Volume II Part 29 (2/2)
Rolla looked at the street-singer with a foolish laugh, and, shaking her thick head, she laconically said:
”Stay here”
”But I will not stay here,” declared Louison firo or I shall cry for help I aht to be ashamed to treat irl,” said the woman, in a ht have been so yesterday, but to-day--try it--tell the people that you spent a few hours in the Cannon Queen's house in Belleville and are still a respectable girl Ha! ha!
They will laugh at you, or spit in your face No, no, my pretty dear, no one will believe that fairy story, and if an angel from heaven came down and took rooms in my house, it would be ruined Give in, my chicken, and don't show the white feather! No one will believe that you are respectable and virtuous, and I think you ought to save yourself the trouble It is too late now”
”You lie!” cried Louison, in desperation
”So--I lie--it is about tio, and raising her voice, she cried: ”Robeckal, bring me the bottle”
The nextup the stairs, and Rolla hastened to open the locked door It was Robeckal, who entered with a small bottle in his hand When Louison saw hi to theshe burst the panes with her clinched fist and called loudly for help
”Minx!” hissed Robeckal, forcibly holding her back and throwing her to the ground
With Rolla's assistance he now poured the contents of the bottle down her throat When he tried to open the tightly coer He uttered an oath, put a piece of wood between her teeth, and triumphantly exclaimed:
”For the next few hours you are done for, you little hussy”
”If it were only not tooloudly, sank backward and closed her eyes
”Have no fear; I know hed Robeckal ”I am not so foolish as to kill the little one before we have the vicomte's money in our hands She will sleep a few hours, and wake up tamed Come, let us put her on the sofa and leave her alone”
The worthy pair laid the unconscious girl on the sofa and went away
Rolla, on closing the door, put the key in her pocket They began to play cards in the basereed with thehts of brandy
Toward six o'clock the vicomte entered He threell-filled pocket-book on the table, and in a tone of corowled Rolla; and opening the pocket-book with her fat hands she passed the contents in review
”It is correct,” she finally said; and taking the key out of her pocket she handed it to the vicomte
As soon as the latter had left the room, Rolla shoved the pocket-book in her dirty dress, and hastily said:
”Coht h with her”
Robeckal acquiesced, and they both quickly left the house, leaving all the doors open behind the through the house, and immediately afterward the vicomte burst into the rooe; ”theis open and the girl is gone!”