who gets you won’t ever regret it!”</p> - -<p>Denise looked at Mère Fourcy in surprise, and faltered:</p> - -<p>“I don’t understand, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“That makes a difference, my dear; I’ll cut it short. You’re old enough -to get married, and there’s several chances offered. First of all, big -Fanfan Jolivet, and then neighbor Mauflard’s nephew, and tall -Claude-Jean-Pierre-Nicolas Lathuille, who’s just inherited his father’s -estate; there’s lots more too that would like you, but those three are -the best fixed. They’re good boys and hard workers. It’s your business -to choose which one you want for a husband.”</p> - -<p>Denise had turned pale and shown great embarrassment during her aunt’s -speech; but she glanced again at the remains of her marguerite and -replied in a very low tone:</p> - -<p>“I don’t want any one of them, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“What do you say, my child?”</p> - -<p>“I say that—that I don’t want to marry.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t want to marry? Nonsense! You’re joking when you say that! As -if girls mustn’t marry! I tell you, on the contrary, marriage will do -you good. For a long time now you haven’t been yourself, you don’t laugh -or sing any more. A husband, my child, makes you sing, brings back your -spirits, and—Great heaven! you’re crying, my poor Denise! Do you think -I mean to make you feel bad? No, no! I’ll send all your suitors to the -devil first. My poor child crying! I don’t want you to do that. Come, -tell me right away what makes you cry.<a name="page_409" id="page_409"></a>”</p> - -<p>“To have to refuse you, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“The idea of crying for that! Do you think I’ll ever drive you to do -what you don’t want to do?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! you’re so kind to me, aunt!”</p> - -<p>“But if you cry, I’ll scold you. You don’t want any of these husbands, -so we won’t say any more about it, my child. But, jarni! something’s the -matter with you, all the same. A girl don’t sigh all day thinking about -flies.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, aunt!”</p> - -<p>“Tell me what the trouble is, my child.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t dare to.”</p> - -<p>“I want you to dare to. You’ve got a pain in your heart, that’s sure.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I am very silly! I know that.”</p> - -<p>“You, silly! you, the cleverest, the smartest, the shrewdest girl in the -world! Anyway, my dear, a body don’t cry because she’s silly. It can’t -be you’re in love with anybody, are you?”</p> - -<p>Denise heaved a profound sigh, and replied at last, lowering her eyes:</p> - -<p>“Yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Well, my dear, there’s no law against it! and if it ain’t one of the -fellows that’s offered himself, why, never mind, so long as he’s an -honest man and will make you happy; for he loves you dearly too, no -doubt?”</p> - -<p>“No, aunt, he doesn’t love me at all; he doesn’t give me a thought.”</p> - -<p>“Jarni! I’ll go and tear his eyes out! Do you mean to say he’s forgotten -you, or deceived you? The idea of my Denise loving him, and him not -being too happy to marry her!”</p> - -<p>“But he has never spoken of marrying me, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Then he’s a deceiver, is he, a rake?”</p> - -<p>“No, aunt; but he’s—it’s that gentleman from Paris.<a name="page_410" id="page_410"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Dalville?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“O mon Dieu! what on earth are you thinking about, Denise? You’re in -love with a fine gentleman from Paris, a man in the best society, a man -who would never look at a peasant girl!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he did look at me a great deal, I assure you.”</p> - -<p>“But you can’t think of such a thing as loving Monsieur Dalville, my -dear!”</p> - -<p>“Alas! it isn’t my fault—I can’t help it.”</p> - -<p>“How did this love come to you, my child?”</p> - -<p>“When I fell from my donkey, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Is it possible?”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! yes. I met Monsieur Auguste on the road; he was in his -cabriolet and I was walking behind Jean le Blanc.”</p> - -<p>“You told me that, my child.”</p> - -<p>“He kept looking at me, and I pretended not to notice it. He got out of -his carriage and followed me along the narrow path through the wood; he -told me I was pretty and I laughed at his compliments.”</p> - -<p>“You told me that, too.”</p> - -<p>“He tried to kiss me, and in defending myself I scratched his face.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t tell me that, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I was very angry then! I hated the man! I got on Jean le Blanc so -as to get away from him faster, but Jean began to gallop and threw me -off. I fell—I don’t know how.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! my child! And then what?”</p> - -<p>“The gentleman ran up to me; but he lifted me up so respectfully—he -seemed so sorry for my fall—he was paler and trembled more than I did. -Then, I don’t know<a name="page_411" id="page_411"></a> how it happened, but all of a sudden my anger went -away, and—and I believe that I loved him already.”</p> - -<p>“And then?”</p> - -<p>“Bless me! you know, aunt, that we found what he’d given Coco and his -grandmother, and I felt that that made me love him still more. I saw him -again at Madame Destival’s, and he told me to take care of Coco; and -since then, you know, aunt, he hasn’t been to see us but once.”</p> - -<p>“Have you told him that you loved him?”</p> - -<p>“No; on the contrary, as Monsieur Bertrand told me that would keep him -from coming to see us, I told him that I should never love him.”</p> - -<p>“You did well, my child.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, aunt! I think that I did wrong rather, for he hasn’t been here -since then, and he went away without bidding us good-bye.”</p> - -<p>“Well, well, now she’s crying again! But, my child, what good does this -love do you?”</p> - -<p>“None at all, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur Auguste wouldn’t have married a poor village girl. Now he’s -gone away, and we shan’t ever see him again probably.”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean to say that he may not come back? Won’t he want to -see—Coco again? He will come back, aunt; ah! I am still hopeful.”</p> - -<p>“Even if he should, remember that he’s a gentleman, and used to fine -ladies; while you—Well! what are you looking at that flower so for?”</p> - -<p>“It told me that Auguste loved me dearly.”</p> - -<p>“Who told you so?”</p> - -<p>“This marguerite, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“Pluck another one to-morrow, my dear, and it will tell you just the -opposite.<a name="page_412" id="page_412"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I pluck them every morning, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“And does the flower always tell you he loves you?”</p> - -<p>“When there’s one that doesn’t I question another, and I keep on till I -find one that gives me the answer I want.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the way girls tell their own fortunes. But look you, my child, -it would be much more sensible to forget a man who don’t give you a -thought.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t do it, aunt.”</p> - -<p>“If you should take a husband instead of plucking marguerites, your love -would soon pass away, I promise you.”</p> - -<p>“No, aunt, I don’t want to marry. Leave me at liberty to think of him -and to consult the flowers, and I promise you that I won’t cry any -more.”</p> - -<p>“As you please, my dear Denise; and if that’s your taste, stay -unmarried. But you’re so pretty, and such a figure. Ah! it would be a -great pity if you should pass your youth consulting flowers.”</p> - -<p>The worthy aunt said no more to Denise on the subject of marriage, and -the suitors were dismissed. The villagers indulged in various -conjectures concerning the girl’s conduct. The young women laughed at -the gallants who had been rejected; the gallants hoped that in time -Denise would be less cruel. But time passed and Denise’s determination -did not waver.</p> - -<p>Mère Fourcy became infirm and her niece waited upon her with the most -loving solicitude. Coco, who as he grew up had learned to love his -benefactresses as dearly as his goat, strove to make himself useful, and -often diverted Denise from her melancholy by his childish prattle. She -loved to watch and to fondle the child whom Auguste had loved; she had -him taught all that could be taught him in the village; she guided his -heart into<a name="page_413" id="page_413"></a> the paths of virtue, for she wished him to do credit to his -benefactor.</p> - -<p>Two years had passed since Auguste and Bertrand started on their -travels. During that period Denise had been to Paris six times in quest -of news of the travellers; but Schtrack had never been able to give her -any, and she heard nothing from Virginie. At the end of two years Mère -Fourcy fell sick, and, despite her niece’s care, soon died in her arms.</p> - -<p>The loss of her aunt caused Denise the keenest sorrow; we can but regret -profoundly those who throughout their lives have sought only to make us -happy, without ever reminding us of what they have done for us—the -latter being a method of conferring favors which freezes gratitude; for -there are many people who do good, but there are very few good people.</p> - -<p>Denise was left alone on earth but for Coco, who was not yet eight. She -let her house, which was now too large for her, and went to live in -Coco’s cottage, to which she added a small wing. There Denise was -happier: it seemed to her that she was nearer Auguste. She was no longer -obliged to be a milkmaid, and she hired an old peasant woman who -undertook the house work. Denise busied herself about her garden and -sought additional knowledge in books. In her aunt’s lifetime she was -rarely able to gratify her taste for reading, because Mère Fourcy -considered that she already knew too much for a peasant. But nothing now -prevented her from following her inclination and trying to train her -mind.</p> - -<p>One by one Denise laid aside the coarse woolen skirt, the apron, the -sackcloth waist; she wore clothes which, while they were most simple and -unpretending, approximated the costume of Parisian ladies. Thereupon the -villagers said to one another:<a name="page_414" id="page_414"></a></p> - -<p>“Denise Fourcy is trying to play the fine lady, that’s sure. Don’t you -see that since her aunt died she don’t dress like us any more, but puts -on style and uses big words when she talks?”</p> - -<p>Denise cared little what the people of the village thought; her only -desire was to please him whom she still expected; and she would say to -herself as she looked in her mirror:</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he’ll like me better like this. He won’t find me so awkward and -embarrassed as I was; but it will be all the same to him, for he doesn’t -love me, and he thinks that I don’t love him either. Mon Dieu! why did I -tell him that? It was Monsieur Bertrand that made me do it; he deceived -me by telling me that Auguste wouldn’t come to the village if I loved -him. Yes, I am sure that he deceived me; for it was after that that -Auguste received me so unkindly in Paris; and he didn’t come here again. -But when I see him, ah! then I’ll tell him the truth; it is always wrong -to lie. And I will beg him not to lie to me either.”</p> - -<p>Another year passed; Denise was twenty and Coco nine. The child was -happy; mirth and health shone on his pretty face. Denise was still -melancholy; she tried in vain to banish from her mind the memory of -Auguste whom she was beginning to lose hope of seeing again.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he has settled in some foreign land!” she would say to herself; -“perhaps he is married—and will never come back!”</p> - -<p>Then her eyes would fill with tears, and the child’s caresses served -only to intensify her grief, for he was forever asking her:</p> - -<p>“Shall I see my kind friend soon?”</p> - -<p>Denise often determined to be sensible, to drive her insane passion from -her heart, and to think no more of<a name="page_415" id="page_415"></a> Auguste. Then she would go out to -seek distraction in the fields; but, whether by chance or from -preference, she always found herself on the narrow path in the wood, -where she fell from her donkey.</p> - -<h2><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI<br /><br /> -THE RETURN</h2> - -<p>One lovely spring evening Denise sat under the shrubbery in the garden, -reading, while Coco played in front of the cottage, beside the old -peasant woman, who had fallen asleep on a bench.</p> - -<p>Happening to look out on the road, Coco saw a man standing there, -apparently gazing at the house, and so engrossed by his thoughts that he -did not notice the child playing near by.