第2章

Mme。deMarvillewishedtomakematterseven。Herrequest,madealoud,indefianceofallrulesofgoodtaste,soundedsomuchlikeanattempttorepayatoncethebalanceduetothepoorcousin,thatPonsflushedred,likeagirlfoundoutinfault。Thegrainofsandwasalittletoolarge;forsomemomentshecouldonlyletitworkinhisheart。Cecile,ared-hairedyoungwoman,withatouchofpedanticaffectation,combinedherfather\'sponderousmannerwithatraceofhermother\'shardness。ShewentandleftpoorPonsfacetofacewiththeterriblePresidente。 “Hownicesheis,mylittleLili！”saidthemother。ShestillcalledherCecilebythisbabyname。 “Charming！”saidPons,twirlinghisthumbs。 “I/cannot/understandthesetimesinwhichwelive,“brokeoutthePresidente。“WhatisthegoodofhavingaPresidentoftheCourtofAppealinParisandaCommanderoftheLegionofHonorforyourfather,andforagrandfathertherichestwholesalesilkmerchantinParis,adeputy,andamillionairethatwillbeapeerofFrancesomeofthesedays？” ThePresident\'szealforthenewGovernmenthad,infact,recentlybeenrewardedwithacommander\'sribbon——thankstohisfriendshipwithPopinot,saidtheenvious。Popinothimself,modestthoughhewas,had,ashasbeenseen,acceptedthetitleofcount,“forhisson\'ssake,“ hetoldhisnumerousfriends。 “Menlookfornothingbutmoneynowadays,“saidCousinPons。“Noonethinksanythingofyouunlessyouarerich,and——“ “WhatwouldithavebeenifHeavenhadsparedmypoorlittleCharles!——“criedthelady。 “Oh,withtwochildrenyouwouldbepoor,“returnedthecousin。“Itpracticallymeansthedivisionoftheproperty。Butyouneednottroubleyourself,cousin;Cecileissuretomarrysoonerorlater。SheisthemostaccomplishedgirlIknow。“ TosuchdepthshadPonsfallenbyadaptinghimselftothecompanyofhisentertainers!Intheirhousesheechoedtheirideas,andsaidtheobviousthing,afterthemannerofachorusinaGreekplay。Hedidnotdaretogivefreeplaytotheartist\'soriginality,whichhadoverflowedinbrightreparteewhenhewasyoung;hehadeffacedhimself,tillhehadalmostlosthisindividuality;andiftherealPonsappeared,ashehaddoneamomentago,hewasimmediatelyrepressed。 “ButImyselfwasmarriedwithonlytwentythousandfrancsformyportion——“ “In1819,cousin。Anditwas/you/,awomanwithaheadonyourshoulders,andtheroyalprotectionofLouisXVIII。“ “Bestill,mychildisaperfectangel。Sheisclever,shehasawarmheart,shewillhaveahundredthousandfrancsonherweddingday,tosaynothingofthemostbrilliantexpectations;andyetshestaysonourhands,“andsoonandsoon。Fortwentyminutes,Mme。deMarvilletalkedonaboutherselfandherCecile,pityingherselfafterthemannerofmothersinbondagetomarriageabledaughters。 Ponshaddinedatthehouseeveryweekfortwentyyears,andCamusotdeMarvillewastheonlycousinhehadintheworld;buthehadyettohearthefirstwordspokenastohisownaffairs——nobodycaredtoknowhowhelived。Hereandelsewherethepoorcousinwasakindofsinkdownwhichhisrelativespoureddomesticconfidences。Hisdiscretionwaswellknown;indeed,washenotboundovertosilencewhenasingleimprudentwordwouldhaveshutthedooroftenhousesuponhim?Andhemustcombinehisroleoflistenerwithasecondpart;hemustapplaudcontinually,smileoneveryone,accusenobody,defendnobody;fromhispointofview,everyonemustbeintheright。Andso,inthehouseofhiskinsman,Ponsnolongercountedasaman;hewasadigestiveapparatus。 Inthecourseofalongtirade,Mme。CamusotdeMarvilleavowedwithduecircumspectionthatshewaspreparedtotakealmostanyson-in-lawwithhereyesshut。Shewasevendisposedtothinkthatateight-and- fortyorsoamanwithtwentythousandfrancsayearwasagoodmatch。 “Cecileisinhertwenty-thirdyear。Ifitshouldfalloutsounfortunatelythatsheisnotmarriedbeforesheisfiveorsix-and- twenty,itwillbeextremelyhardtomarryheratall。