Volume III Part 26 (1/2)
The Big Cripple and Frank quickly turned their heads. The bailiff was stupefied, and stood with his mouth open on recognizing him whom he had swindled.
Frank, throwing his bread and meat on the bench, with one bound jumped at Boulard, whom he caught by the throat, crying:
”My money!”
”How? What? You strangle me. I--”
”My money!”
”My friend, listen to me!”
”My money! And yet is is too late, for it is your fault that I am here.”
”But--I--but--”
”If I go to the hulks, mark me, it is your fault; for if I had that of which you robbed me, I should not have been under the necessity of stealing. I should have remained honest, as I wished to be. And you will be acquitted perhaps--they will do nothing to you. But I will do something to you. You shall bear my marks. Ah! you wear jewels, gold chains, and you rob. There--there--have you enough? No--here, take some more!”
”Help, help!” cried the bailiff, rolling under the feet of Frank, who struck him furiously.
The other prisoners, very indifferent to this squabble, made a ring round the combatants, or, rather, round the beating and the beaten, for Boulard, panting and much alarmed, made no resistance, but endeavored to parry, as well as he could, the blows of his adversary. Happily, the overseer ran up, on hearing the cries, and released the bailiff from his peril. Boulard arose, pale and trembling, with one of his large eyes bruised, and, without giving himself time to pick up his cap, cried, as he ran toward the wicket:
”Keeper--open for me; I do not wish to remain a moment longer--help!”
”And you, for having struck the gentleman, follow me to the governor,” said the keeper, taking Frank by the collar; ”you will go to the blackhole two days for this.”
”I don't care; he has got his gruel.”
”Mum!” whispered the Cripple to Frank, pretending to adjust his clothes, ”not a word of what they are going to do to the spy.”
”Be easy; perhaps if I had been there, I should have defended him; for to kill a man for that is hard; but blab! never.”
”Will you come?” said the keeper.
”There we are rid of the bailiff and Frank now; hot work for the spy!” said Nicholas.
As Frank left the court, Germain and Pique-Vinaigre entered. Germain was no longer recognizable; his physiognomy, formerly so sad and cast down, was radiant with joy; he carried his head erect, and cast around him a cheerful and a.s.sured glance; he was beloved!--the horrors of the prison disappeared from before his eyes. Pique-Yinaigre followed him with an embarra.s.sed air; at length, after having hesitated two or three times to accost him, he made a great effort, and slightly touched the arm of Germain before he had approached the group of prisoners, who, at a distance, were examining him with sullen hatred. Their victim could not escape. In spite of himself, Germain shuddered at the touch of Pique-Vinaigre; for the face and rags of the ex-juggler did not speak much in his favor. But, recollecting the advice of Rigolette, and, besides, too happy not to be friendly, Germain stopped, and said kindly to Pique-Vinaigre,
”What do you wish?”
”To thank you.”
”For what?”
”For what your pretty little visitor wishes to do for my sister.”
”I do not understand you,” said Germain, surprised.
”I am going to explain. Just now, in the office, I met the overseer, who was on guard in the visitors' room.”
”Ah, yes; a very good man.”