</p> - -<p>The man was not dressed like a peasant; a gray woolen jacket, trousers -with gaiters, and a bundle slung over his shoulder, seemed to indicate a -traveller. He wore a shabby round cap, and in his hand he carried a -stick which he evidently needed to lean upon; for his face was pale and -worn, and his long beard and the expression of his eyes denoted poverty -and suffering.</p> - -<p>Coco stole toward him, staring at the stranger with childish curiosity -and was surprised to see tears falling from his eyes as he gazed at the -cottage.</p> - -<p>The child had learned from Denise to be compassionate to the sufferings -of the unfortunate. He stood in front of the stranger and said in an -artless and kindly tone:<a name="page_416" id="page_416"></a></p> - -<p>“Are you unhappy, monsieur? If you’d like to rest in our house, come in -and we’ll give you some supper.”</p> - -<p>The child’s voice startled the stranger, he started in surprise and -scrutinized Coco closely; then he took his hand and squeezed it -tenderly, saying in a voice choked by emotion:</p> - -<p>“What! is it you, my friend?”</p> - -<p>The boy, surprised to be addressed in that way, answered with a smile:</p> - -<p>“Do you know me, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>The wayfarer sighed, and replied after a moment:</p> - -<p>“Yes, I saw you once, long ago, here, on this spot; but at that time, -instead of this pretty cottage, there was only an old ruined hovel here! -What a transformation has taken place!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it was my good friend who gave me the money for all this; for -that’s my house, monsieur, that is; but when he comes back, I’ll thank -him ever so much!”</p> - -<p>The stranger pressed the child’s hand again, as he continued:</p> - -<p>“Won’t you come in? Come, I’ll tell Denise that you’re going to have -supper with us.”</p> - -<p>“Denise! what, is Denise here?” exclaimed the stranger, detaining the -child.</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, we’ve lived together ever since her dear aunt died.”</p> - -<p>“And is Denise married?”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur.—Well, are you coming?”</p> - -<p>After a moment’s hesitation, the stranger decided to follow the child, -who took his hand and led him into the house.</p> - -<p>“Denise! Denise!” cried Coco, “here’s some company! here’s a gentleman, -who’s hungry!—You are hungry, ain’t you?—Denise, come, I say!<a name="page_417" id="page_417"></a>”</p> - -<p>But Denise was at the end of the garden and did not hear the child’s -voice; so he ran to the thicket of shrubbery to fetch her, and the -stranger slowly followed him.</p> - -<p>“Dear Denise,” said Coco, “I just saw a man on the road who looked very -unhappy, and I asked him to come into the house; we’ll give him some -supper, won’t we?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, my dear.”</p> - -<p>“I did well to bring him in, for he looks as if he was poor; and yet he -didn’t beg.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you did well; let’s go to him.”</p> - -<p>“Look, he has followed me—there he is.”</p> - -<p>The stranger had stopped at a little distance and was looking at Denise; -the last rays of daylight rested on his face, and the girl examined him -with interest as she walked toward him. But she had not taken four steps -when she gave a little cry and ran, flew toward the stranger.</p> - -<p>“Auguste!—Monsieur—is it you?”</p> - -<p>That was all she could say; and Auguste, for he it was, received her in -his arms.</p> - -<p>“Denise! dear Denise!” said Auguste, pressing to his heart the girl whom -surprise and joy had almost deprived of consciousness.</p> - -<p>At last she recovered the power of speech.</p> - -<p>“Coco, it is your kind friend,” she cried, “your benefactor has come -back! Come and kiss him.”</p> - -<p>The child stared at Auguste in open-mouthed amazement; he had difficulty -in reconciling himself to the idea that that shabbily dressed man with -the long beard was his benefactor; but if his eyes did not recognize his -kind friend, his heart was not silent: something drew him to the -stranger, so that he ran joyfully to Auguste and kissed him, and the -latter abandoned himself for<a name="page_418" id="page_418"></a> some moments to the pleasure of holding -the child and the girl in his arms.</p> - -<p>“So you knew me, did you, Denise?” he said at last.</p> - -<p>“Oh! always! I shall always recognize you! Even if your face were not -the same, my heart would tell me that it was you.”</p> - -<p>“Dear Denise!”</p> - -<p>“Well, I didn’t know you, my kind friend,” said Coco, “because you’ve -got a beard; and then, you were crying.”</p> - -<p>“Alas! you did not expect to see me in this pitiable costume, did you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we expected you, dressed no matter how! In our eyes, aren’t you -always well dressed? But when I see you like this, I fear that you have -been unfortunate; and that is what grieves me.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Denise, yes, I have been unfortunate, but I have earned it! It’s -my own folly that has reduced me to this condition! But as I still have -your friendship and this little fellow’s, I feel that I have not lost -all.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! monsieur, is it possible that you could doubt our hearts?”</p> - -<p>“What would you have? misfortune often makes men unjust. I was wrong, I -see. I will tell you everything that has happened to me, Denise; I will -tell you frankly what I have done; you are the last one from whom I -would conceal my shortcomings, for I am sure beforehand that you will -forgive me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I am so glad to see you again, monsieur! But come in and sit down -in the house, and rest; you must want something to eat and drink.”</p> - -<p>“It is true that I have had nothing since yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“Since yesterday!” cried Denise; and a deathly pallor overspread her -cheeks, her eyes filled with tears, and<a name="page_419" id="page_419"></a> she could not speak; she laid -her head on Auguste’s shoulder and gave free vent to the tears that were -choking her.</p> - -<p>“Denise, dear Denise, pray be calm! I am with you; I have already -forgotten part of my misfortunes—don’t be alarmed about me! Besides, I -am not entirely without resources. The reason why I have eaten nothing -since yesterday is that sad thoughts took away my appetite. I still have -a little money, but I am saving it to procure lodgings in Paris; for -nothing is so conducive to economy as misfortune. Oh! the loss of my -wealth is not what grieves me most, as you know; blest with a happy -disposition, hope and cheerfulness continued to travel with me even when -my purse was light; but the ingratitude of men, the desertion of him -whom I loved like a brother—that is what cut me the deepest! that is -what took away my courage! I know that a man may bear the blows of -destiny philosophically; but I could find no philosophy to enable me to -bear the loss of a friend, the pains of the heart.”</p> - -<p>“O mon Dieu!” said Denise; “is it possible! But, it is true, you are -alone—What has become of Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“He has deserted me! He got tired of my follies, and he left the man -who, in his prosperous days, treated him as a friend, not as a servant.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand deserted you—left you when you were unfortunate and a long -way from home! Oh, no! no! that is impossible, monsieur! He loved and -honored you! Bertrand is an old soldier, he has not forgotten all that -he owes you; I will answer for his heart as surely as for my own.”</p> - -<p>“Nevertheless, Denise, I have told you the truth. But let us go into the -house; later I will tell you the story of my travels.<a name="page_420" id="page_420"></a>”</p> - -<p>“Oh! forgive me, monsieur; to think of my forgetting! Let’s go in -quickly; come and rest.”</p> - -<p>Denise led Auguste into the house. Coco followed them, jumping and -crying aloud for joy.</p> - -<p>“Here’s my kind friend come back! Denise won’t be sad any more!”</p> - -<p>The girl ran to wake her old servant, and turned everything topsy-turvy -in her haste to set before the wayfarer the best that she had; and as -she went to and fro by Auguste, she stopped constantly to look at him, -as if to make sure that he was not a delusion, then exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“He is here! he has come back at last! he hadn’t forgotten us!”</p> - -<p>And she wiped away a tear born of her emotion, which was instantly -succeeded by a smile. Auguste was deeply moved by the pleasure that his -arrival caused in the cottage. He did not tire of gazing at Denise, he -noticed the change that had taken place in her language and manners and -dress; and as he turned his eyes upon himself, he sighed and said:</p> - -<p>“The three years that have passed have wrought vast changes: instead of -the milkmaid, a rather awkward village girl, I find in you a young woman -full of charm. And I, whom you used to see so dandified and -elegant—here am I arrayed like any poor devil who travels on foot -without the means to pay for a lodging!”</p> - -<p>“What difference does that make? Are you Coco’s benefactor any the less? -or he who made love so ardently to the little milkmaid?”</p> - -<p>“You will agree, Denise, that in this costume I don’t look very much -like a benefactor or a seducer.”</p> - -<p>“For my part, if you don’t like me this way, I will very soon go back to -the woolen waist and the little cap.<a name="page_421" id="page_421"></a>”</p> - -<p>“You will always be lovely. However, I have no right—I must not -forget——”</p> - -<p>Auguste paused and Denise looked at him anxiously; but he seemed to make -an effort to banish a painful memory and took his place at the table, -saying:</p> - -<p>“Let us not think of anything but the pleasure it affords me to be here! -Denise, Coco, come beside me; one evening of happiness will help me to -forget several months of suffering.”</p> - -<p>They sat down at the table. Auguste was the object of the most zealous -attentions on the part of the occupants of the cottage; the presence of -a sovereign would not have made them so happy as that of the poor -wayfarer.</p> - -<p>When Auguste had recovered from the fatigue of his journeying, he took -Coco on his knee, seated himself in front of Denise, and began his -story:</p> - -<p>“I determined to travel, hoping that travelling would ripen my wits; -moreover, it was necessary that I should make an effort to put my -talents to some use. I know how to paint, I am a good musician, but it -was very hard for me to look for pupils in Paris, the scene of my days -of splendor, where I could not take a step without meeting old -acquaintances, who turned their heads to avoid bowing to me when they -learned that I was ruined! So I started with Bertrand——”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and without coming to bid me good-bye!” interjected Denise with a -profound sigh.</p> - -<p>“I was afraid to see you again. I supposed that you were married. I have -not forgotten what you told me in your garden when I came to call on -you.”</p> - -<p>Denise blushed, and Auguste continued:</p> - -<p>“So I started. We had six thousand francs left; with economy, that was -enough to carry us a long way. But it is so hard for me not to do -foolish things!<a name="page_422" id="page_422"></a>”</p> - -<p>“And to be good!” said Denise under her breath.</p> - -<p>Auguste smiled and continued:</p> - -<p>“At Turin we were robbed by adventuresses of our whole fortune except a -few gold pieces, with which we travelled to Rome. There I worked and -earned a little money with my violin, and Bertrand gave fencing lessons. -We went to Naples, where I met by mere chance a lady whom I had known in -Paris; she interested herself in my behalf and procured me some rich -pupils. We had lived there very comfortably for a year when I received -two or three stiletto thrusts on account of an Italian damsel’s lovely -eyes.”</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu!” cried Denise; “why did you need to love an Italian too?”</p> - -<p>“I was driven to seek distraction. That adventure disgusted me with -Italy, where, in truth, I saw no prospect of making a handsome fortune. -I determined to go to England, where moderate talent often commands a -very high price. Bertrand was still ready to go with me; we left Italy -and reached London without mishap. There, after a very short time, -having acquired the friendship of a man who frequented the first -society, he made me the fashion, and I had more pupils than I could give -lessons to. I charged very high rates, and I was overjoyed to find that -I should be able some day to return to my native land with a good round -sum of money. But, alas! I had the ill luck to become acquainted with a -young English-woman.”</p> - -<p>“Well! still another woman!” exclaimed Denise testily.