Part 30 (1/2)

”I shall do my best to imitate you,” said Carolus.

During the whole time of his noviciate the Platonic philosopher kept company with the Bohemians continually, and was thus enabled to study their habits more thoroughly, not without being very much astonished at times. One morning, Colline came to see him with a joyful face.

”My dear fellow,” he said, ”it's all over; you are now definitely one of us. It only remains to fix the day and the place of the grand entertainment; I have come to talk with you about it.”

”That can be arranged with perfect ease,” said Carolus. ”The parents of my pupil are out of town; the young viscount, whose mentor I am, will lend us the apartments for an evening, only we must invite him to the party.”

”That will be very nice,” replied Colline. ”We will open to him the vistas of literature; but do you think he will consent?”

”I am sure of it.”

”Then it only remains to fix the day.”

”We will settle that tonight at the cafe.”

Carolus then went to find his pupil and announced to him that he had just been elected into a distinguished society of literary men and artists, and that he was going to give a dinner, followed by a little party, to celebrate his admission. He therefore proposed to him to make him one of the guests. ”And since you cannot be out late,” added Carolus, ”and the entertainment may last some time, it will be for our convenience to have it here. Your servant Francois knows how to hold his tongue; your parents will know nothing of it; and you will have made acquaintance with some of the cleverest people in Paris, artists and authors.”

”In print?” asked the youth.

”Certainly, one of them edits 'The Scarf of Iris,' which your mother takes in. They are very distinguished persons, almost celebrities, intimate friends of mine, and their wives are charming.”

”Will there be some women?” asked Viscount Paul.

”Delightful ones,” returned Carolus.

”Oh, dear master, I thank you. The entertainment shall certainly take place here. All the l.u.s.tres shall be lit up, and I will have the wrappers taken off the furniture.”

That night at the cafe, Barbemuche announced that the party would come off next Sat.u.r.day. The Bohemians told their mistresses to think about their toilettes.

”Do not forget,” said they, ”that we are going into the real drawing rooms. Therefore, make ready; a rich but simple costume.”

And from that day all the neighborhood was informed that Mademoiselles Phemie, Mimi, and Musette were going into society.

On the morning of the festivity, Colline, Schaunard, Marcel, and Rodolphe called, in a body, on Barbemuche, who looked astonished to see them so early.

”Has anything happened which will oblige us to put it off?” he asked with some anxiety.

”Yes--that is, no,” said Colline. ”This is how we are placed. Among ourselves we never stand on ceremony, but when we are to meet strangers, we wish to preserve a certain decorum.”

”Well?” said the other.

”Well,” continued Colline, ”since we are to meet tonight, the young gentleman to whom we are indebted for the rooms, out of respect to him and to ourselves, we come simply to ask you if you cannot lend us some becoming toggery. It is almost impossible, you see, for us to enter this gorgeous roof in frock-coats and colored trousers.”

”But,” said Carolus, ”I have not black clothes for all of you.”

”We will make do with what you have,” said Colline.

”Suit yourselves then,” said Carolus, opening a well-furnished wardrobe.