"And the ham?"
"Also left there, with a quartern loaf. I have added a little surprise you did not expect--half a dozen hard-boiled eggs, and a fine Dutch cheese."
"That"s what I call acting like a pal! And wine?"
"There are six bottles, sealed; but, you know, they will only give you one bottle a day."
"What would you have? One ought to be content with that."
"I hope you are satisfied with me, my friend?"
"Certainly; and shall be still, and shall be again, Daddy Micou, for this ham, cheese, eggs, and wine will only last the time to swallow them; but, when there is no more, there will come some more, thanks to Daddy Micou, who will give me some more sugar-plums, if I am a good boy."
"How? you wish--"
"In two or three days you would renew my little provision, Micou."
"May the devil burn me if I do. It is all very well for once."
"Good for once! Come, come; ham and wine are good always, you know that well enough."
"It is possible; but I am not obliged to feed you with dainties."
"Oh, Micou! it is wrong, it is unjust, to refuse ham to me, who have so often brought you fat tripe (sheet-lead)."
"Hush!" said the alarmed receiver.
"No; I"ll make the beak decide; I will tell him. Imagine that, Daddy Micou--"
"Good, good!" cried the receiver, seeing, with as much fear as anger, Nicholas was disposed to abuse the position which their dealings gave him; "I consent--I will replenish your stock of provisions when they are exhausted."
"It is just--nothing but just. Neither must you forget to send some coffee to my mother and Calabash, who are at Saint Lazare; they used to take their cup every morning--they will feel the want of it."
"Still more? But do you mean to ruin me, lad?"
"As you please, old Micou; let us speak no more about it. I will ask the big-wig if--"
"Agreed, then, for the coffee," said the receiver, interrupting him. "But may the devil take you! cursed be the day I knew you!"
"My old man, as for me, it is just the contrary. At this moment, I am delighted to know you. I venerate you as my foster-father."
"I hope that you have nothing more to order?" answered Micou, with bitterness.
"Yes! tell my mother and sister that, though I trembled when I was arrested, I tremble no more, and that I am now as bold as both of them."
"I will tell them. Is that all?"
"Stop! I forgot to ask for two pair of warm woolen stockings--you do not wish me to take cold, do you?"
"I wish you were froze!"
"Thank you, Micou, that shall be later; at present, I prefer something else. I wish to pa.s.s life calmly--at least, if they do not make me a head shorter, like father, I shall have enjoyed life."
"Your life is very pleasant!"
"It is superb! Since I have been here, I have amused myself like a king. If there had been lamps and guns, there would have been an illumination and a salvo in my honor, when it was known that I was the son of the famous Martial!"
"It is touching. Beautiful relationship!"
"Hold! there are many dukes and marquises; why, then, should not we of the oldest family have our n.o.bility?" said the thief with savage irony.
"Yes, Jack Ketch gives you your letters of n.o.bility in Palace Square!"
"Very sure that it is not the parson! So much the more reason in prison one should be of high Toby n.o.bility, otherwise you are looked upon as a n.o.body.
You ought to see how they treat those mere fogle-hunters, and who do their--Hold! there is one here named Germain, a young man who plays the disgusted, and seems to despise us. Let him take care of his skin. He is a sneak; he is suspected of being a spy. If this is so, they will slit his nose, by way of warning!"
"Germain! A young man called Germain?"
"Yes. Do you know him? He is, then, in the family line, notwithstanding his innocent looks?"
"I do not know him. But if it is the Germain of whom I have heard speak, his lookout is good."
"How?"
"He once escaped a snare which Velu and the Big Cripple laid for him."
"Why did they do it?"
"I don"t know. They said that down among the yokels he had sold one of their band."
"I was sure of it. Germain is a spy. Well! I will tell this to my friends; that will give them an appet.i.te. Does the Big Cripple still play tricks on your lodgers?"
"I am rid of the villain! you will see him here to-day or to-morrow."
"Bravo! we shall have a laugh! He"s another who never looks glum!"
"Because he is going to meet Germain here, is why I said his account was good--if he is the same--"
"And why has the Cripple been nabbed?"
"For a robbery committed with a lagger (released convict) who wished to remain honest and labor. Oh, yes! the Big Cripple nicely fixed him; he is so wicked! I am sure it was he who forced the trunk of two women who occupy my fourth floor."
"What women? Oh! the two, the youngest of whom was so handsome, old brigand."
"Oh, yes; but it is all over with her; for, at this present moment, the mother must be dead, and the daughter not far from it. I shall be in for two weeks" lodgings; but may the devil burn me if I give a rag to bury them! I have had losses enough, without counting the presents which you _beg_ me to give you and your family. This will nicely derange my business.
I have luck this year."
"Bah, bah! you are always complaining, old Micou; you are as rich as Croesus. When you come to bring me some more provisions, you can give me news of my mother and Calabash!"