</p> - -<p>“She lived with some relations, who, so she said, made her very unhappy. -She proposed to me to carry her off, and I dared not refuse. Despite -Bertrand’s advice I indulged in that escapade. But the abduction created -an<a name="page_423" id="page_423"></a> uproar, and I was proceeded against; I was obliged either to marry -the young woman, or to pay a large sum; for in England one must always -give compensation. I did not choose to marry, so I paid.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! that was much better than—than to marry by force,” said Denise.</p> - -<p>“But that adventure caused me to lose my pupils and the fruit of my -labors. Distressed by this catastrophe, for which I could accuse no one -but myself, I proposed to Bertrand that we take a trip to Scotland -before returning to our own country. One of my pupils had presented me -with a horse, I bought one for Bertrand, and we left London in the -saddle. We stopped at a lovely village called, I believe, Newington. -After breakfasting at an inn, I sat alone, waiting for my companion, -whom I had sent to pay our bill. Surprised at his failure to return, I -went downstairs and made inquiries. ‘Your companion has gone,’ they told -me; ‘he just mounted his horse and rode off at a gallop.’ Utterly unable -to understand his absence, I remained at the inn all day, waiting for -him. I could not imagine that Bertrand had left me; but the next day -again I waited in vain. I questioned the people at the inn; they could -tell me nothing except that, after paying our bill, he had crossed the -courtyard, and a moment later they had seen him riding away at full -speed. I was driven at last to a realization of the fact that Bertrand -had voluntarily turned his back on me. Ah! Denise, I can’t tell you how -I suffered because of his desertion! Accustomed to living with my old -friend, I had often paid little heed to his advice, but I set great -store by his friendship. No doubt he was tired of my foolish -performances; he probably lost patience, and despairing of making me -less reckless, did not choose to share my evil fortune any longer. -However, he had often<a name="page_424" id="page_424"></a> sworn never to leave me while he lived, and I -trusted his oath, for a friend’s is more sacred than a mistress’s.”</p> - -<p>“Bertrand—leave you! I can’t understand it!” said Denise.</p> - -<p>“I changed my plans, and, having no further desire to go to Scotland, -determined to return to France. Oh! how I longed to stand on my native -soil! I felt a most intense craving to see you and to embrace this -little fellow! I sold my horse to pay my passage. When I arrived at -Calais, I reckoned up my resources and determined to travel on foot. -But, I confess, my strength frequently betrayed my courage. Accustomed -as I am to wealth, to the comforts of life, my health is still that of a -dandy, while my modest costume stamps me a humble wayfarer; and more -than once I had to stop on the way. At last I reached this village; -before going on to Paris, I longed to see this spot once more, to learn -what you were doing, Denise. And here I am by your side! Unhappiness, -fatigue, everything is forgotten; and to-morrow, with a razor, clean -linen, and a few changes in my costume, you will see once more, not the -resplendent Dalville, but at least poor Auguste, for whom your -friendship is not dead.”</p> - -<p>Auguste kissed the child. Denise, who had taken the deepest interest in -his story, said to him:</p> - -<p>“I trust that now you will not go travelling over the world any more?”</p> - -<p>“You must stay with us, my kind friend,” said Coco.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I see that I must abandon the hope of making my fortune with such -talents as I have. I have ceased to think of travelling. As to what I -shall do—I haven’t any clear idea as yet; but still, among my dear -friends in Paris, who no longer deign to look at me, there are many whom -I have obliged, and who are still my debtors.<a name="page_425" id="page_425"></a> There is something like -twelve thousand francs owing to me, and I propose to try to collect at -least half of it; then——”</p> - -<p>“You will come and settle down near us, won’t you, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“At all events, Denise, I will come to see you often.”</p> - -<p>“But you won’t go to Paris right away; you won’t leave us for a long -while——”</p> - -<p>“No, I promise.”</p> - -<p>“Remember that you are in your own house here; we built this cottage -with what you gave Coco, so you see that it belongs to you.”</p> - -<p>“No, Denise, this house is the boy’s fortune; I am too happy to have -been able to contribute to his welfare, and I only regret that I didn’t -use in this way all the money I have wasted on my pleasures!—Nothing is -left to me from my follies; but something always remains of the good -that one does!”</p> - -<p>“Then you have reformed? You won’t fall in love any more—with every -woman you see, will you?”</p> - -<p>“Faith, Denise, I wouldn’t swear not to as yet. I received a bitter -lesson on my fifth floor—and in my travels I turned it to no advantage -whatever. Ah! if I had won the love of a sincere, true-hearted, virtuous -woman—like you, Denise—perhaps I should have reformed before this!”</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur!” said Denise, blushing; “do you mean that I don’t love -you?”</p> - -<p>“No—you love me like a brother, I know, and your touchingly warm -welcome of me, the delight that my return has caused you, show plainly -enough your deep affection for me; but, my dear Denise, there is a -sweeter, tenderer sentiment which I hoped to inspire in you before you -told me that you could never love me. Don’t lower<a name="page_426" id="page_426"></a> your eyes, Denise; I -am not reproaching you; we cannot control our hearts, and I admit that I -did not deserve yours. I tried to accustom myself to look upon you as a -sister; that is what I have been trying to do ever since our interview -in your aunt’s garden. It will be hard, but with time I shall -succeed—perhaps. Let us leave that subject; I am so happy to be with -you now!—Well! haven’t you anything to say to me, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, yes! But you must feel the need of rest.”</p> - -<p>“It is true that my journey has tired me; and my story has kept you up -late.”</p> - -<p>“Come, monsieur; I’ll take you to the little summer-house that I have -had built in the garden; it makes the prettiest room in the house. I -wish I could give you even better quarters——”</p> - -<p>“You forget, Denise, that I am no longer the dandy of the -Chaussée-d’Antin! Just cast your eye at my costume.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, to me you are always the same, monsieur!”</p> - -<p>She took Auguste to the summer-house and left him there with a loving: -“Until to-morrow;” then she returned to the house and her own room, -saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“He thinks that my only feeling for him is friendship; he is very much -mistaken; what I feel for him is love! Mon Dieu! why did I believe -Monsieur Bertrand at that time? Why did I tell him that I didn’t love -him? This is what comes of lying! But I’ll tell him the truth now, -because I don’t want him to try to look on me as a sister.<a name="page_427" id="page_427"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII<br /><br /> -AVOWALS.—THE PROPOSAL</h2> - -<p>After travelling about for three years in quest of riches, and finding -in all lands the same vices, the same passions, the same folly,—when -one returns home even poorer than one went away, how delicious it is to -wake beneath a hospitable roof, with faithful friends whom one’s evil -fortune has not changed, and who are made happy by one’s return! It is -the harbor after a gale; it is the clear sky after a storm; it is the -gleam of dawn after a long night.</p> - -<p>Such was Auguste’s waking; in his eyes the cottage was a palace, aye, -better than a palace, since it held Denise and Coco. He rose, and after -revelling for a few moments in the pure air of the garden, he turned his -attention to his costume. Not with impunity does one live under the same -roof with a lovely girl whom one has once loved, and still loves, -although resolved to be nothing more than her friend. Moreover, it is -quite natural to try to recover some of one’s former attractions, after -making one’s appearance in the costume of an impoverished wayfarer.</p> - -<p>In a short time, the razor had disposed of the beard. But Auguste’s -modest portmanteau contained only a coat, a waistcoat and almost no -linen. He was inspecting it with a dejected air when there came a soft -tap at his door and he heard Coco’s voice:</p> - -<p>“It’s me, my kind friend.<a name="page_428" id="page_428"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste opened the door to the child, who had a large bundle which he -placed on the bed.</p> - -<p>“What’s all this, my friend?” queried Auguste, after he had kissed the -little fellow.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know, my kind friend; it was Denise that told me to bring it to -you. Good-bye; I’m going to feed my goat. You didn’t see her last night; -hurry up and dress yourself and come and say good-morning to her.”</p> - -<p>When the child had gone, Auguste opened the package, which contained a -supply of linen and a paper on which was written:</p> - -<p>“Coco gives you this; remember that he didn’t refuse your gifts a long -time ago.”</p> - -<p>“Dear Denise!” said Auguste; “how thoughtful of her! And to think of her -being able to get them so early! She can’t have slept at all—she must -have ransacked the village already. If this is the way her friendship -works, what would happen if one had her love!”</p> - -<p>However, it was a bitter thing to Auguste to accept the girl’s gifts; -when one is in the habit of giving, it is hard to make up one’s mind to -receive. He overcame at last the feeling of pride that caused him to -hesitate; he realized that it would hurt Denise if he refused, and that -consideration decided him to accept her presents.</p> - -<p>After completing his toilet, Auguste went into the garden and found -Denise there. She came to meet him with the most engaging smile, and a -look in which there was something more than friendship. Coco ran to -Auguste and said:</p> - -<p>“Ah! I know you now—this is the way you used to look.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks to you, Denise!” said Dalville in an undertone.<a name="page_429" id="page_429"></a></p> - -<p>But the girl put her hand over his mouth, and he seized the hand and -pressed it to his heart without more words. They showed him the cottage, -the garden, every nook and corner, and Denise said to him at every step:</p> - -<p>“Do you like this? Are you satisfied with the use I have made of your -money?”</p> - -<p>“What surprises me,” said Auguste, “is that you can build a house with -three thousand francs.”</p> - -<p>“In the first place, monsieur, we had the land; and then, you see, the -cottage has only four rooms and attics above.”</p> - -<p>“But that pretty summer-house where I slept last night?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I had that built after my poor aunt’s death. I preferred to live -here than in our house. I felt as if I weren’t so far away from you.”</p> - -<p>These words were accompanied by another sweet smile; all of which was -not calculated to induce Auguste to look upon the lovely girl as his -sister simply.</p> - -<p>After breakfast they sat in the shade of a clump of lilacs. They talked -a long while, having so much to say to each other after a long -separation. The girl did not weary of listening to Auguste’s stories of -his travels. When he mentioned Bertrand’s name, a sigh escaped him; -whereupon Denise took his hand and pressed it affectionately, to give -him to understand that he still had friends. He continued his story, but -her hand remained in his, and she did not think of withdrawing it.</p> - -<p>Engrossed by the pleasure of being with Denise, of exchanging soft -glances with her, it did not seem to occur to Auguste that he must look -upon her only with a friend’s eyes. Nor did Denise seek to conceal the -state of her feelings from him; on the contrary, she wished him to read -in the lowest depths of her heart.<a name="page_430" id="page_430"></a></p> - -<p>Several days passed swiftly. In the morning Auguste and Denise went to -walk in the country. Coco always went with them, but his presence did -not incommode them; for their eyes alone betrayed their feelings, and an -innocent heart has no fear of witnesses. At night, when they were -together in the cottage, the hours flew more swiftly still, and when -they separated, they exchanged a loving: “Until to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>Auguste could not conceal from himself the fact that he adored Denise, -and, being persuaded that she had no other feeling than friendship for -him, he said to himself:</p> - -<p>“This girl will end by turning my head. But she loves me only as a -brother; she doesn’t know how dangerous to my repose her affectionate -glances and caresses are. I must leave her and return to Paris; a few -days more and I shan’t have strength to do it.”