Part 20 (1/2)
Redhead was well named! His bullet-head was covered with russet-red hair, cut very short; his complexion was a good match; his bloated cheeks and his potato-shaped nose were covered with red patches; his shaven chin was a tawny red; round his little gimlet eyes was a fringe of red lashes: it was a b.e.s.t.i.a.l face.
He was hatless; above his waistcoat with metal b.u.t.tons he wore a black coat; his trousers had a yellow line down them: he was evidently a servant, wearing the livery of some big house. The fellow was slowly recovering his breath; but he continued to wipe great drops of sweat off his narrow forehead; he was shaking all over, and his morose countenance was twitching and contracting nervously.
”Well, what's your news? Good or bad?” questioned Mother Toulouche in a brutal tone.
Redhead replied almost inaudibly:
”That depends!... It's good on the whole.”
A gleam of cupidity showed in the old receiver's eyes:
”Got a bit of tin on her back, that woman--eh?”
Redhead nodded a ”yes.” Thereupon Mother Toulouche went into her back store and returned with a claret gla.s.s filled to the brim with rum:
”Shoot that down your throat! That'll put you right!”
When he had swallowed the b.u.mper he seemed to gain courage, and said:
”If I didn't get here sooner it's because I had to wait--but I saw the little thing....”
”What's her name?”
”Nadine,” replied Redhead, and added: ”A pretty little brat, too!...
She's got some fire in her eyes!”
”What's that to do with it?” interrupted Mother Toulouche.
”You don't mean to tell me you were able to make her gabble a bit?” she queried contemptuously.
Redhead bridled: ”Likely, since I know everything now ... and I'm her sweetheart, let me tell you!”
Mother Toulouche said in a jeering tone:
”You don't tell me! You!”
”Oh,” replied Redhead, ”it's just a way of speaking. She's a good little thing--there's nothing to it, you know!”
”So much the worse!” declared Mother Toulouche. ”Virtuous sorts aren't any use to our lot!... Well--what did she tell you--out with it!”
”Well,” said Redhead, ”I waited three-quarters of an hour before Nadine joined me.... I had no bother in making her talk, I can tell you: without the asking she told me everything ... she was pretty well flabbergasted with all the jewels her mistress had stuck on her clothes and her skin.... Seems there's hundreds of thousands' worth!... All pearls and diamonds! Nothing but....”
Mother Toulouche was calculating:
”Real pearls, real diamonds--it's possible there's all that worth!”
Steps could be heard on the pavement just outside.
Redhead began to shake all over: