"You said to me, "Good day, Chourineur." "Good day, M. Murphy," says I.
"What, you are up again, I see! So much the better,--so much the better.
And M. Rodolph?" "He was obliged to leave Paris some days after the affair of the Allee des Veuves, and he forgot you, my man." "Well, M.
Murphy, I can only say that if M. Rodolph has forgotten me, why--I shall be very sorry for it, that"s all." "I meant to say, my good fellow, that he had forgotten to recompense your services, but that he should always remember them." So, M. Murphy, those words cheered me up again directly.
_Tonnerre!_ I--I shall never forget him. He told me I had heart and honour,--that"s enough."
"Unfortunately, my lad, monseigneur left without giving any orders about you. I have nothing but what monseigneur gives me, and I am unable to repay as I could wish all that I owe you personally."
"Come, come, M. Murphy, you are jesting with me."
"But why the devil did you not come back again to the Allee des Veuves after that fatal night? Then monseigneur would not have left without thinking of you."
"Why, M. Rodolph did not tell me to do so, and I thought that perhaps he had no further occasion for me."
"But you might have supposed that he would, at least, desire to express his grat.i.tude to you."
"Did you not tell me that M. Rodolph has not forgotten me, M. Murphy?"
"Well, well, don"t let us say another word about it; only I have had a great deal of trouble to find you out. You do not now go to the ogress"s?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Oh, from some foolish notions I have had."
"Very well. But to return to what you were telling me--"
"To what, M. Murphy?"
"You told me, I am glad I have found you, and still happy, perhaps--"
"Oh, yes, M. Murphy! Why, you see, when you came to where I was at work at the timber-yard, you said, "My lad, I am not rich, but I can procure you a situation where your work will be easier than on the Quai, and where you will gain four francs a day." Four francs a day! Vive la Charte! I could not believe it; "twas the pay of an adjutant sub-officer! I replied, "That"s the very thing for me, M. Murphy!" but you said then that I must not look so like a beggar, as that would frighten the employer to whom you would take me. I answered, "I have not the means of dressing otherwise." You said to me, "Come to the Temple."
I followed you. I chose the most spicy attire that Mother Hubart had,--you advanced me the money to pay her,--and in a quarter of an hour I was as smart as a landlord or a dentist. You appointed me to meet you this morning at the Porte St. Denis, at daybreak; I found you there in a cab, and here we are."
"Well, do you find anything to regret in all this?"
"Why, I"ll tell you, M. Murphy. You see, to be dressed in this way spoils a fellow; and so, you see, when I put on again my old smock-frock and trousers, I sha"n"t like it. And then, to gain four francs a day,--I, who never earned but two,--and that all at once! why, I seem to have made too great a start all of a sudden, and that it cannot last. I would rather sleep all my life on the wretched straw bed in my c.o.c.k-loft, than sleep five or six nights only in a good bed. That"s my view of the thing."
"And you are by no means peculiar in your view; but the best thing is to sleep always in a good bed."
"And no mistake; it is better to have a bellyful of victuals every day than to starve with hunger. Ah! here is a butchery here," said the Chourineur, as he listened to the blows of the chopper which the boy was using, and observed the quarters of beef through the curtains.
"Yes, my lad; it belongs to a friend of mine. Would you like to see it whilst the horse just recovers his wind?"
"I really should, for it reminds me of my boyish days, if it was only when I had Montfaucon for a slaughter-house and broken-down horses for cattle. It is droll, but if I had the means, a butcher"s is the trade in which I should set up, for I like it. To go on a good nag to buy cattle at fairs,--to return home to one"s own fireside, to warm yourself if cold, or dry yourself if wet,--to find your housekeeper, or a good, jolly, plump wife, cheerful and pleasant, with a parcel of children to feel in your pockets to see if you have brought them home anything! And then, in the morning, in the slaughter-house, to seize an ox by the horns, particularly when he"s fierce,--_nom de nom!_ he must be fierce!--then to put on the ring, to cleave him down, cut him up, dress him,--_Tonnerre!_ that would have been my ambition, as it was the Goualeuse"s to suck barley-sugar when she was a little "un. By the way, that poor girl, M. Murphy,--not seeing her any more at the ogress"s, I supposed that M. Rodolph had taken her away from there. That"s a good action, M. Murphy. Poor child! she never liked to do wrong,--she was so young! And then the habit! Ah, M. Rodolph has behaved quite right!"
"I am of your opinion. But will you come into the shop until our horse has rested awhile?"
The Chourineur and Murphy entered the shop, and then went to see the yard, where three splendid oxen and a score of sheep were fastened up; they then visited the stable, the chaise-house, the slaughter-house, the lofts, and the out-buildings of the house, which were all in excellent order, and kept with a cleanliness and care which bespoke regularity and easy circ.u.mstances.
When they had seen all but the up-stairs, Murphy said:
"You must own that my friend is a lucky fellow. This house and property are his, without counting a thousand crowns in hand to carry on his business with; and he is, besides, only thirty-eight, strong as a bull, with an iron const.i.tution, and very fond of his business. The industrious and civil journeyman that you saw in the shop supplies his place, with much capability, when he goes to the fairs to purchase cattle. I say again, is he not a lucky fellow?"
"He is, indeed, M. Murphy. But, you see, there are lucky and unlucky people; and when I think that I am going to gain four francs a day, and know how many there are who only earn the half, or even less--"
"Will you come up and see the rest of the house?"
"With all my heart, M. Murphy."
"The person who is about to employ you is up-stairs."
"The person who is going to employ me?"
"Yes."
"Why, then, didn"t you tell me that before?"
"I"ll tell you--"
"One moment," said the Chourineur, with a downcast and embarra.s.sed air, taking Murphy by the arm; "listen whilst I say a word to you, which perhaps M. Rodolph did not tell you, but which I ought not to conceal from the master who employs me, because, if he is offended by it--why then, you see--why, afterwards--"
"What do you mean to say?"
"I mean to say--"
"Well, what?"
"That I am a convict, who has served his time,--that I have been at the Bagne," said Chourineur, in a low voice.
"Indeed!" replied Murphy.
"But I never did wrong to any one," exclaimed the Chourineur; "and I would sooner die of hunger than rob; but I have done worse than rob," he added, bending his head down; "I have killed my fellow creature in a pa.s.sion. But that is not all," he continued, after a moment"s pause. "I will tell everything to my employer; I would rather be refused at first than detected afterwards. You know him, and if you think he would refuse me, why, spare me the refusal, and I will go as I came."
"Come along with me," said Murphy.
The Chourineur followed Murphy up the staircase; a door opened, and they were both in the presence of Rodolph.
"My good Murphy," said he, "leave us together awhile."
CHAPTER XIX.
RECOMPENSE.