</p> - -<p>On her side Denise said to herself:</p> - -<p>“Great heaven! doesn’t he see that I love him? I do all that I can to -show him! Is it that he doesn’t choose to understand me? In that case I -must just tell him how it is; and now that he has nothing at all and I -have a little money, perhaps he’ll not despise the little village girl.”</p> - -<p>Although he continued to tell himself that he must go away from Denise, -Auguste did not leave the cottage, where he was so comfortable. But one -evening when he was alone with her, he inquired:</p> - -<p>“How does it happen, Denise, that you are not married?”</p> - -<p>“Because I didn’t choose to marry, monsieur!” she replied, raising her -lovely eyes to his.</p> - -<p>“But you were in love with someone, surely? You told me so. What -obstacle has prevented you from marrying the object of your choice?<a name="page_431" id="page_431"></a>”</p> - -<p>Denise blushed and no longer dared to look at Auguste. At last she -faltered in a tremulous voice:</p> - -<p>“I—I lied that time, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“How so, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“You know, that time in my aunt’s garden, when I told you that I had a -sweetheart, it was because Monsieur Bertrand had told me that you didn’t -come to the village for fear of falling in love with me; and I longed so -to see you that that was why I said I didn’t love you.”</p> - -<p>“Dear Denise! is it possible?” cried Auguste, throwing his arms about -her.</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s the truth; and since then I’ve been awfully unhappy because -I told you that; for you didn’t come again, and you thought I loved -somebody else.”</p> - -<p>Auguste gazed lovingly at the girl; but soon his brow grew dark; he -fixed his eyes on the ground and seemed to be meditating deeply. Amazed -by his silence and his depression, she drew nearer to him and said -timidly:</p> - -<p>“Are you angry because I love you?”</p> - -<p>“Ah! Denise, it might once have made me perfectly happy—but now——”</p> - -<p>“Well—now?”</p> - -<p>Auguste made no reply; and after a moment she asked him:</p> - -<p>“Will you marry me, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“Marry you, Denise?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; formerly I wouldn’t have dared to hope for such a thing, for you -were very rich, and you couldn’t have taken a village girl for your -wife. But you have lost the fortune which kept you in fashionable -society. You say every day that you no longer care for the fine ladies, -the coquettes, who deceived you.—Now, if you want me, I am yours. I -haven’t a great fortune, but I have enough for us two; and I will never -deceive you!<a name="page_432" id="page_432"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste was deeply moved by Denise’s affecting offer; but he contented -himself with pressing her hand and heaving a profound sigh. She -impatiently awaited his reply; his silence made her think that her -proposal had offended him; she walked away from him, and, unable to -restrain her tears, faltered:</p> - -<p>“I made you angry by proposing that you should marry me. Forgive me, -monsieur; I forgot that I am only a peasant. I thought that you loved -me.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! I love you, Denise, more than I ever loved! my feeling for you is a -hundred times sweeter and fonder than the passions which have led me -into so many follies. You are only a peasant, you say! but your virtues -and your good qualities make you the equal of a great lady, even though -you had not in addition such lovely features, such charming ways, and a -melting voice that goes to one’s very heart!”</p> - -<p>“You love me! Oh! how happy I am! Then you will take me for your wife?”</p> - -<p>Auguste gazed tenderly at her, and said at last:</p> - -<p>“You shall have my reply to-morrow, Denise.”</p> - -<p>“To-morrow! Why not at once? Do you need to reflect about it?”</p> - -<p>The girl said no more. During the rest of the evening Auguste seemed -more affectionate, more in love than ever; his eyes, which were -constantly fixed on Denise, expressed the most genuine passion, and when -he left her, to return to his summer-house, he pressed her to his heart -and seemed unable to tear himself from her arms. He left her at last, -and Denise said to herself:</p> - -<p>“Oh! he will certainly marry me! but why not say so at once?”</p> - -<p>She did not sleep; she was too excited to close her eyes. In default of -dreams, her imagination conjured<a name="page_433" id="page_433"></a> up a thousand delightful pictures: she -saw herself the chosen companion of the man she loved; she passed the -rest of her days with him. So charming a future is surely not inferior -to the pleasantest dreams, and we do not try to sleep when we possess -the reality of happiness.</p> - -<p>Day broke at last. Denise rose and spent a longer time than usual at her -toilet. That is a venial offence when a woman knows that she is going -into the presence of the man whom she wishes to call her husband. She -left her room and went into the garden, where she found Auguste every -morning; but he was not there, and the girl was surprised that he was -still asleep; for she thought that he must have been unable to sleep, -like herself, and that he would be in haste to see her.</p> - -<p>She seated herself in the shrubbery where they had talked the night -before. She could see the summer-house from there, and she waited -impatiently for Auguste to come out. But the door did not open, and at -last Coco, whom Denise had not yet seen, came running toward her with a -letter in his hand.</p> - -<p>“Here, my dear Denise, my kind friend gave me this for you,” he said, -holding out the letter.</p> - -<p>“Your kind friend! Why, have you seen Monsieur Auguste already?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! he was up before sunrise.”</p> - -<p>“Where is he now, then?”</p> - -<p>“He kissed me and then he went away; I don’t know where he went.”</p> - -<p>Denise had a presentiment of evil; she opened the letter with a -trembling hand and read:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"><p>“I love you, my dear Denise; do not doubt my love; but shall I join -my poverty to your comfort, after I have<a name="page_434" id="page_434"></a> lost my money by my own -fault? shall I bestow on you the hand of a man who has not even any -knowledge of the agricultural labors by which your little property -can be made profitable? No, Denise, I am not worthy to be your -husband, I cannot make up my mind to live at the expense of a woman -who would sacrifice a happy future for me. Doubtless your kind -heart led you to offer me your hand; perhaps you even pretended to -love me so as to induce me to accept your generous offer; but I -must not do it. Adieu, Denise! If I should become rich again, I -shall fly to you; but I have no hope of it now. Adieu! I shall come -to see you when I have strength enough to look upon you as my -sister.”</p></div> - -<p>The girl turned deadly pale and dropped the letter, crying:</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t believe in my love!”</p> - -<p>“Well, where’s my kind friend? Did he write you where he’s gone?”</p> - -<p>“Alas! he has abandoned us, he has run away from us, he thinks we don’t -love him!”</p> - -<p>Denise burst into tears; the child ran to her arms and she pressed him -to her heart, sobbing:</p> - -<p>“Oh! I shall die of grief, and you must tell him that he’s the cause of -it; then perhaps he’ll believe that I loved him!<a name="page_435" id="page_435"></a>”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII<br /><br /> -VIRGINIE AGAIN</h2> - -<p>It was very early in the morning when Auguste left the pretty little -cottage where he had passed a fortnight which he looked upon as the -happiest period in his life. It was not without a mighty effort that he -tore himself away from Denise; it requires a deal of courage to leave a -woman whom one loves, when she has voluntarily offered one her heart. -But we must remember that Auguste had been rich, and that every feeling -of pride was not extinct within his breast. His pride could not accustom -itself to the idea of offering Denise the hand of a penniless -unfortunate; and furthermore he feared that it was from gratitude for -what he had done for Coco that the girl offered him her hand. A heart -bruised by misfortune is easily frightened; dread of humiliation makes -us unjust; a benefaction seems like almsgiving, and consolation is -nothing more than condescending pity.</p> - -<p>With his little bundle tied to the end of his staff, Auguste started for -Paris. When he saw the great city once more, he could not restrain a -sigh. But he pulled his hat over his eyes and walked with lowered head, -in dread of meeting some former acquaintance. However, it is no crime to -be poor; why, then, should the unfortunate seem to avoid men’s eyes when -so many scoundrels go about with their heads in the air? Why should one -be any more ashamed to say: “I haven’t a sou,” than to say: “I owe a -hundred thousand francs”? Because in society we see and seek and care -for none but those who<a name="page_436" id="page_436"></a> have money; because we too often close our eyes -to the source of the wealth of a multitude of schemers who cut a dash at -the expense of the scores of families they have ruined, and who from -their magnificent equipages look down in derision on those whom they -have reduced to destitution; because we pardon all sorts of vices in the -man who is able to cover them with gold, and refuse to pardon a trifling -peccadillo in a poor devil; because we lavish attentions on a Messalina -arrayed in silk and diamonds, and close our doors to a girl who has -given herself for love to a man who cannot support her. All this is very -sad, but it is all true.</p> - -<p>Auguste was careful not to go near Rue Saint-Georges; he went in the -direction of the Marais. It was necessary that he should be most -economical in his outlay, and he found in an old house on Rue de Berry, -a closet, said to be furnished, on the sixth floor, which he could hire -for fifteen francs a month. He paid half of the first month’s rent in -advance.</p> - -<p>The man who formerly passed his life in dissipation, who set the fashion -in manners and style, who was sought after and fêted, for whom women -disputed at parties, and whom they were proud to subjugate,—the -brilliant Dalville found himself reduced to the necessity of occupying a -garret and sleeping on a wretched pallet. When he entered the miserable -den he had just hired, he could not control a feeling of regret, and he -threw himself on a chair which wavered under him. As he glanced at the -walls, only partially covered by a few tattered strips of paper; as he -contemplated the furniture of his closet, and the tumbledown roofs near -by, Auguste recalled old Dorfeuil’s room; he remembered especially the -old man’s story and he dropped his head on his hands, saying:<a name="page_437" id="page_437"></a></p> - -<p>“And that did not reform me!”</p> - -<p>In a few moments, summoning his courage, he took his portfolio, glanced -over a list that he had made of all the people who owed him money, and -determined to spend the next day calling upon his debtors. At that -moment, the payment of a single debt would be of great service to him; -for, despite the economy with which he had travelled, he had but eleven -francs left after paying his rent for a fortnight. He had given his name -to the landlady as a teacher of music and drawing; but was he likely to -find any pupils, and how could he live before he received the price of -his lessons? Such reflections were ill adapted to make the aspect of his -abode more attractive. If only his former companion had been there to -comfort him and revive his courage! Again and again, impelled by the -force of habit, Auguste turned and looked about the room for Bertrand; -but, just as he was on the point of calling him, he remembered his -desertion, and his heart was torn anew.</p> - -<p>For a moment Auguste had thought of going to his former lodgings to -inquire whether Schtrack had seen Bertrand, and whether the ex-corporal -was in Paris; but he abandoned the idea when he reflected that he might -meet Bertrand in the old concierge’s quarters, and that he ought not to -risk encountering a man who, by his ingratitude, had rendered himself -unworthy of being regretted.</p> - -<p>It was by thinking of Denise, by recalling the happy moments that he had -passed with her, that Auguste strove to forget his deplorable plight. He -was well aware that he would always find shelter under Denise’s roof, -but he could not make up his mind to live at her expense.</p> - -<p>“It may be that it was from compassion that she offered me her hand,” he -said to himself.