"I am as sure of it as that I see ham! And, then, how the devil would you have him spy?--he is always alone; he speaks to no one, and no one speaks to him; he runs away from us as if we had the cholera. Besides, he will not spy for a long time; he is going to be boxed up alone."
"He!" cried Skeleton; "when?"
"To-morrow morning there will be a cell vacant."
"You see we must kill him at once. He does not sleep in my ward; to-morrow will be too late. To-day we have only until four o"clock, and now it is almost three," whispered Skeleton to Nicholas, while Pique-Vinaigre talked with Barbillon.
"All the same," answered Nicholas aloud, pretending to answer an observation of Skeleton, "Germain looks as if he despises us."
"On the contrary, my children," answered Pique-Vinaigre, "you intimidate this young man. He looks upon himself, in comparison with you, as the least of the least. Just now, what do you think he said?"
"How should I know?"
"He said to me, "You are very happy, Pique-Vinaigre, to dare to speak with the famous Skeleton (he used the word famous) as an equal and a companion."
I am dying to speak to him; but he produces an effect upon me so respectful--so respectful--that, should I see the chief of police in flesh, and bones, and uniform, I could not be more overcome."
"He told you that?" replied Skeleton, feigning to believe him, and to be flattered at the admiration he excited in Germain.
"As true as that you are the greatest magsman on the earth, he told me so."
"Then it is different," answered Skeleton; "I must make it up with him.
Barbillon had a mind to pick a quarrel, but he, too, will do well to let him alone."
"He will do better," cried Pique-Vinaigre, persuaded that he had turned away the danger with which Germain was threatened. "He will do better, for this poor fellow won"t dispute; he is one of my kind, bold as a hare."
"Yes, it is a pity," said Skeleton; "we reckoned on this quarrel to amuse us after dinner, the time appears so long."
"Yes. What shall we do then?" asked Nicholas.
"Since it is so, let Pique-Vinaigre tell us a story. I will not seek a quarrel with Germain," said Barbillon.
"Agreed, agreed!" cried the story-teller. "That is one condition; but there is another, and without both I tell no stories."
"Come, what is your other condition?"
"It is, that the honorable society which is poisoned with capitalists,"
said Pique-Vinaigre, a.s.suming his mountebank tw.a.n.g, "will make for me the trifle of a contribution of twenty sous. Twenty sous, ladies and gents, to hear the famous Pique-Vinaigre, who has had the honor to perform before the most renowned robbers, before the most famous rogues, of France and Navarre, and who is immediately expected at Brest and at Toulon, where he goes by order of the government. Twenty sous! A mere nothing, gents."
"Come, you shall have twenty sous when you have told your story."
"After? No; before!" cried Pique-Vinaigre.
"I say, do you think us capable of cheating you out of twenty sous?" said Skeleton, with a displeased air.
"Not at all," answered Pique-Vinaigre; "I honor the family with my confidence, and it is to spare its purse that I ask twenty sous in advance."
"On your word of honor?"
"Yes, gents; for after my tale is finished, you will be so satisfied that it is no longer twenty sous, but twenty francs--a hundred francs that you will force me to take! I know, myself, I should have the _meanness_ to accept the offering; so, you see, that for economy"s sake, you will do better to give me twenty sous in advance."
"Oh! you are not wanting in soft-sawder."
"I have nothing but my tongue; I must use it; and, then, the point of the matter is that my sister and her children are in Queer Street, and twenty sous is an out-and-out _friendly call_."
"Why does she not toddle out on the prigging lay; and her kids also, if they are old enough?" said Nicholas.
"Do not speak of it; it wounds me, it dishonors me. I am too good."
"You had better say too stupid, since you encourage her."
"It is true, I encourage her in the vice of honesty. But she is only good for that trade--she makes me pity her. Come, is it agreed? I will relate to you my famous history of "Gringalet", but I must have my twenty sous; and Barbillon will not seek a quarrel with that softy, Germain."
"You shall have your twenty sous, and Barbillon will not pick a quarrel with Germain," said Skeleton.
"Then open your ears, for you are going to hear something choice. But here is the rain, which sends in the audience; there will be no need to go after them."