Whenagirlreachesthatage,peoplewanttoknowwhyshehasbeensolongonhand。Weareagooddealtalkedaboutinourset。Wehavecometotheendofalltheordinaryexcuses——\'Sheissoyoung——Sheissofondofherfatherandmotherthatshedoesn\'tliketoleavethem——Sheissohappyathome——Sheishardtoplease,shewouldlikeagoodname——\' Wearebeginningtolooksilly;Ifeelthatdistinctly。Andbesides,Cecileistiredofwaiting,poorchild,shesuffers——“ “Inwhatway？”Ponswasnoodleenoughtoask。 “Why,becauseitishumiliatingtohertoseeallhergirlfriendsmarriedbeforeher,“repliedthemother,withaduenna\'sair。 “But,cousin,hasanythinghappenedsincethelasttimethatIhadthepleasureofdininghere?Whydoyouthinkofmenofeight-and-forty？” Ponsinquiredhumbly。 “Thishashappened,“returnedthePresidente。“WeweretohavehadaninterviewwithaCourtCouncillor;hissonisthirtyyearsoldandverywell-to-do,andM。deMarvillewouldhaveobtainedapostintheaudit-officeforhimandpaidthemoney。Theyoungmanisasupernumerarythereatpresent。AndnowtheytellusthathehastakenitintohisheadtorushofftoItalyinthetrainofaduchessfromtheBalMabille……Itisnothingbutarefusalindisguise。Thefactis,theyoungman\'smotherisdead;hehasanincomeofthirtythousandfrancs,andmoretocomeathisfather\'sdeath,andtheydon\'tcareaboutthematchforhim。Youhavejustcomeininthemiddleofallthis,dearcousin,soyoumustexcuseourbadtemper。“ WhilePonswascastingaboutforthecomplimentaryanswerwhichinvariablyoccurredtohimtoolatewhenhewasafraidofhishost,Madeleinecamein,handedafoldednotetothePresidente,andwaitedforananswer。Thenoteranasfollows： “DEARMAMMA,——IfwepretendthatthisnotecomestoyoufrompapaatthePalais,andthathewantsusbothtodinewithhisfriendbecauseproposalshavebeenrenewed——thenthecousinwillgo,andwecancarryoutourplanofgoingtothePopinots。“ “Whobroughtthemaster\'snote？”thePresidenteaskedquickly。 “AladfromtheSalleduPalais,“thewitheredwaitingwomanunblushinglyanswered,andhermistressknewatoncethatMadeleinehadwoventheplotwithCecile,nowattheendofherpatience。 “Tellhimthatwewillbothbethereathalf-pastfive。“ MadeleinehadnosoonerlefttheroomthanthePresidenteturnedtoCousinPonswiththatinsincerefriendlinesswhichisaboutasgratefultoasensitivesoulasamixtureofmilkandvinegartothepalateofanepicure。 “Dinnerisordered,dearcousin;youmustdinewithoutus;myhusbandhasjustsentwordfromthecourtthatthequestionofthemarriagehasbeenreopened,andwearetodinewiththeCouncillor。Weneednotstandonceremonyatall。Dojustasifyouwereathome。Ihavenosecretsfromyou;Iamperfectlyopenwithyou,asyousee。Iamsureyouwouldnotwishtobreakoffthelittledarling\'smarriage。“ “/I/,cousin?Onthecontrary,Ishouldliketofindsomeoneforher; butinmycircle——“ “Oh,thatisnotatalllikely,“saidthePresidente,cuttinghimshortinsolently。“Thenyouwillstay,willyounot?CecilewillkeepyoucompanywhileIdress。 “Oh!Icandinesomewhereelse,cousin。“ Cruellyhurtthoughhewasbyherwayofcastinguphispovertytohim,theprospectofbeingleftalonewiththeservantswasevenmorealarming。 “Butwhyshouldyou?Dinnerisready;youmayjustaswellhaveit;ifyoudonot,theservantswilleatit。“ AtthatatrociousspeechPonsstartedupasifhehadreceivedashockfromagalvanicbattery,bowedstifflytothelady,andwenttofindhisspencer。Now,itsohappenedthatthedoorofCecile\'sbedroom,beyondthelittledrawing-room,stoodopen,andlookingintothemirror,hecaughtsightofthegirlshakingwithlaughterasshegesticulatedandmadesignstohermother。Theoldartistunderstoodbeyondadoubtthathehadbeenthevictimofsomecowardlyhoax。Ponswentslowlydownthestairs;hecouldnotkeepbackthetears。Heunderstoodthathehadbeenturnedoutofthehouse,butwhyandwhereforehedidnotknow。 “Iamgrowingtooold,“hetoldhimself。