Volume II Part 7 (1/2)
”And were they in debt?”
”Not at all! As long as they had money they feasted: when they had none they dined on _water-color_ as Papa Cretu called it.”
”And did they not think of the future?”
”Oh, yes, they thought of it; but then our present and future were like Sunday and Monday--summer we spent gayly and happily outside the City, the winter we got over at home.”
”Since these poor people agreed so well together, why did they not marry?”
”One of their friends once asked the same question, before me.”
”Well?”
”They answered: 'If we should ever have children, we will marry; but we are very well as we are. What is the good of compelling us to do that which we now do willingly? Besides, it is expensive, and we have no money to spare.' But see how I am gossiping! as I always do on the subject of those good people, who were so kind to me, for I never tire of speaking of them. Here, neighbor, be civil enough to take my shawl, which is on the bed, and fasten it under the collar of my dress with this large pin, and we will then go, for we shall be some time selecting all you wish to purchase for the Morels.”
Rudolph hastened to obey the instructions; he took from the bed a large plaid shawl, and carefully arranged it on his neighbor's lovely shoulders.
”Now then, lift up the collar a little, press the dress and shawl close together and stick in the pin. Above all, take care not to p.r.i.c.k me.”
The prince executed the given instructions with zealous nicety; then he observed, smilingly, to the grisette, ”Oh, Miss Dimpleton, I must not be your _femme de chambre_--there is danger in it!”
”Yes, yes,” answer Miss Dimpleton, gayly, ”there is great danger of my having a pin run into me! But now,” added she, after they had left the room and locked the door after them; ”here, neighbor, take the key; it is so very heavy, that I always fear it will tear my pocket. It is quite a pistol for size!” And then she laughed merrily.
Rudolph accordingly took possession of an enormous key--such a one as is sometimes seen in those allegorical representations where the vanquished offer the keys of their cities to the conquerors. Although Rudolph believed himself sufficiently changed by years not to be recognized by Polidori, he yet pulled up the collar of his coat before pa.s.sing the door of the quack Bradamanti.
”Neighbor, don't forget to tell M. Pipelet that some goods will be brought here, which must be taken to your room,” said Miss Dimpleton.
”You are right, neighbor; we will step into the lodge as we pa.s.s by.”
Pipelet, his everlasting immense hat, as usual, on his head, dressed in his green coat, was sitting gravely before a table, on which were spread pieces of leather and fragments of old shoes; he was occupied in putting a new sole to a boot, which he did with that serious and meditative air which characterized all his doings. Anastasia was absent from the lodge.
”Well, M. Pipelet,” said Miss Dimpleton, ”I trust things will be better now! Thanks to my neighbor, the poor Morels were rescued from trouble just as those heartless bailiffs were about to drag the unhappy man to prison.”
”Oh! these bailiffs are really without hearts, or manners either, mademoiselle,” added Pipelet, in an angry voice, flouris.h.i.+ng the boot he was repairing, in which he had thrust his left hand and arm.
”No! I do not fear to repeat, in the face of heaven and man, that they are without manners; they took advantage of the darkness of the staircase to make rude remarks on my wife's very person. On hearing the cries of her offended modesty, in spite of myself, I yielded to the impulse of my temper. I do not disguise it, my first movement was to remain perfectly motionless.”
”But afterward you followed them, I hope, M. Pipelet?” said Miss Dimpleton, who had some trouble to preserve a serious air.
”I thought of it,” answered Pipelet, with a deep sigh; ”but when those shameless ruffians pa.s.sed before my door, my blood rose, and I could not hinder myself from putting my hand before my eyes, to hide the monsters from my sight! But that does not surprise me; I knew something unfortunate would happen to me to-day, for I dreamed--last night--of Monster Cabrion!”
Miss Dimpleton smiled, as Pipelet's painful sighs were mingled with the taps of the hammer, which he vigorously applied to the sole of the old boot.
”You truly acted the part of a wise man, my dear M. Pipelet, that of despising offenses, and holding it beneath you to revenge them. But let us forget these miserable bailiffs. Will you be kind enough to do me a favor?” asked Rudolph.
”Man is born to a.s.sist his fellow-man,” replied Pipelet, in a sententious and melancholy tone: ”and more particularly so when his fellow-man is so good a lodger as yourself.”