In fact, the rain began to fall, the prisoners left the court, and came to take refuge in the hall, accompanied by a keeper. We have already said this hall was a long paved room, lighted by windows looking out on the court; in the center was placed the stove, near which were Skeleton, Barbillon, Nicholas, and Pique-Vinaigre. At a nod from the provost, Big Cripple joined the group. Germain entered among the last, absorbed in delightful thoughts.
He went mechanically to seat himself on the ledge of the farthest window in the room, a place he habitually occupied, which no one disputed; for it was far from the stove, around which the prisoners cl.u.s.tered. We have said that only a dozen of the prisoners had been informed at first of the intended murder of Germain. But, once divulged, this project counted as many adherents as there were prisoners; these wretches, in their blind cruelty, regarded this frightful plot as a legitimate vengeance, and saw in it a certain guarantee against future denunciations.
Germain, Pique-Vinaigre, and the keeper were alone ignorant of what was about to take place. The general attention was divided between the executioner, the victim, and the patterer, who was about innocently to deprive Germain of the only succor which he had to depend upon; for it was almost certain that the keeper, seeing the prisoners attentive to the story of Pique-Vinaigre, would believe his presence useless, and profit by this moment of calm to go and take his repast. When all the prisoners had entered, Skeleton said to the keeper:
"I say, old man, Pique-Vinaigre has a good idea; he is going to tell us his story of "Gringalet." The weather is so bad it is not fit to turn a constable out of doors; we are going to wait here quietly for the time to turn in."
"True enough, when he talks, you keep yourselves quiet. At least, there is no need of being behind your backs."
"Yes," replied Skeleton; "but Pique-Vinaigre charges high for telling a story; he wants twenty sous."
"Yes, the trifle of twenty sous; and then it is for nothing," cried Pique-Vinaigre. "Yes, nothing; for one should not keep a red in his pocket, and thus deprive himself of the pleasure of hearing the adventures of poor little Gringalet, of the terrible Cut-in-half, and the wicked Gargousse; it is enough to break one"s heart, to make your hair stand on end. Now, gents, who is it that cannot spare the bagatelle of four coppers, to have his heart broken and his hair stand on end?"
"I give two sous!" said Skeleton; and he threw his penny toward Pique-Vinaigre. "Shall the gang be stingy for such an entertainment?" he added, looking at his accomplices with a significant air. Several sous were thrown, from one side and the other, to the great joy of Pique-Vinaigre, who thought of his sister as he made his collection. "Eight, nine, eleven, twelve, thirteen!" he cried, picking up his money. "Come, rich folks, capitalists and other bankers, one more little effort; you cannot remain at thirteen, it is an unlucky number. Only seven sous wanting--a paltry seven sous. How! shall it be said the Lions" Den cannot raise seven sous more-- seven miserable sous! O! you will lead me to think that you have been placed here unjustly, or that you have been very unlucky."
The piercing voice and the witticisms of Pique-Vinaigre had roused Germain from his reverie; as much to follow the advice of Rigolette, to make himself popular, as to make a slight donation to this poor fellow, who had shown some desire to be useful to him, he arose and threw a piece of ten sous at the speaker"s feet, who cried, showing to the crowd the generous donor: "Ten sous, gents! you see I spoke of capitalists; honor to the banker, who tries to be agreeable to the society. Yes, gents! for it is to him you will owe the greater part of Gringalet, and you will thank him for it. As to the three sous surplus caused by his donation, I will deserve them by imitating the voices of my personages, instead of speaking in my ordinary manner! This shall be another delight that you will owe to this rich capitalist whom you must adore."
"Come, don"t gammon so much, but begin," said Skeleton.
"A moment," said Pique-Vinaigre; "it is but just that this capitalist, who has given me ten sous, should have the best place, except our provost, who must choose first." This proposition answered the purpose of Skeleton so well that he cried:
"It is true, after me he should be the best seated." And the bandit again cast a look of intelligence at the prisoners.
"Yes, yes, let him approach," they cried.
"Let him take the front seat."
"You see, young man, your liberality is recompensed; the honorable society recognizes that you have the right to the first seat," said Pique-Vinaigre to Germain.
Believing that his liberality had really disposed his odious companions in his favor, enchanted thus to follow the advice of Rigolette, Germain, in spite of his repugnance, left his seat, and approached.
Pique-Vinaigre, aided by Nicholas and Barbillon, having arranged around the stove the four or five benches, said with emphasis,