Volume I Part 24 (2/2)
At eight o'clock, a man from the country made his appearance. He seemed to be half-bourgeois, half-peasant; he was about fifty years of age, short and thickset; his head was set low between his shoulders; his features were ugly and without distinction, their only expression being that distrust so customary among country people, who are always suspicious of those who live in cities and believe that they are always trying to cheat them; probably because when they themselves are at home they have no scruples about cheating city folk.
This man asked the concierge if Monsieur Chamoureau, business agent, was at home, and the concierge replied:
”He must be; I haven't seen him go out;” the fact being that he had not seen him come in; but concierges do not always notice the goings and comings of their tenants.
The little stout man started upstairs, but thought better of it and returned to the concierge.
”I say--between you and me--this Monsieur Chamoureau who keeps a real estate office--can I trust him? is he a good business man? You see how it is--I'm from the country, but I don't want to get cheated here in Paris! And, you see, I've heard as how your business agents was as likely as not to be thieves who did their business at the expense of the poor devils who put theirs in their hands.”
”Oh! monsieur, you needn't have any fear about Monsieur Chamoureau; he's a very square man! n.o.body's ever said a word against his honesty. He pays everybody cash--even his baker; he don't owe the least bit of a debt in the quarter!”
”Well, well! that's good enough! and he ain't a woman's man--a rake--a spendthrift?”
”Not at all; he leads a very quiet life and don't put on any airs; he don't stay out too late--always comes home when the theatre's out, when he goes there. To be sure, the theatres keep it up nowadays till an hour that makes it unpleasant for concierges--but still, that ain't Monsieur Chamoureau's fault.”
”That's good too! and is he married? has he got a wife and children?”
”No; he was married, but he's been a widower a short time; and he keeps up his regret for his wife, which is very n.o.ble on his part; he can't talk about her without crying.”
”Oh, well! if he cries for his wife, I see that I can trust him. So I'll just go up and hand over my papers to him. You see, it's about collecting some money for me at some of the departments and from notaries. They told me like this: 'You just give some business agent a power of attorney and he'll attend to it all for you.'--So I had the power of attorney made out with the name left blank; and you think I can safely turn it over to your Monsieur Cha--Chamouilleau?”
”You can, monsieur; you needn't have any fear.”
”In that case, I'll go up. Good-day, monsieur le concierge.”
The little man arrived at Chamoureau's door on the second floor.
”Monsieur went out early,” said the charwoman, ”but he'll certainly be back soon; if you'd like to wait, please take a seat.”
”I'll wait as long as I've come; I'd rather wait than go back.”
The countryman sat down in a sort of reception room lined with shelves which were filled with boxes, all of which gave the room a sort of resemblance to a solicitor's office; only the clerks were lacking. But the sight of boxes and of docketed files of papers always produces a great effect on clients of the type of the little thickset man. He looked around, evidently impressed, and said to himself:
”Yes, yes! this must be a famous business agent; there's lots of papers in them boxes!”
The countryman had been awaiting Chamoureau's return about fifteen minutes, when another person arrived. This was a man of middle age, with a bald head, long face and b.u.mptious manner, who at once reminded one of the Joseph Prudhomme so well delineated by Henri Monnier.
This gentleman, who was dressed all in black, with a white cravat, which did not prevent his having a decidedly dirty look, entered the room with his head in the air, saying:
”I wish to speak at once with Monsieur Chamoureau, business agent; announce me, servant; I am Aime-Desire-Jules Beaub.i.+.c.hon, professor of bookkeeping; however, your master knows me; I have seen him twice--in this domicile,--concerning the delicate affair, the purport of which I have succinctly laid before him. It relates to the subject of marriage; he has told me of a young woman whose virtue and morals he will answer for; and I am most particular touching those qualifications, provided that a suitable dowry be added to them, the face and form being in my eyes mere superfluities of little importance to a housewife in watching her soup-kettle!--I am disposed to take upon myself the bonds of matrimony once more if all the conditions are in accord with my social position, which, I venture to say, is as honorable as it is lucrative; fifteen hundred francs a year, without counting gifts from pupils--when they make any!”
The servant continued to dust the furniture as she listened to this harangue; when it was at an end, she replied:
”Monsieur Chamoureau went out early; he's sure to be back soon; if you'd like to wait--monsieur here has been waiting a quarter of an hour.”
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