Volume I Part 47 (2/2)
As he spoke thus to the lady's maid, the visitor twirled in his hand a stout blackthorn stick, which he handled with the dexterity of a drum-major.
”What do you want, monsieur? You have probably made a mistake; I am very sure that it wasn't our door that the concierge pointed out to you.”
While speaking, the maid held the door only half open, as if to prevent the man from entering. But he replied with a smile peculiar to himself, which made his face even more repulsive:
”No, no! I ain't mistaken in the door, _larbine_! otherwise called servant! This is the place where Madame Sainte-Suzanne lives, isn't it?”
”Yes, this is the place.”
”Well, then! don't make so much fuss and feathers! Madame Sainte-Suzanne is the one I want to speak to.”
”You, monsieur?”
”Yes, me! What in the devil's the matter with the girl that she makes eyes at me like a cat that's been taking physic!”
”What can you have to say to my mistress?”
”What have I to say to her? Look you, my love, that don't concern anybody but her and me, and I won't let my words fly till we are together in the closest possible confinement, as the president of the criminal court says.”
”My mistress only receives people she knows, monsieur; and as she certainly doesn't know you, she won't receive you.”
”You're crazy, my girl! You stand there chattering like a magpie and you don't know what you're saying. Your mistress knows me and knows me well, too, I flatter myself; consequently she will receive me; and I don't advise her to refuse to see me, for then there'd be a row at papa's!”
As he spoke, the man pushed the lady's maid before him little by little; and she, being afraid of him, had allowed him to reach the middle of the reception room. There he stopped and glanced about, saying:
”_Bigre!_ it's rather neat here! it's bang up! They didn't deceive me when they said there was fat times at Madame Sainte-Suzanne's. So much the better! this suits me! I love luxury and style, I do!”
”One would hardly think so to look at you,” said the maid.
”That proves, my beauty, that you mustn't judge by appearances.--Just go and tell your mistress that I want to talk with her a bit; and to make sure that she won't refuse to see me, you may tell her it's Croque who has looked in on her to bid her good-day as he pa.s.sed.”
”What name did you say, monsieur?”
”I said Croque.”
”Is that your name?”
”It seems to be!”
”I am very sure that madame won't receive you. Whom do you come from?”
”Whom do I come from? why from myself, and that's enough. Come, come! do what I tell you, girl; and if we are satisfied with you, we'll give you a kiss.”
The maid hastily left the room to tell her mistress.
Thelenie was beginning to be impatient because she had not learned who had ventured to ring her bell with such violence as to break the cord; the alarmed expression of her servant redoubled her curiosity.
”Well! who was it? why were you so long about coming to tell me?”
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