“Theworldhasahorrorofoldageandpoverty——twouglythings。AfterthisIwillnotgoanywhereunlessIamasked。“ Heroicresolve! Downstairsthegreatgatewasshut,asitusuallyisinhousesoccupiedbytheproprietor;thekitchenstoodexactlyoppositetheporter\'slodge,andthedoorwasopen。PonswasobligedtolistenwhileMadeleinetoldtheservantsthewholestoryamidthelaughteroftheservants。Shehadnotexpectedhimtoleavesosoon。Thefootmanloudlyapplaudedajokeattheexpenseofavisitorwhowasalwayscomingtothehouseandnevergaveyoumorethanthreefrancsattheyear\'send。 “Yes,“putinthecook;“butifhecutsuproughanddoesnotcomeback,therewillbethreefrancsthelessforsomeofusonNewYear\'sday。“ “Eh!Howishetoknow？”retortedthefootman。 “Pooh！”saidMadeleine,“alittlesooneroralittlelater——whatdifferencedoesitmake?Thepeopleattheotherhouseswherehedinesaresotiredofhimthattheyaregoingtoturnhimout。“ “Thegate,ifyouplease！” Madeleinehadscarcelyutteredthewordswhentheyheardtheoldmusician\'scalltotheporter。Itsoundedlikeacryofpain。Therewasasuddensilenceinthekitchen。 “Heheard！”thefootmansaid。 “Well,andifhedid,somuchtheworser,orrathersomuchthebetter,“retortedMadeleine。“Heisanarrantskinflint。“ PoorPonshadlostnoneofthetalkinthekitchen;hehearditall,eventothelastword。Hemadehiswayhomealongtheboulevards,inthesamestate,physicalandmental,asanoldwomanafteradesperatestrugglewithburglars。Ashewenthetalkedtohimselfinquickspasmodicjerks;hishonorhadbeenwounded,andthepainofitdrovehimonasagustofwindwhirlsawayastraw。HefoundhimselfatlastintheBoulevardduTemple;howhehadcomethitherhecouldnottell。 Itwasfiveo\'clock,and,strangetosay,hehadcompletelylosthisappetite。 ButifthereaderistounderstandtherevolutionwhichPons\' unexpectedreturnatthathourwastoworkintheRuedeNormandie,thepromisedbiographyofMme。Cibotmustbegiveninthisplace。 AnyonepassingalongtheRuedeNormandiemightbepardonedforthinkingthathewasinsomesmallprovincialtown。Grassrunstoseedinthestreet,everybodyknowseverybodyelse,andthesightofastrangerisanevent。ThehousesdatebacktothereignofHenryIV。,whentherewasaschemeafootforaquarterinwhicheverystreetwastobenamedafteraFrenchprovince,andallshouldconvergeinahandsomesquaretowhichLaFranceshouldstandgodmother。TheQuartierdel\'Europewasarevivalofthesameidea;historyrepeatsitselfeverywhereintheworld,andevenintheworldofspeculation。 Thehouseinwhichthetwomusiciansusedtoliveisanoldmansionwithacourtyardinfrontandagardenattheback;butthefrontpartofthehousewhichgivesuponthestreetiscomparativelymodern,builtduringtheeighteenthcenturywhentheMaraiswasafashionablequarter。Thefriendslivedattheback,onthesecondflooroftheoldpartofthehouse。ThewholebuildingbelongstoM。Pillerault,anoldmanofeighty,wholeftmattersverymuchinthehandsofM。andMme。 Cibot,hisportersforthepasttwenty-sixyears。 Now,asaportercannotlivebyhislodgealone,theaforesaidCibothadothermeansofgainingalivelihood;andsupplementedhisfivepercentontherentalandhisfaggotfromeverycartloadofwoodbyhisownearningsasatailor。IntimeCibotceasedtoworkforthemastertailors;hemadeaconnectionamongthelittletrades-peopleofthequarter,andenjoyedamonopolyoftherepairs,renovations,andfinedrawingofallthecoatsandtrousersinthreeadjacentstreets。Thelodgewasspaciousandwholesome,andboastedasecondroom;whereforetheCibotcouplewerelookeduponasamongtheluckiestportersinthearrondissement。 Cibot,smallandstunted,withacomplexionalmostolive-coloredbyreasonofsittingdayindayoutinTurk-fashiononatablelevelwiththebarredwindow,madeabouttwelveorfourteenfrancsaweek。