<a name="page_438" id="page_438"></a></p> - -<p>On the following day, after carefully brushing his old coat, and trying -to dissemble his destitution, Auguste set out to visit his debtors. His -first two calls were not fortunate; one man was dead, the other had gone -to Bordeaux, whither Auguste could not go to seek him. At his third -attempt he was more fortunate; the debtor was a young man who, like -Dalville, was devoted to pleasure; he was in the act of performing his -second toilet when his creditor was ushered into his presence.</p> - -<p>One does not put oneself out for a poorly dressed person, and the young -man, who did not recognize Dalville, said to him while continuing to tie -his cravat:</p> - -<p>“What do you want?”</p> - -<p>“First of all, to see you. Is it possible that Léon does not recognize -me?”</p> - -<p>Surprised at being addressed by his baptismal name, the young man -bestowed a contemptuous glance upon Auguste and said:</p> - -<p>“Deuce take me if I know you. Can it be that we have ever had anything -to do with each other?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, monsieur, for Auguste Dalville has had the privilege of doing you -a favor more than once.”</p> - -<p>“Auguste Dalville!” cried the young man, turning his head once more; -“what! can it be you, my dear fellow?”</p> - -<p>“Myself!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! it’s impossible! you are dressed like a highwayman! Are you just -out of prison?”</p> - -<p>“No, thank God! unfortunate as I am, I have never put myself in the way -of being imprisoned.”</p> - -<p>“Look you, my dear fellow, that doesn’t prevent one’s being an honest -man; I’ve been to Sainte-Pélagie more than once myself, and it’s likely -that I shall go again. Poor Auguste!—Damn this knot! I shall never get -it<a name="page_439" id="page_439"></a> tied.—Well, what chance brings you here, my dear friend? You -haven’t been seen anywhere for a century.”</p> - -<p>“It’s three years since I left Paris; I have been in Italy and England.”</p> - -<p>“The devil you say! Tell me, is it true that the English tie their -cravats like a groom?”</p> - -<p>“That isn’t the kind of thing I gave my attention to on my travels. As I -have told you, Léon, I am not in luck; but when I was rich you had -recourse to my purse more than once. I lent you more than a thousand -francs; half of that sum would be of great service to me now, and I have -come to ask you to pay me five hundred francs on account of what you owe -me.”</p> - -<p>“Parbleu! my dear Auguste, you have chosen a very bad time. I lost at -roulette yesterday all the money I had. I determined to put my luck to -the test. I have nothing left, and if I can’t pick up ten louis or so -to-day, to take a lovely little woman to the Bois, I am a lost man. My -charmer will probably go to the Bois with somebody else, and you can -understand—Does my cravat look all right?”</p> - -<p>“I thought that you had a better heart, Léon. You will find ten louis to -take your charmer to drive, but you can’t find them for me, to whom you -owe them, and who am in a lamentable plight.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say that I won’t find them for you, my dear fellow. Come again -in a few days; I promise to put aside all I win at cards, and it shall -be for you. Poor Dalville—on my honor, I am distressed.—This corner of -my collar won’t stay in place; it’s terribly annoying, it spoils all the -harmony of a costume.”</p> - -<p>Auguste left the young dandy’s apartment, wondering how he could ever -have been the friend of a man whose head was as empty as his heart. He -called upon others of his debtors: some were out, some had moved. He<a name="page_440" id="page_440"></a> -returned home, tired out and with little hope of faring better on the -morrow. For several days he persistently pursued them; but the majority -were not to be found or not to be seen; those whom he succeeded in -seeing never had any money, and it was impossible for him to catch young -Léon at home again. He sought fruitlessly the abode of the Marquis de -Cligneval; but one day, as he was going home, he saw monsieur le -marquis, ran after him and stopped him.</p> - -<p>“What do you want of me?” said Monsieur de Cligneval haughtily.</p> - -<p>“I have something to say to you, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know you.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t know me!” cried Auguste angrily, standing in front of the -marquis, who was about to walk away. His tone and the flash in his eyes -evidently refreshed Monsieur de Cligneval’s memory, for he replied, -trying to smile:</p> - -<p>“Oh! I beg pardon! a thousand pardons! It’s Monsieur Dalville. I was so -engrossed—I am going out to dinner—I am late, and——”</p> - -<p>“Monsieur, you have owed me money for a long, long time, which you -borrowed for a few days only.”</p> - -<p>“I, owe you money? Oh! you are mistaken, I assure you.”</p> - -<p>“What, monsieur?”</p> - -<p>“I beg pardon—I paid you! I give you my word that I paid you, a long -time ago; that’s why you have forgotten it.”</p> - -<p>“You dare to assert——”</p> - -<p>“My dear sir, you confuse my debt with somebody else’s; really I paid -you. Think carefully and you will remember. When you lend to a number of -people, you get them mixed and forget; it’s like boston—there are<a name="page_441" id="page_441"></a> -people who always ask you twice for the trick.—Adieu! au revoir! I am -going out to dine.”</p> - -<p>Monsieur de Cligneval was already far away. Auguste stood still, -petrified by his debtor’s impudence; but what is one to do with a man -who denies a debt, when one has no evidence thereof? To thrash him would -be some compensation at least, but the law would put you in the wrong.</p> - -<p>Auguste went home more depressed and dejected than ever, and, to cap the -climax of his misfortunes, fatigue and anxiety had inflamed his blood. -He was consumed by fever; he was alone, on a bag of straw, and ere long -it would be impossible for him to obtain those things which were -essential for his restoration to health.</p> - -<p>Stretched on his bed, where he had passed the whole day, Auguste courted -sleep, which avoided his eyes. He was in pain, he breathed with -difficulty, and sounds of mirth disturbed the silence of his abode. The -person who lived below him seemed to be singing over her work; her voice -pierced the thin ceiling that separated her from the hapless invalid, -and the latter, on his bed of suffering, distinguished from time to time -a vaudeville air or the refrain of a <i>chansonnette</i>.</p> - -<p>“Those people haven’t a fever like me,” he said to himself. “Oh! this is -an excellent time to be philosophical, but nature speaks louder than -philosophy.”</p> - -<p>After a sleepless night, the poor fellow, devoured by thirst, found that -he had no more water with which to satisfy it. He summoned all his -strength, left his bed, and dragged himself down to the concierge’s -room; for he dared not apply to any neighbors, and moreover he was -alone, between two lofts, on his sixth floor.</p> - -<p>“Oh! are you sick, monsieur?” cried the concierge, at sight of Auguste.<a name="page_442" id="page_442"></a></p> - -<p>“Yes, I have been suffering greatly since yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“You must take care of yourself and not go out.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that would be impossible!”</p> - -<p>“Leave your key outside, monsieur; I’ll come up to-night to see if you -want anything.”</p> - -<p>Auguste thanked the woman, crawled back to his garret with much -difficulty, and threw himself on his bed once more.</p> - -<p>The concierge, like all of her class, loved to talk, and very soon all -the lodgers who stopped at her lodge knew that there was on the sixth -floor a young man with a very distinguished bearing who was probably -going to have inflammation of the lungs.</p> - -<p>Among the persons who stopped to chat with the concierge was the singer -who lived below the sick man. This singer was no other than Virginie, -who had not succeeded in making a fortune by riotous living. Dissipation -soon banishes the hues of health, late hours circle the eyes, fatigue of -all sorts impairs beauty, and beauty was almost the sole possession of -Virginie, who, with three years added to her age, had fewer lovers than -of yore. All this was the reason why she was living in the Marais, in a -very modest fifth floor apartment; that she often passed her evenings in -working, because she no longer had some pleasure party for every -evening; and lastly, that she sang over her work, because she had -retained her voice and her cheerfulness.</p> - -<p>Virginie had a kind heart, she had never sinned except through excess of -sensibility. There are women who have no sensibility except where -pleasure is concerned, but Virginie was still capable of sympathy with -the unfortunate. On learning that there was a young man above her who -was alone and ill, Virginie asked the concierge:<a name="page_443" id="page_443"></a></p> - -<p>“Have you been up to see if he wanted anything?”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t been yet because I’ve got to watch my stew; but I’ll go up -to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Well! you are a good one! Suppose the man gets sicker before then? I’ll -go myself. I’m only sorry I didn’t know it sooner, for I sang all last -evening, and when a person is feverish he don’t like trills; but I was -in good voice! I could have sung <i>Armide!</i> I’m going up to see my -neighbor. He’s young, you say?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes—twenty-nine or thereabouts.”</p> - -<p>“Poor boy! perhaps he’s lovesick. But no, men never lose their health -for love. I’m curious to see him; if he was old, I’d go all the same; -but a young man is always more alluring.”</p> - -<p>Virginie went upstairs, and kept on to the sixth, passing her own door -without stopping. The key was on the outside of Auguste’s door.</p> - -<p>“When a man lives in this hole,” thought Virginie, “he don’t eat green -peas in January.” And she tapped softly on the door, saying aloud: “It’s -your neighbor from downstairs, monsieur, come to ask if you want -anything.”</p> - -<p>There was no reply, so she decided to open the door noiselessly. She -entered the hovel, in comparison with which her room was a palace. She -went to the bed on which lay the sick man, whose fever had increased, -and who no longer had the strength to open his eyes. She leaned over him -and gave a little shriek when she recognized Auguste.</p> - -<p>That shriek caused the invalid to open his eyes; he tried to give -Virginie his hand, while she threw herself upon him, kissed him again -and again, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and the next moment -drenched his face with her tears, crying:<a name="page_444" id="page_444"></a></p> - -<p>“It is you, Auguste! it is really you! O mon Dieu! in this garret! on -this wretched bed! My poor dear! sick, alone—and I didn’t know it! Poor -Auguste! and I sang last night while he was groaning here! Oh! I feel as -if I should choke! I can’t say any more.”</p> - -<p>But at last Virginie realized that her tears and kisses were no longer -sufficient for the invalid, who motioned that he was consumed by thirst.</p> - -<p>“Wait—wait, my dear,” she said, “I’ll give you—Great God! there’s -nothing here but water! Why, that’s no good—it increases the fever. -I’ll go—the doctor must come right away; I’ll go and fetch him. I’m -going. Don’t be impatient, my friend; I won’t be long; and after this -you won’t be alone any more; I shan’t leave you again!”</p> - -<p>Virginie ran to the door, returned to the bed, pulled the clothes over -the sick man, arranged his head, then ran downstairs four at a time, and -arrived at the concierge’s door all out of breath, saying:</p> - -<p>“A doctor! where’s there a doctor?”</p> - -<p>“Why, there’s several in the quarter. Is the gentleman sicker?”</p> - -<p>“His address—quick!”</p> - -<p>“A doctor’s address? There’s one on this street—yonder, next to the -fruit store; then there’s the one that bled me; but——”</p> - -<p>Virginie was no longer listening; she was already at the door the -concierge had pointed out. She ran up to the doctor’s room and begged -him to come instantly to see a sick man, in the tone that only women can -assume when the object of their affection is involved. The doctor made -no reply but took his hat, which was much better, and followed Virginie, -who led the way to Auguste’s garret. He ascended the six flights almost -as quickly as<a name="page_445" id="page_445"></a> she did, and when he entered the room apparently saw -nothing but the invalid. All honor to the men who devote their lives to -relieving the ills of mankind, and who show the same zeal for the poor -as for the rich. Their number is large, and although Molière did poke -fun at the doctors, doubtless he would be the first to do them justice -to-day.</p> - -<p>Virginie gazed anxiously at the doctor’s face while he was feeling the -invalid’s pulse. His eyes gave no favorable indication; while Auguste, -heedless of everything that was going on about him, seemed neither to -see nor to hear anything.</p> - -<p>“Well, monsieur?” queried Virginie at last.