Part 49 (1/2)
Madame Podvin stopped at the sight of Mlle. Fouchette's face; but, uncertain whether the subject pained, interested, or irritated the latter, she continued,----
”It was shortly after you left. He was very curious,--one of these government spies, you know, Fouchette----”
”Madame, I would see Mademoiselle Madeleine,” interrupted the other.
Madame Podvin frowned.
”Not sick, I hope,” added Fouchette.
”Oh! no; only----”
”Drinking?”
”Like a fis.h.!.+”
”Poor Madeleine!”
”She's a beast!” cried Madame Podvin.
Madame Podvin sold vile liquor but despised the fools who drank it, and in this she was not singular.
”Is she----” Mlle. Fouchette raised her eyes heavenward inquiringly.
”No,--she's in the street. Ever since she got out of the hospital she has been going from bad to worse every day. And she owes me two weeks'
lodging. If she doesn't pay up soon I'll----”
Whatever the Podvin intended to do with Madeleine she left it unsaid, for the latter stood in the doorway.
Great, indeed, was the change which had come over this unfortunate girl. Stout to repulsiveness, shabby of attire, fiery of face, unsteady of pose, with one bright beautiful eye burning with the supernatural fire of absinthe, the other sealed in internal darkness.
”Oh! Madeleine----” began Mlle. Fouchette, painfully impressed and hesitating.
”What! No! Fouchette? Mon ange!”
The drunken woman staggered forward to embrace her friend.
”Why, Madeleine----”
”Hold! And first tell me your bad news. You know you always bring me bad news, deary. You hunt me up when you have bad news. Come, now!”
”La, la, la, la!” trilled Mlle. Fouchette, pa.s.sing her arm around the other's thick waist to gain time.
”Come! mon ange,--we'll have a drink anyhow. Mere! some absinthe,--we have thirst.”
”No, no; not now, Madeleine.”
”Not a drop here!” said Madame Podvin, seeing that Mlle. Fouchette was not disposed to pay.
”Not now,” interposed the latter,--”a little later. I want a word or two with you, Madeleine, first. Just two minutes!”
The one brilliant orb regarded the girl intently, as if it would dive into her soul; but the habitual good-nature yielded.