Heworkedstill,thoughhewasfifty-eightyearsold,butfifty-eightistheporter\'sgoldenage;heisusedtohislodge,heandhisroomfiteachotherliketheshellandtheoyster,and“heisknownintheneighborhood。“ Mme。Cibot,sometimeopenerofoystersatthe/CadranBleu/,afteralltheadventureswhichcomeunsoughttothebelleofanoyster-bar,leftherpostforloveofCibotattheageoftwenty-eight。Thebeautyofawomanofthepeopleisshort-lived,especiallyifsheisplantedespalierfashionatarestaurantdoor。Herfeaturesarehardenedbypuffsofhotairfromthekitchen;thecoloroftheheeltapsofcustomers\'bottles,finishedinthecompanyofthewaiters,graduallyfiltersintohercomplexion——nobeautyisfullblownsosoonasthebeautyofanoyster-opener。LuckilyforMme。Cibot,lawfulwedlockandaportress\'lifewereofferedtoherjustintime;whileshestillpreservedacomelinessofamasculineorderslanderedbyrivalsoftheRuedeNormandie,whocalledher“agreatblowsything,“Mme。CibotmighthavesatasamodeltoRubens。ThosefleshtintsremindedyouoftheappetizingsheenonapatofIsignybutter;butplumpasshewas,nowomanwentaboutherworkwithmoreagility。Mme。Cibothadattainedthetimeoflifewhenwomenofherstampareobligedtoshave——whichisasmuchastosaythatshehadreachedtheageofforty- eight。Aporter\'swifewithamoustacheisoneofthebestpossibleguaranteesofrespectabilityandsecuritythatalandlordcanhave。IfDelacroixcouldhaveseenMme。Cibotleaningproudlyonherbroomhandle,hewouldassuredlyhavepaintedherasBellona。 Strangeasitmayseem,thecircumstancesoftheCibots,manandwife(inthestyleofanindictment),wereonedaytoaffectthelivesofthetwofriends;whereforethechronicler,asindutybound,mustgivesomeparticularsastotheCibots\'lodge。 Thehousebroughtinabouteightthousandfrancsfortherewerethreecompletesetsofapartments——backandfront,onthesidenearesttheRuedeNormandie,aswellasthethreefloorsintheoldermansionbetweenthecourtyardandthegarden,andashopkeptbyamarinestore-dealernamedRemonencq,whichfrontedonthestreet。DuringthepastfewmonthsthisRemonencqhadbeguntodealinoldcuriosities,andknewthevalueofPons\'collectionsowellthathetookoffhishatwheneverthemusiciancameinorwentout。 AsouinthelivreoneightthousandfrancsthereforebroughtinaboutfourhundredfrancstotheCibots。Theyhadnorenttopayandnoexpensesforfiring;Cibot\'searningsamountedonanaveragetosevenoreighthundredfrancs,addtipsatNewYear,andthepairhadaltogetherinincomeofsixteenhundredfrancs,everypennyofwhichtheyspent,fortheCibotslivedandfaredbetterthanworkingpeopleusuallydo。“Onecanonlyliveonce,“LaCibotusedtosay。ShewasbornduringtheRevolution,yousee,andhadneverlearnedherCatechism。 Thehusbandofthisportresswiththeunblenchingtawnyeyeswasanobjectofenvytothewholefraternity,forLaCibothadnotforgottentheknowledgeofcookerypickedupatthe/CadranBleu/。SoithadcometopassthattheCibotshadpassedtheprimeoflife,andsawthemselvesonthethresholdofoldagewithoutahundredfrancsputbyforthefuture。Wellcladandwellfed,theyenjoyedamongtheneighbors,itistrue,therespectduetotwenty-sixyearsofstricthonesty;foriftheyhadnothingoftheirown,they“hadn\'tnothingbelongingtonobodyelse,“accordingtoLaCibot,whowasaprodigalofnegatives。“Therewasn\'tneversuchaloveofaman,“shewouldsaytoherhusband。Doyouaskwhy?Youmightaswellaskthereasonofherindifferenceinmattersofreligion。 Bothofthemwereproudofalifelivedinopenday,oftheesteeminwhichtheywereheldforsixorsevenstreetsroundabout,andoftheautocraticrulepermittedtothembytheproprietor(“perprietor,“ theycalledhim);butinprivatetheygroanedbecausetheyhadnomoneylyingatinterest。Cibotcomplainedofpainsinhishandsandlegs,andhiswifewouldlamentthatherpoor,dearCibotshouldbeforcedtoworkathisage;and,indeed,thedayisnotfardistantwhenaporterafterthirtyyearsofsuchalifewillcryshameupontheinjusticeoftheGovernmentandclamorfortheribbonoftheLegionofHonor。