</p> - -<p>“The young man is in bad shape; he has a high fever and there is every -reason to expect that it will increase; however, with extreme care, I -hope we shall save him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, monsieur, don’t neglect anything, I beg you!”</p> - -<p>“But he is very badly off here; the room is so small, there is so little -air, and the sun beats down so fiercely on the roofs, and makes these -garrets burning hot; this is a very unhealthy place.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! he shall leave this garret this very day; he shall live in my room -as long as he’s sick. It’s right below here; he’ll be much more -comfortable there, for it’s a good size, at least—one can turn round in -it. He’d have been there before this if I could have carried him alone. -If you would be kind enough to help me, monsieur, it would soon be -done!”</p> - -<p>“Let’s try it, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>And the doctor went to the bed and lifted the only mattress that there -was on the straw; Virginie did the same on the other side, and thus they -carried Auguste to the floor below and laid him upon the only bed in the -room.<a name="page_446" id="page_446"></a></p> - -<p>“Where will you sleep, mademoiselle?” queried the doctor.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that don’t worry me, monsieur. I’ll bring down the straw bed from -upstairs; indeed, I shan’t feel like sleeping as long as he’s sick.”</p> - -<p>The doctor looked at her again, then wrote a prescription and took his -leave, promising to come again early the next morning.</p> - -<p>When Virginie was alone, she looked at the prescription and tried to -read it.</p> - -<p>“Bless my soul!” she muttered, “how badly these doctors write! like -cats. ‘Syrup of—infusion of’—No matter, the druggist will understand; -this much is clear, that here’s syrups and infusions—consequently, -money. Poor Auguste! I’m quite sure he hasn’t any. And I haven’t much -more. But never mind—I have got to find some. He gave me enough when he -was rich. I must go at once and get whatever he needs.”</p> - -<p>Virginie took her purse and went out to buy what was required for the -draught the doctor had ordered. She did not amuse herself by babbling -with the concierge, but made haste back to her room to nurse the sick -man. His fever had changed to delirium; he did not know her, and he -seemed to be much worse. Virginie nursed him with redoubled zeal. She -succeeded, not without difficulty, in making him take the potion -prescribed for him. She did not take one moment’s rest during the night; -she was constantly beside the sick-bed, leaving it only to return to her -work. Her work was making linen garments, for since her opportunities -for pleasure had fallen off, she had realized that in order to live -something more was required than fine eyes and a fetching smile. This -work brought her but little money; but she redoubled her efforts when -she had Auguste to care for.<a name="page_447" id="page_447"></a></p> - -<p>While she worked, Virginie kept her eyes on the invalid.</p> - -<p>“Poor boy!” she would say to herself; “his travels evidently didn’t -bring him luck. But how does it happen that good old Bertrand isn’t with -him? He must be dead, not to be with Auguste. He was a true friend, he -was! not like those popinjays who swindled him! And Denise, who loved -him so dearly! If she knew he was in this condition! Suppose I should -write to her? But no, that might make Auguste angry; perhaps he’s seen -her again, and they’ve had a row; one can never tell! I must cure him -first; then he will tell me all his adventures.”</p> - -<p>The doctor came the next day, as he had promised; he was unable as yet -to give a definite opinion, but he agreed to come again in the evening, -and told Virginie to follow the same treatment.</p> - -<p>For three days Auguste was very ill. The doctor was not sparing of his -visits, and Virginie followed all his prescriptions to the letter. But -in the afternoon of the third day she found nothing in her purse, and -she had no work ready to carry back. She needed money, however, for a -thousand things that her patient must have. Virginie was not at a loss; -she took off her bracelets and earrings, the sole relics of the days of -her early prosperity, and sold them to a jeweller as gayly as if she -were going to a party.</p> - -<p>The doctor’s treatment and Virginie’s nursing were not thrown away. On -the fourth day Auguste was better; he was no longer delirious and was -surprised to find himself in a room which he did not recognize. He -pressed Virginie’s hand and would have spoken; but the doctor had -prescribed perfect rest, so Virginie said to him:<a name="page_448" id="page_448"></a></p> - -<p>“Hush! wait till you’re better before you talk; meanwhile, don’t worry -about anything; you’re in my room, and I’ll take care of you as well as -if you had a dozen black servants. All that I ask you is to drink your -medicine like a good boy, and think of nothing but rose-bushes. When you -are getting better, I’ll sing as much as you want me to; I’ll even go so -far as to dance, if that will amuse you, so as to bring back your -spirits.”</p> - -<p>Auguste smiled and held his peace. He continued to improve, but his -convalescence bade fair to be very long; and as a sick man always -requires innumerable things, the jewelry money was soon expended. -Thereupon, while Auguste was asleep, Virginie looked over her wardrobe -to see what she had that she could do without. In reality it contained -nothing that was not strictly necessary, but she succeeded in finding -several things of which she made a bundle, saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“This will rid me of a lot of old stuff that I am sick to death of.”</p> - -<p>And the bundle went to join the jewels.</p> - -<p>When Auguste had recovered a little strength, he was able to tell -Virginie the story of his adventures. When she learned that Bertrand had -voluntarily left his master, she dropped a glass of medicine that she -was about to hand to Auguste, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“My arms have gone back on me! That Bertrand, whom I always thought -worthy of being embalmed! whom I looked upon as a faithful dog in his -attachment to you! You can’t trust a man! My friend, the English beer -must have changed all his feelings!”</p> - -<p>But when Auguste told her of his stay at Denise’s cottage, Virginie -interrupted him to describe the peasant girl’s grief and despair when -she learned of his departure—in short, all her love for him.<a name="page_449" id="page_449"></a></p> - -<p>“Is it possible?” said Auguste; “she really loves me? Then she did not -deceive me! it wasn’t pity that made her offer me her hand!”</p> - -<p>“Does she love you! She adores you, monsieur. The poor child made me -feel so sad. She cried so! But you men are unique! when a woman loves -you, you’re surprised, and when she doesn’t love you, you’re surprised -too.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! how happy you make me, Virginie!”</p> - -<p>“In that case, get well right away, and go and console poor Denise.”</p> - -<p>“Oh no! I shall not go there.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that? you won’t go? You know that she loves you, that she is in -despair at your absence, and you won’t go back to her?”</p> - -<p>“I am destitute—I can’t accept her hand.”</p> - -<p>“My dear friend, that’s a piece of delicacy that I can’t understand. -When a person loves us, what’s theirs is ours; and if a prince should -fall in love with me, although I haven’t any more money than you have, I -shouldn’t hesitate a moment about marrying him.”</p> - -<p>Auguste held his peace, and Virginie said nothing further on a subject -that seemed to distress him. To restore the sick man’s strength, he was -given no more infusions to drink; old wine and rich soups were -prescribed by the doctor, and Virginie, who searched her drawers in a -vain endeavor to make money, decided to sell a shawl which was her most -beautiful possession, and which she almost never laid aside.</p> - -<p>But Auguste saw how much he was costing Virginie, and his distress on -that account retarded his convalescence. He watched her as she worked -incessantly, often passing a large part of the night at her sewing, and -he sighed, as he said to himself:<a name="page_450" id="page_450"></a></p> - -<p>“She is killing herself for me! and I shall never be able to requite all -her care of me!”</p> - -<p>When Virginie returned after procuring a sum of money by means of her -remaining resource, Auguste noticed that she was without the shawl she -usually wore.</p> - -<p>“Where have you been, Virginie?” he asked in a feeble voice.</p> - -<p>“For a little walk, to take the air. I saw that you were asleep and -didn’t need me.”</p> - -<p>“Why aren’t you wearing your shawl?”</p> - -<p>“My shawl? Why, I didn’t put it on because it’s too warm.”</p> - -<p>“You had it on when you went out.”</p> - -<p>“Did I?—Well, the truth is that I’ve lent it to a friend of mine who’s -going to a party to-night; but she’ll give it back.”</p> - -<p>“You are deceiving me, Virginie.”</p> - -<p>“No, monsieur, I am not deceiving you.”</p> - -<p>“I am costing you a great deal; and you deprive yourself of everything -in order to take care of me, so that I may lack nothing! You are -stripping yourself clean for me!”</p> - -<p>“What are you talking about, Monsieur Auguste? I deprive myself of -everything! Let me tell you, monsieur, that I deprive myself of nothing. -Who told you that I am not well fixed, that I haven’t money put by?”</p> - -<p>“And you work a great part of the night!”</p> - -<p>“I work because it amuses me, and because I don’t care to sleep. The -fact is that I have all I want; I had a hoard; I am certainly at liberty -to spend it as I please.—The idea of telling me that he is a burden to -me! How shameful of him! I, whom he has been kind to so many times! And -he is angry because I am taking care of him!—Monsieur would prefer that -somebody else should do<a name="page_451" id="page_451"></a> it, perhaps. If you give me any more nonsense -like that, I’ll throw the stew out of the window. As for my shawl, it’s -true that I haven’t got it now; but I didn’t like it. In the first -place, the color isn’t in fashion any longer; and then I don’t want a -flower pattern—it’s bad form.”</p> - -<p>Auguste said no more; he simply sighed as he took Virginie’s hands in -his; and she pretended to be more lighthearted than ever, and sang all -day to prove that she did not regret her shawl.</p> - -<p>The doctor came to see his patient; he found him much better, and -complimented Virginie on her nursing. She, although she had no idea how -she was going to pay him, asked him to tell her how much she owed him. -But the doctor replied that he never charged anything when he went -higher than the fourth floor; and he ran away from the thanks of Auguste -and Virginie, enjoining anew upon the convalescent to be careful and to -wait until his strength had returned before going out.</p> - -<p>“There’s a mighty fine man!” cried Virginie, looking after the doctor. -“He isn’t handsome; certainly no one can say he’s handsome; in fact, one -eye’s smaller than the other. But for all that he’s been a little Cupid -in my eyes ever since I saw what zeal he showed in his care of you.”</p> - -<p>Auguste smiled; Virginie’s remarks often made his eyes sparkle; but when -he thought of his plight, his brow darkened and he sighed, despite all -the efforts of his nurse, who said to him constantly:</p> - -<p>“You didn’t use to sigh like that when you made love to me.”</p> - -<p>Auguste was anxious to get up and go out, but he was not strong enough; -and yet Virginie gave him everything that the doctor ordered. But his -convalescence seemed certain to be very slow, and although she told<a name="page_452" id="page_452"></a> -Auguste every day that he must not worry, that she had money enough to -last a long while, Virginie discovered one morning that she had nothing -left of the proceeds of the sale of her shawl.</p> - -<p>But the doctor, who had called on the evening before, had said that -Auguste could eat chicken, and Virginie, after searching her boxes, her -drawers and her purse, where she found nothing, muttered under her -breath:</p> - -<p>“It’s no use for me to look; there’s nothing to raise money on—not even -enough to buy a lark; and my work won’t be done till day after -to-morrow! No matter! if I have to put myself in pawn, he shall eat -chicken to-day!”</p> - -<p>And Virginie put on her cap and the little neckerchief which had -replaced her shawl; then, leaving Auguste still asleep, she stole softly -from her room, saying to herself:</p> - -<p>“I won’t come back without a chicken.”</p> - -<h2><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX<br /><br /> -WHAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED.—RETURN TO THE VILLAGE</h2> - -<p>Virginie walked along the street, with no very clear idea as to where -she was going; she cudgelled her brains to think of somebody who might -accommodate her, but the memory is often in default when one asks it the -name of a true friend. If Cézarine had been in Paris, Virginie would not -have hesitated to call on her, because she knew her kindness of heart; -but Cézarine was then<a name="page_453" id="page_453"></a> on the track of her Théodore, who had left the -capital, and her Théodore was likely to lead her a long way.</p> - -<p>Virginie’s other acquaintances offered too unpromising a prospect; there -were several to whom she would not have dreamed of applying. However, -the result of her reflections was always the same:—“I must have a -chicken for Auguste, and I will have one. I don’t know just how I shall -do it; but whenever I’ve taken it into my head to do a thing, I’ve -always succeeded in doing it, and it’s often been a question of things -much more interesting than a chicken; it would be a deuce of a go, if I -couldn’t acquit myself creditably in the matter of a little chicken!”</p> - -<p>And Virginie stopped in front of poultry shops and cookshops; she walked -back and forth, cudgelling her brains to no purpose; she found no money, -and she heaved a sigh as she gazed at the delicacies with which she -desired to regale the convalescent.</p> - -<p>The amusing faces that Virginie made—her decent dress did not indicate -want—and the way she glared at the roast chickens, made the passers-by -smile now and then, for they saw in the grisette’s emotion only an -outburst of gluttony; and she, seeing them smile as they looked at her, -muttered between her teeth: “The idiots! Suppose they do laugh in my -face—what difference does that make to me? Isn’t there one of them who -will be polite enough to offer me a chicken? Men are getting to be -brutes!”</p> - -<p>For ten minutes Virginie had been walking back and forth before a -cookshop, beside which was the small establishment of a linen-draper. -Virginie had not noticed the proprietress, because she had no eyes for -anything but the chickens; but through the gloves, ribbons and drygoods -in her window, the tradeswoman had noticed<a name="page_454" id="page_454"></a> Virginie, whose strange -behavior was calculated to arouse curiosity. Women have a sentimental -instinct which enables them to understand at once what men cannot divine -in an hour, or what they cannot divine at all. The young linen-draper -saw in Virginie’s eyes that it was not gluttony that caused her to stand -in contemplation before her neighbor’s merchandise. She went out of her -shop by the rear door,—her yard and that of the cookshop were the -same,—entered the cookshop, purchased a fine, fat chicken, wrapped it -in two thicknesses of paper, and returned to her own shop by the same -road. Then she stood in her doorway and looked at Virginie, not knowing -how to proffer her gift. For some time Virginie paid no heed to the -young woman; but the latter gazed at her with such a meaning expression, -and seemed so anxious to speak to her, that Virginie walked toward the -shop-door.</p> - -<p>The young tradeswoman at once said to her, in a low tone and blushing -hotly:</p> - -<p>“Madame, you have forgotten your purse, haven’t you? If you would allow -me to offer you——”</p> - -<p>And as she spoke, she thrust the chicken under Virginie’s arm, trembling -as if she had done a ridiculous thing; but one often trembles much more -when doing a kind deed. Virginie could only squeeze the young woman’s -hand and say:</p> - -<p>“You guessed my plight. Ah! if you knew how happy you have made me! if -you knew why—But you will see me again; I will come again to thank you -and pay my debt to you.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, madame,” said the young tradeswoman; and she retreated, -sorely embarrassed, to the back of her shop, while Virginie, light as a -feather, tripped gayly homeward, her chicken under her arm, saying to -herself:<a name="page_455" id="page_455"></a></p> - -<p>“I knew that I’d get one! I never lose hope, I don’t!”</p> - -<p>However, the chicken had not yet reached Auguste. At a street corner, -Virginie, who probably was looking at her feet and nothing else, was -roughly jostled by a man who knocked the chicken to the ground.</p> - -<p>“You infernal idiot!” cried Virginie, stooping to pick up the chicken. -But her voice caught the ears of the man who had jostled her, and who -had simply apologized and kept on his way. He stopped, retraced his -steps and exclaimed in his turn:</p> - -<p>“Why—yes! ten thousand bayonets! it’s Mamzelle Virginie! Morbleu! -perhaps she’ll be able to tell me something about him.”</p> - -<p>“Hallo! it’s Bertrand!” said Virginie, as she recognized the -ex-corporal; “it’s good old Ber—But what am I saying! he’s a villain, -an ungrateful, hardhearted wretch, and I don’t like him any more. Let me -carry my chicken—don’t hold me, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>“Whether you like me or not, mademoiselle, isn’t the question just at -this moment. One word, if you please: have you seen him, do you know -where he is, what’s become of him?”</p> - -<p>“Of whom?”</p> - -<p>“Morbleu! my lieutenant, Monsieur Auguste.”</p> - -<p>“On my word! do I know where he is? What a question! when he’s been -living in my room a fortnight!”</p> - -<p>“He’s in your room?—I have found him! I shall see him again!”</p> - -<p>In his joy, Bertrand embraced Virginie and once more knocked the hapless -chicken to the ground. This time it fell into the gutter and Virginie -was ready to weep.</p> - -<p>“Won’t you please let me alone!” she cried; “this chicken’s for Auguste; -and after I’ve had so much<a name="page_456" id="page_456"></a> trouble to get it, you’ll be the cause of -his not being able to eat it!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! don’t cry! I’ll buy you more chickens—ten—twenty—an ox, if you -choose! But, for the love of God, take me to my lieutenant straight -away. I am in haste to embrace him!”</p> - -<p>“What! then you still care for him?”</p> - -<p>“Care for him! Who can ever have doubted my attachment, my devotion to -his person?”</p> - -<p>“Then you didn’t abandon him in England on purpose?”</p> - -<p>“Abandon him! when it was in his service—for his welfare——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! dear old Bertrand! I was perfectly sure he was a good fellow. Come, -my little Bertrand, let’s go to Auguste. My! but he’ll be glad when he -knows that you are still worthy of his affection!”</p> - -<p>Virginie and Bertrand walked toward Rue de Berry. On the way, Virginie -told the old servant of all the disasters that had befallen Auguste, and -of the serious illness that he had had. As he listened to these details, -Bertrand wiped his eyes now and then and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Sacrebleu! why didn’t I find him sooner? But I only returned to Paris -the day before yesterday; and I intended to go to Montfermeil to-morrow -to look for him, hoping to be luckier there than in this city, where -Schtrack and I have been scouring every quarter for two days, without -success.”</p> - -<p>At last they reached the house in which Virginie lived; as they went -upstairs Bertrand was as excited as if he were going to see a long lost -son; and Virginie said to him:</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t show yourself to Auguste right away; he is still very weak, -and the sight of you might cause<a name="page_457" id="page_457"></a> him too much emotion. You understand, -don’t you, Bertrand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, mademoiselle.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go in first, and prepare Auguste gently; then I’ll motion to you.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, mademoiselle, I’ll wait in another room.”</p> - -<p>“No; as I have but one, you must wait on the landing. I’ll leave the -door ajar.”</p> - -<p>“All right; but don’t wait long before you give me the signal, for I am -crazy to have my arms around him.”</p> - -<p>They arrived at Virginie’s door; she opened it, then partly closed it, -and Bertrand stood as close as possible, hardly daring to breathe.</p> - -<p>Auguste had risen and was sitting at a window, impatiently awaiting -Virginie, whose long absence made him anxious.</p> - -<p>“Here I am, my friend,” she said, as she entered the room; and she hung -about Auguste with as much embarrassment as she had shown in front of -the cookshop. “Here I am; I’ve been rather long, but—but—it was -because I met someone who is much better than a chicken.”</p> - -<p>“You met someone?”</p> - -<p>“Yes—someone who—someone——”</p> - -<p>Before Virginie could think of what she wanted to say, Bertrand, unable -to contain himself any longer, opened the door, rushed to Auguste, and -threw his arms about him, crying:</p> - -<p>“It was me, sacrebleu! it was me! But I can’t stay hidden any longer; I -must embrace him!”</p> - -<p>Bertrand could not make up his mind for some minutes to release his hold -of Auguste, and Virginie exclaimed reproachfully:</p> - -<p>“There! you see! he couldn’t wait till I motioned to him; he’ll make -Auguste worse!<a name="page_458" id="page_458"></a>”</p> - -<p>“No,” said the convalescent, “no, happiness never does that! My poor -fellow! so you have come back!”</p> - -<p>“And you could believe that I abandoned you!” said Bertrand, taking -Auguste’s hand. “You doubted the love of your old comrade, your faithful -servant!—I admit that my hurried departure must have surprised you; but -when you know!”</p> - -<p>“You are here, Bertrand, and everything is forgotten!”</p> - -<p>“Oh! listen to me first, and then tell me if I behaved so very -badly.—You remember that I left you in the common room of a village -tavern where we had just breakfasted. I had just paid our bill when, as -I crossed the courtyard, I saw a man whose face attracted my attention, -and whom I recognized instantly as our rascal of a Destival.”</p> - -<p>“Destival!” cried Auguste.</p> - -<p>“The man who robbed you!” said Virginie.</p> - -<p>“He was just getting into a post-chaise when I caught sight of him. He -couldn’t have seen me, but the carriage had started before I recovered -from my surprise. So then, without taking the time to warn you, because -I didn’t want to lose a minute for fear our man would escape me, I ran -to the stable, saddled my horse, and galloped off in pursuit of our -rascal. I soon overtook the post-chaise; but I knew that, in a foreign -country, it would be a hard matter to make the villain disgorge, and -that I could not rely on anyone but myself to do justice. So I followed -the carriage, awaiting a favorable opportunity to see my man in private. -For two days the infernal chaise stopped only to change horses; at last, -at the end of the second day, they stopped at the posting inn, and my -rascal, who evidently needed rest, entered the inn. I lost no time in -following him, and asked to<a name="page_459" id="page_459"></a> speak to the traveller who had just come -in. They showed me his room. I went upstairs, entered the room, and -began by locking myself in with our man, who, when he saw me, nearly -fainted in an easy-chair. I went up to him, took his arm, and said to -him: ‘You are a thief, you ruined my master, but you won’t ruin anybody -else; I taught you once to handle weapons, and we’ll see if you remember -my lessons. Here are two pistols—take one. We shall be very comfortable -in this room—four paces is distance enough when one doesn’t want to -miss. Let’s make haste.’</p> - -<p>“Instead of taking the pistol I handed him, the miserable wretch threw -himself at my feet and begged for mercy. I demanded your money back. He -took a wallet out of his pocket, showed me a hundred and sixty thousand -francs in notes of the Bank of France, and swore that that was all that -was left of what he took away from Paris. I concluded that that was -better than nothing, and that I ought to get your money back for you -rather than kill the villain. So I took the wallet, and, leaving the -scoundrel more dead than alive, I went out of his room and locked him -in. I remounted my horse and rode back as fast as I could to the place -where I had left you; when I got there, my horse was foundered and I -didn’t find you. I rode about in all directions, but no one could tell -me anything about you. I started for Scotland, where we had intended to -go. I passed three weeks visiting every corner there, even the smallest -villages, but I wasn’t any more fortunate. At last I decided to return -to France, and I got to Paris the day before yesterday. My first thought -was to go and question Schtrack; he hadn’t seen you and he didn’t know -mademoiselle’s address; we began to walk the streets trying to find you. -But here you are! I have found you. I can give you what I have<a name="page_460" id="page_460"></a> rescued -of your property.—That is a report of my conduct, lieutenant; now, are -you angry with me?”</p> - -<p>For all reply, Auguste opened his arms to Bertrand, who handed him the -wallet; while Virginie capered about the room, dancing with the chairs, -and tossing her cap in the air, crying:</p> - -<p>“Vive Bertrand! Auguste isn’t poor any more! we’ll have a high old time -now!”