Part 36 (1/2)

”Oh, he is a great contrast to me, I have no doubt” said Newman. ”But I don't exactly know how you mean it.”

”I mean it in this way. First of all, he never offered to help me to a dot and a husband.” And Mademoiselle Nioche paused, smiling. ”I won't say that is in his favor, for I do you justice. What led you, by the way, to make me such a queer offer? You didn't care for me.”

”Oh yes, I did,” said Newman.

”How so?”

”It would have given me real pleasure to see you married to a respectable young fellow.”

”With six thousand francs of income!” cried Mademoiselle Nioche. ”Do you call that caring for me? I'm afraid you know little about women. You were not galant; you were not what you might have been.”

Newman flushed a trifle fiercely. ”Come!” he exclaimed ”that's rather strong. I had no idea I had been so shabby.”

Mademoiselle Nioche smiled as she took up her m.u.f.f. ”It is something, at any rate, to have made you angry.”

Her father had leaned both his elbows on the table, and his head, bent forward, was supported in his hands, the thin white fingers of which were pressed over his ears. In his position he was staring fixedly at the bottom of his empty gla.s.s, and Newman supposed he was not hearing.

Mademoiselle Noemie b.u.t.toned her furred jacket and pushed back her chair, casting a glance charged with the consciousness of an expensive appearance first down over her flounces and then up at Newman.

”You had better have remained an honest girl,” Newman said, quietly.

M. Nioche continued to stare at the bottom of his gla.s.s, and his daughter got up, still bravely smiling. ”You mean that I look so much like one? That's more than most women do nowadays. Don't judge me yet a while,” she added. ”I mean to succeed; that's what I mean to do. I leave you; I don't mean to be seen in cafes, for one thing. I can't think what you want of my poor father; he's very comfortable now. It isn't his fault, either. Au revoir, little father.” And she tapped the old man on the head with her m.u.f.f. Then she stopped a minute, looking at Newman.

”Tell M. de Bellegarde, when he wants news of me, to come and get it from ME!” And she turned and departed, the white-ap.r.o.ned waiter, with a bow, holding the door wide open for her.

M. Nioche sat motionless, and Newman hardly knew what to say to him. The old man looked dismally foolish. ”So you determined not to shoot her, after all,” Newman said, presently.

M. Nioche, without moving, raised his eyes and gave him a long, peculiar look. It seemed to confess everything, and yet not to ask for pity, nor to pretend, on the other hand, to a rugged ability to do without it. It might have expressed the state of mind of an innocuous insect, flat in shape and conscious of the impending pressure of a boot-sole, and reflecting that he was perhaps too flat to be crushed. M. Nioche's gaze was a profession of moral flatness. ”You despise me terribly,” he said, in the weakest possible voice.

”Oh no,” said Newman, ”it is none of my business. It's a good plan to take things easily.”

”I made you too many fine speeches,” M. Nioche added. ”I meant them at the time.”

”I am sure I am very glad you didn't shoot her,” said Newman. ”I was afraid you might have shot yourself. That is why I came to look you up.”

And he began to b.u.t.ton his coat.

”Neither,” said M. Nioche. ”You despise me, and I can't explain to you.

I hoped I shouldn't see you again.”

”Why, that's rather shabby,” said Newman. ”You shouldn't drop your friends that way. Besides, the last time you came to see me I thought you particularly jolly.”

”Yes, I remember,” said M. Nioche, musingly; ”I was in a fever. I didn't know what I said, what I did. It was delirium.”

”Ah, well, you are quieter now.”

M. Nioche was silent a moment. ”As quiet as the grave,” he whispered softly.

”Are you very unhappy?”

M. Nioche rubbed his forehead slowly, and even pushed back his wig a little, looking askance at his empty gla.s.s. ”Yes--yes. But that's an old story. I have always been unhappy. My daughter does what she will with me. I take what she gives me, good or bad. I have no spirit, and when you have no spirit you must keep quiet. I shan't trouble you any more.”

”Well,” said Newman, rather disgusted at the smooth operation of the old man's philosophy, ”that's as you please.”