And in the teeth of such public scandals," continued the advocate, with his arms akimbo, "they declare themselves satisfied!"
The allusion to a notorious vote called forth applause. Dussardier uncorked a bottle of beer; the froth splashed on the curtains. He did not mind it. He filled the pipes, cut the cake, offered each of them a slice of it, and several times went downstairs to see whether the punch was coming up; and ere long they lashed themselves up into a state of excitement, as they all felt equally exasperated against Power. Their rage was of a violent character for no other reason save that they hated injustice, and they mixed up with legitimate grievances the most idiotic complaints.
The apothecary groaned over the pitiable condition of our fleet. The insurance agent could not tolerate Marshal Soult"s two sentinels.
Deslauriers denounced the Jesuits, who had just installed themselves publicly at Lille. Senecal execrated M. Cousin much more for eclecticism, by teaching that cert.i.tude can be deduced from reason, developed selfishness and destroyed solidarity. The traveller in wines, knowing very little about these matters, remarked in a very loud tone that he had forgotten many infamies:
"The royal carriage on the Northern line must have cost eighty thousand francs. Who"ll pay the amount?"
"Aye, who"ll pay the amount?" repeated the clerk, as angrily as if this amount had been drawn out of his own pocket.
Then followed recriminations against the lynxes of the Bourse and the corruption of officials. According to Senecal they ought to go higher up, and lay the blame, first of all, on the princes who had revived the morals of the Regency period.
"Have you not lately seen the Duc de Montpensier"s friends coming back from Vincennes, no doubt in a state of intoxication, and disturbing with their songs the workmen of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine?"
"There was even a cry of "Down with the thieves!"" said the apothecary.
"I was there, and I joined in the cry!"
"So much the better! The people are at last waking up since the Teste-Cubieres case."[D]
"For my part, that case caused me some pain," said Dussardier, "because it imputed dishonour to an old soldier!"
"Do you know," Senecal went on, "what they have discovered at the d.u.c.h.esse de Praslin"s house----?"
But here the door was sent flying open with a kick. Hussonnet entered.
[D] This refers to a charge of corruption made in 1843 against a general who was a member of the Ministry.--TRANSLATOR.
"Hail, messeigneurs," said he, as he seated himself on the bed.
No allusion was made to his article, which he was sorry, however, for having written, as the Marechale had sharply reprimanded him on account of it.
He had just seen at the Theatre de Dumas the _Chevalier de Maison-Rouge_, and declared that it seemed to him a stupid play.
Such a criticism surprised the democrats, as this drama, by its tendency, or rather by its scenery, flattered their pa.s.sions. They protested. Senecal, in order to bring this discussion to a close, asked whether the play served the cause of Democracy.
"Yes, perhaps; but it is written in a style----"
"Well, then, "tis a good play. What is style? "Tis the idea!"
And, without allowing Frederick to say a word:
"Now, I was pointing out that in the Praslin case----"
Hussonnet interrupted him:
"Ha! here"s another worn-out trick! I"m disgusted at it!"
"And others as well as you," returned Deslauriers.
"It has only got five papers taken. Listen while I read this paragraph."
And drawing his note-book out of his pocket, he read:
""We have, since the establishment of the best of republics, been subjected to twelve hundred and twenty-nine press prosecutions, from which the results to the writers have been imprisonment extending over a period of three thousand one hundred and forty-one years, and the light sum of seven million one hundred and ten thousand five hundred francs by way of fine." That"s charming, eh?"
They all sneered bitterly.
Frederick, incensed against the others, broke in:
"_The Democratie Pacifique_ has had proceedings taken against it on account of its feuilleton, a novel ent.i.tled _The Woman"s Share_."
"Come! that"s good," said Hussonnet. "Suppose they prevented us from having our share of the women!"
"But what is it that"s not prohibited?" exclaimed Deslauriers. "To smoke in the Luxembourg is prohibited; to sing the Hymn to Pius IX. is prohibited!"
"And the typographers" banquet has been interdicted," a voice cried, with a thick articulation.
It was that of an architect, who had sat concealed in the shade of the alcove, and who had remained silent up to that moment. He added that, the week before, a man named Rouget had been convicted of offering insults to the king.
"That gurnet[E] is fried," said Hussonnet.
This joke appeared so improper to Senecal, that he reproached Hussonnet for defending the Juggler of the Hotel de Ville, the friend of the traitor Dumouriez.
"I? quite the contrary!"
He considered Louis Philippe commonplace, one of the National Guard types of men, all that savoured most of the provision-shop and the cotton night-cap! And laying his hand on his heart, the Bohemian gave utterance to the rhetorical phrases:
"It is always with a new pleasure.... Polish nationality will not perish.... Our great works will be pursued.... Give me some money for my little family...."
[E] _Rouget_ means a gurnet.--TRANSLATOR.
They all laughed hugely, declaring that he was a delightful fellow, full of wit. Their delight was redoubled at the sight of the bowl of punch which was brought in by the keeper of a cafe.
The flames of the alcohol and those of the wax-candles soon heated the apartment, and the light from the garret, pa.s.sing across the courtyard, illuminated the side of an opposite roof with the flue of a chimney, whose black outlines could be traced through the darkness of night. They talked in very loud tones all at the same time. They had taken off their coats; they gave blows to the furniture; they touched gla.s.ses.
Hussonnet exclaimed:
"Send up some great ladies, in order that this may be more Tour de Nesles, have more local colouring, and be more Rembrandtesque, gadzooks!"
And the apothecary, who kept stirring about the punch indefinitely, began to sing with expanded chest:
"I"ve two big oxen in my stable, Two big white oxen----"
Senecal laid his hand on the apothecary"s mouth; he did not like disorderly conduct; and the lodgers pressed their faces against the window-panes, surprised at the unwonted uproar that was taking place in Dussardier"s room.