"And were they in debt?"
"Not at all! As long as they had money they feasted: when they had none they dined on _water-color_ as Papa Cretu called it."
"And did they not think of the future?"
"Oh, yes, they thought of it; but then our present and future were like Sunday and Monday--summer we spent gayly and happily outside the City, the winter we got over at home."
"Since these poor people agreed so well together, why did they not marry?"
"One of their friends once asked the same question, before me."
"Well?"
"They answered: "If we should ever have children, we will marry; but we are very well as we are. What is the good of compelling us to do that which we now do willingly? Besides, it is expensive, and we have no money to spare." But see how I am gossiping! as I always do on the subject of those good people, who were so kind to me, for I never tire of speaking of them. Here, neighbor, be civil enough to take my shawl, which is on the bed, and fasten it under the collar of my dress with this large pin, and we will then go, for we shall be some time selecting all you wish to purchase for the Morels."
Rudolph hastened to obey the instructions; he took from the bed a large plaid shawl, and carefully arranged it on his neighbor"s lovely shoulders.
"Now then, lift up the collar a little, press the dress and shawl close together and stick in the pin. Above all, take care not to p.r.i.c.k me."
The prince executed the given instructions with zealous nicety; then he observed, smilingly, to the grisette, "Oh, Miss Dimpleton, I must not be your _femme de chambre_--there is danger in it!"
"Yes, yes," answer Miss Dimpleton, gayly, "there is great danger of my having a pin run into me! But now," added she, after they had left the room and locked the door after them; "here, neighbor, take the key; it is so very heavy, that I always fear it will tear my pocket. It is quite a pistol for size!" And then she laughed merrily.
Rudolph accordingly took possession of an enormous key--such a one as is sometimes seen in those allegorical representations where the vanquished offer the keys of their cities to the conquerors. Although Rudolph believed himself sufficiently changed by years not to be recognized by Polidori, he yet pulled up the collar of his coat before pa.s.sing the door of the quack Bradamanti.
"Neighbor, don"t forget to tell M. Pipelet that some goods will be brought here, which must be taken to your room," said Miss Dimpleton.
"You are right, neighbor; we will step into the lodge as we pa.s.s by."
Pipelet, his everlasting immense hat, as usual, on his head, dressed in his green coat, was sitting gravely before a table, on which were spread pieces of leather and fragments of old shoes; he was occupied in putting a new sole to a boot, which he did with that serious and meditative air which characterized all his doings. Anastasia was absent from the lodge.
"Well, M. Pipelet," said Miss Dimpleton, "I trust things will be better now! Thanks to my neighbor, the poor Morels were rescued from trouble just as those heartless bailiffs were about to drag the unhappy man to prison."
"Oh! these bailiffs are really without hearts, or manners either, mademoiselle," added Pipelet, in an angry voice, flourishing the boot he was repairing, in which he had thrust his left hand and arm.
"No! I do not fear to repeat, in the face of heaven and man, that they are without manners; they took advantage of the darkness of the staircase to make rude remarks on my wife"s very person. On hearing the cries of her offended modesty, in spite of myself, I yielded to the impulse of my temper. I do not disguise it, my first movement was to remain perfectly motionless."
"But afterward you followed them, I hope, M. Pipelet?" said Miss Dimpleton, who had some trouble to preserve a serious air.
"I thought of it," answered Pipelet, with a deep sigh; "but when those shameless ruffians pa.s.sed before my door, my blood rose, and I could not hinder myself from putting my hand before my eyes, to hide the monsters from my sight! But that does not surprise me; I knew something unfortunate would happen to me to-day, for I dreamed--last night--of Monster Cabrion!"
Miss Dimpleton smiled, as Pipelet"s painful sighs were mingled with the taps of the hammer, which he vigorously applied to the sole of the old boot.
"You truly acted the part of a wise man, my dear M. Pipelet, that of despising offenses, and holding it beneath you to revenge them. But let us forget these miserable bailiffs. Will you be kind enough to do me a favor?" asked Rudolph.
"Man is born to a.s.sist his fellow-man," replied Pipelet, in a sententious and melancholy tone: "and more particularly so when his fellow-man is so good a lodger as yourself."
"It will be necessary to take up to my room different things which will be brought here presently for the Morels."
"Be a.s.sured I will take charge of them," replied Pipelet, "and faithfully carry out your wishes."
"And afterward," said Rudolph, sadly, "you must obtain a priest to watch by the little girl the Morels have lost in the night. Go and register her death, and order a decent funeral. Here is money; spare not, for Morel"s benefactress, whose mere agent I am, wishes all to go well."
"Make your mind quite easy, sir," replied Pipelet; "directly my wife comes back, I will go to the mayor, the church, and the ham-and-beef shop--to the church for the soul of the dead, to the cook-shop for the body of the living," added Pipelet, philosophically and poetically.
"You may consider it done--already done, in both cases, my good sir."
At the entrance, Rudolph and Miss Dimpleton found themselves face to face with Anastasia, who had returned from market, bearing a heavy basket of provisions.
"Well done!" exclaimed the portress, looking at them both with a knowing and significant air; "already arm-in-arm! That"s your sort!
Young people will be young people--and where"s the harm? To a pretty la.s.s, a handsome lad! If you don"t enjoy yourselves while young, you will find it difficult to do so when you get old! My poor dear Alfred and I, for instance, when we were young, didn"t we go the pace--But now, oh, dear! oh, dear!--Well, never mind; go along, my dears, and make yourselves happy while you can. Love forever!" The old woman disappeared in the darkness of the alley, calling out, "Alfred, do not grumble, old darling. Here is "Stasie who brings you good things--rare dainties!"
The young couple had left the house.
To the mind of Rudolph, for Miss Dimpleton was too little p.r.o.ne to mournful impressions to long reflect on the matter, the troubles of the Morels had ceased; but in the grim reality, a calamity, ten fold severer than their direst poverty, was gathering and forming nearer them, ready to burst upon their heads almost before the gay young couple would return from their stroll. What this great evil was, and what fate befalls other characters yet to be introduced, will presently be revealed, in shadow and by sunshine.
The Slasher, the Schoolmaster, the Screech-Owl, Hoppy, and the other wretches whose misdeeds blacken these pages, form the foil; while Fleur-de-Marie, Clemence d"Harville, Miss Dimpleton, and Mrs. George are the gems which will be seen to shed their l.u.s.ter and charm over the no less interesting pages of the Second Division of this work, ent.i.tled, "_Part Second:_ NOON."
PART II.
NOON.
CHAPTER I.
THE ARREST.
To the snow of the past night had succeeded a very sharp wind; so that the pavement of the streets, usually muddy, was almost dry, as Rudolph and Miss Dimpleton directed their steps toward the extensive and singular bazaar called the Temple. The girl leaned without ceremony upon the arm of her cavalier, with as little restraint as though they had been intimate for a long time.
"Isn"t Mrs. Pipelet funny," said the grisette to Rudolph, "with the odd remarks she makes?"
"Indeed, neighbor, I think she is quite right."
"In what?"
"Why when she said: "Young people will be young people--and where"s the harm?--Love forever!""
"Well?"
"Well! I mean to say that I perfectly agree with her."
"Agree with her!"