</p> - -<p>When the first outburst of joyous excitement had subsided, Auguste told -Bertrand what he had done since he left him. He did not conceal from him -the miserable plight to which he was reduced when Virginie came to his -garret. He told him all that she had done for him—how she had worked -and sat up all night, and all the sacrifices that she had undergone -every day in order to provide him with whatever he required.</p> - -<p>During this story, Virginie tried to make Auguste keep quiet by saying:</p> - -<p>“That isn’t true; he makes too much of it; don’t believe him, Bertrand. -Anyhow, if I did do all that, it must have been because I enjoyed it.”</p> - -<p>But Bertrand, who could not listen unmoved to Auguste’s narrative, ran -to Virginie, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying:</p> - -<p>“That was fine! that was mighty fine!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but you are squeezing me too tight, Bertrand.”</p> - -<p>Melancholy thoughts gave place to thoughts of happiness. Auguste no -longer sighed when he thought of Denise. He was already longing to be -with her, he burned to see her again, to requite her love; for after all -that Virginie had told him he could no longer doubt the village maiden’s -heart. But he was unable to go to Montfermeil at once; however, as -happiness is a great restorer of health, after two days passed in -forming<a name="page_461" id="page_461"></a> delightful plans for the future, Auguste was in condition to go -out.</p> - -<p>Before going to the village, where he expected to stay for some time, -Auguste put his affairs in order. He went to his old notary and -instructed him to invest his funds, keeping back only so much as was -necessary for the execution of his plans. He intended to assure -Virginie’s future; since she was no longer as young as she had once -been, she was anxious to carry on a little business. Auguste hired a -pretty shop for her and stocked it with embroideries and novelties, and -Virginie became a dealer in small wares. She proudly took her seat -behind her counter, after having a sign put over her door: <i>A la -Pucelle</i>; and she swore to Auguste that she proposed thenceforth to -devote herself exclusively to her business.</p> - -<p>Auguste received Virginie’s thanks and her kindest regards for Denise, -whom she did not propose to visit until her new line of conduct had -covered her former aberrations with oblivion. He was on the point of -starting for Montfermeil with Bertrand, when Virginie exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Mon Dieu! I forgot the little shopkeeper and the chicken! I meant to -recommend her to you, so that you might at least buy your gloves of -her.”</p> - -<p>“What shopkeeper? what chicken?” inquired Auguste.</p> - -<p>Virginie told of her adventure on the day she met Bertrand. Auguste, -after expressing anew to Virginie his gratitude for all that she had -done for him during his sickness, determined to call upon the young -woman who had displayed so much delicacy in conferring a favor, and to -thank her. He took Virginie in his cabriolet and they drove to the young -linen-draper’s shop.</p> - -<p>The cabriolet stopped at her door and the three occupants alighted. The -young woman was amazed; she<a name="page_462" id="page_462"></a> was not accustomed to having customers come -in a carriage to buy needles and thread. But she blushed when she -recognized Virginie, who entered first, saying to Auguste:</p> - -<p>“It was madame here, who was so kind to me when you were convalescent.”</p> - -<p>Auguste stepped forward to salute the young tradeswoman, who was sorely -embarrassed by the thanks he expressed. But before she could speak, an -old man, who was in the back shop, and whom they had not noticed, came -toward them, crying:</p> - -<p>“Daughter! Anna! it is our place to thank this generous man! He is our -benefactor! It is he to whom I owe my life and the happiness of seeing -you happy!”</p> - -<p>Auguste looked at the old man and recognized poor Dorfeuil; and before -he had recovered from his surprise, father and daughter were at his -feet, covering his hand with tears of gratitude.</p> - -<p>Thereupon it was the turn of Bertrand and Virginie to demand -explanations. Auguste tried to slink away, but old Dorfeuil held him -fast while he told of all that he owed him, and finished his story by -saying to Auguste:</p> - -<p>“As you see, your benefaction brought us good luck. I have paid my debt; -and in the last three years, my Anna, having succeeded in all her -undertakings, has been able to set up in business here, where I am -passing my declining years with her, in peace.”</p> - -<p>Bertrand embraced Auguste again, Virginie embraced everybody, and they -parted, promising to meet again. Virginie returned to her shop, from -which she could not be absent longer, and Auguste drove off at last -toward Denise’s village.</p> - -<p>As they drew near Montfermeil his heart beat fast. He looked at Bertrand -and said:<a name="page_463" id="page_463"></a></p> - -<p>“We are going to see her! Oh! if you knew how they welcomed me, how they -fêted me when I was unfortunate!”</p> - -<p>“And yet you left them!”</p> - -<p>“My dear fellow, I had nothing to offer Denise.”</p> - -<p>“And now that you are much richer than she is, what if she should take -her turn at refusing you? Then there’d be no end to it. Lovers have no -common sense.”</p> - -<p>Instead of taking the road to the village, Auguste could not resist the -desire to go by the little wood path where he had kissed the little -milkmaid long ago. When he was near the place where Jean le Blanc ran -away, he saw a small boy on a donkey in the woods; and a little farther -on was a young girl, sitting at the foot of a tree.</p> - -<p>“There they are!” cried Auguste.</p> - -<p>In a twinkling he had jumped out of the cabriolet; he ran into the woods -to where the girl sat, threw himself at her feet, covered her hand with -kisses, and said:</p> - -<p>“It’s I, Denise; I have come back to you, never to leave you again.”</p> - -<p>The girl was in doubt as to whether she was awake; she gazed at Auguste, -who was fashionably dressed as in the old days, while Coco ran up to -them, saying:</p> - -<p>“Here’s my kind friend! he’s dressed like he was the day I broke the -bowl.”</p> - -<p>“Is it really you?” said Denise. “Oh! if you knew how your letter -grieved me! Wicked! to leave me because you were poor! to dare to say -that I didn’t love you! that you wouldn’t come to see me again till you -had ceased to love me! Is that what your coming now means? Oh! tell me -quickly, don’t let me hope for happiness—it is too hard to be cheated -out of what one longs for!<a name="page_464" id="page_464"></a>”</p> - -<p>Auguste made no other reply than to press her to his heart, while his -eyes told the sweet girl that it was something more than friendship that -had brought him back to her.</p> - -<p>Bertrand, having left the cabriolet, came forward to pay his respects to -Denise.</p> - -<p>“Bertrand too!” she exclaimed; “he has come back!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and it is to him, whom I accused of deserting me, that I owe my -good fortune to-day.”</p> - -<p>A few words put Denise in possession of the whole story, and she held -out her hand to Bertrand, saying:</p> - -<p>“Oh! my heart never doubted his! As if one could cease to love a person -because he is unfortunate!” Then suddenly remembering that Auguste had -recovered a large part of his property, she exclaimed: “Oh! mon Dieu! -then I cannot be your wife!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Denise, you will be my wife,” said Auguste, taking her hand, “for -you are the only woman who could make me happy, and I cannot doubt the -sincerity of your love.”</p> - -<p>“But I am only a village girl——”</p> - -<p>“Whom I prefer to all the fine ladies of the city.”</p> - -<p>“I shall be awkward in society.”</p> - -<p>“I have learned the worth of society, and I care very little for its -judgments; besides, when it knows you, my Denise, it will be compelled -to do you justice.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I don’t want to know it, for my part, my dear; let us agree that, -if you marry me, I shall stay here. When you want to go to Paris, you -shall go alone; and then, when you are tired of the city, you can come -back to your little milkmaid.”</p> - -<p>Auguste kissed her and they started for the cottage. When one is happy, -everything seems delightful; in the eyes of the lovers the cottage had -become a palace; but<a name="page_465" id="page_465"></a> Bertrand, who was not in love and who always -thought of the future, said to Auguste:</p> - -<p>“This house isn’t big enough for you, lieutenant; besides, it belongs to -Coco—it’s his property. You must buy a pretty house, not too expensive, -which you can see from here, where you will have suitable accommodations -and where you can entertain a few friends; because, you know, you -mustn’t isolate yourself from society altogether; the sure way to have -your love last only a short time is to shut yourself up with your wife -for six months. Now that you know the world, you won’t be taken in -again. You will take men at their true value; you can associate with the -people whose company is agreeable, and you mustn’t play for such high -stakes as you used to; for now, or never, is the time to be prudent.”</p> - -<p>Auguste approved Bertrand’s suggestion. The house was hired, and a week -later, Denise, beaming with love and happiness, embellishing by her -charms and her grace the modest costume she had selected, was led to the -altar by the man she loved.</p> - -<p>All the people of the village assembled to see the little milkmaid -married. The peasants said to one another:</p> - -<p>“Now’s the time she’s going to play the fine lady! She’s marrying a -swell! How high she’ll hold her head!”</p> - -<p>But they were mistaken: Denise, after she became Madame Dalville, was as -sweet and kindhearted as when she was a simple peasant girl herself.</p> - -<p>As he escorted his young wife to their new home, Auguste cast a glance -now and then at the comely women whom they happened to pass; but it was -a matter of habit simply—Denise alone had his heart.</p> - -<p>True to her promise, Denise did not desire to leave the village; and for -a long while Auguste did not go away<a name="page_466" id="page_466"></a> from his wife. Later, however, he -went occasionally to Paris. On one of his visits to the capital he -learned that the vivacious Athalie had separated from her husband, -because Mère Thomas made a second trip to Paris; and that Monsieur de la -Thomassinière, having made some unfortunate speculations and allowed -himself to be ruined by Monsieur de Cligneval, had been compelled to -turn over all his property to his creditors, and had become a -cab-driver—a trade in which he seemed much more in his proper place -than when he was in a salon.</p> - -<p>The Marquis de Cligneval, having ventured to indulge in divers sharper’s -tricks at écarté, which were not to the liking of his adversary, was -forced to fight a duel with him, and was killed. As for Destival, when -he tried to do business in England on the same plan as in Paris, one of -his clients, whose money he had appropriated, struck him a blow from -which he did not recover.</p> - -<p>It was Monsieur Monin who supplied Auguste with all this news, after -asking him how his health was; having applied to his snuff-box, he -rejoined Bichette, whom he had left with Monsieur Bisbis in a clump of -shrubbery at the Café Turc.</p> - -<p>Auguste also saw Dorfeuil and his daughter; but he went very rarely to -the young linen-draper’s, because she was very pretty. By way of -compensation he often saw Virginie, who was no longer pretty, but who -had reformed entirely, and whose warm heart caused her former follies to -be forgotten.</p> - -<p>When he had passed a short time at Paris, Auguste returned to -Montfermeil, and it was with ever-renewed delight that he found himself -once more in the company of his little milkmaid, of Bertrand, and of -Coco, who, as he grew to manhood, often congratulated himself on having -broken his bowl.</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="padding:2%;border:3px dotted gray;"> -<tr><th align="center">Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:</th></tr> -<tr><td align="center">what will <span class="errata">be</span> do=> what will he do {pg 284}</td></tr> -<tr><td align="center">old hut with <span class="errata">gradma</span>=> old hut with grandma {pg 316}</td></tr> -<tr><td align="center">He <span class="errata">overcome</span> at last=> He overcame at last {pg 428}</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="full" /> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Milkmaid of Montfermeil (Novels of -Paul de Kock Volume XX), by Charles Paul de Kock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MILKMAID OF MONTFERMEIL *** - -***** This file should be named 41645-h.htm or 41645-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/6/4/41645/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -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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