Everytimethatthegossipofthequarterbroughtnewsofsuchandsuchaservant-maid,leftanannuityofthreeorfourhundredfrancsaftereightortenyearsofservice,theporters\' lodgeswouldresoundwithcomplaints,whichmaygivesomeideaoftheconsumingjealousiesinthelowestwalksoflifeinParis。 “Oh,indeed!Itwillneverhappentothelikeofustohaveournamesmentionedinawill!Wehavenoluck,butwedomorethanservants,forallthat。Wefillaplaceoftrust;wegivereceipts,weareonthelookoutforsqualls,andyetwearetreatedlikedogs,neithermorenorless,andthat\'sthetruth！” “Somefindfortuneandsomemissfortune,“saidCibot,cominginwithacoat。 “IfIhadleftCibothereinhislodgeandtakenaplaceascook,weshouldhaveourthirtythousandfrancsoutatinterest,“criedMme。 Cibot,standingchattingwithaneighbor,herhandsonherprominenthips。“ButIdidn\'tunderstandhowtogetoninlife;housedinsideofasnuglodgeandfiringfoundandwantfornothing,butthatisall。“ In1836,whenthefriendstookuptheirabodeonthesecondfloor,theybroughtaboutasortofrevolutionintheCibothousehold。Itbefellonthiswise。Schmucke,likehisfriendPons,usuallyarrangedthattheporterortheporter\'swifeshouldundertakethecaresofhousekeeping;andbeingbothofonemindonthispointwhentheycametoliveintheRuedeNormandie,Mme。Cibotbecametheirhousekeeperattherateoftwenty-fivefrancspermonth——twelvefrancsfiftycentimesforeachofthem。Beforetheyearwasout,theemeritusportressreignedintheestablishmentofthetwooldbachelors,asshereignedeverywhereinthehousebelongingtoM。Pillerault,greatuncleofMme。leComtessePopinot。Theirbusinesswasherbusiness; shecalledthem“mygentlemen。“Andatlast,findingthepairofnutcrackersasmildaslambs,easytolivewith,andbynomeanssuspicious——perfectchildren,infact——herheart,theheartofawomanofthepeople,promptedhertoprotect,adore,andservethemwithsuchthoroughdevotion,thatshereadthemalecturenowandagain,andsavedthemfromtheimpositionswhichswellthecostoflivinginParis。Fortwenty-fivefrancsamonth,thetwooldbachelorsinadvertentlyacquiredamother。 AstheybecameawareofMme。Cibot\'sfullvalue,theygaveheroutspokenpraises,andthanks,andlittlepresentswhichstrengthenedthebondsofthedomesticalliance。Mme。Cibotathousandtimespreferredappreciationtomoneypayments;itisawell-knownfactthatthesensethatoneisappreciatedmakesupforadeficiencyinwages。 AndCibotdidallthathecouldforhiswife\'stwogentlemen,andranerrandsanddidrepairsathalf-priceforthem。 Thesecondyearbroughtanewelementintothefriendshipbetweenthelodgeandthesecondfloor,andSchmuckeconcludedabargainwhichsatisfiedhisindolenceanddesireforalifewithoutcares。Forthirtysousperday,orforty-fivefrancspermonth,Mme。CibotundertooktoprovideSchmuckewithbreakfastanddinner;andPons,findinghisfriend\'sbreakfastverymuchtohismind,concludedaseparatetreatyforthatmealonlyattherateofeighteenfrancs。 Thisarrangement,whichaddednearlyninetyfrancseverymonthtothetakingsoftheporterandhiswife,madetwoinviolablebeingsofthelodgers;theybecameangels,cherubs,divinities。ItisverydoubtfulwhethertheKingoftheFrench,whoissupposedtounderstandeconomy,isaswellservedasthepairofnutcrackersusedtobeinthosedays。 Forthemthemilkissuedpurefromthecan;theyenjoyedafreeperusalofallthemorningpaperstakenbyotherlodgers,laterrisers,whoweretold,ifneedbe,thatthenewspapershadnotcomeyet。Mme。Cibot,moreover,kepttheirclothes,theirrooms,andthelandingascleanasaFlemishinterior。AsforSchmucke,heenjoyedunhoped-forhappiness;Mme。Cibothadmadelifeeasyforhim;hepaidheraboutsixfrancsamonth,andshetookchargeofhislinen,washing,andmending。Altogether,hisexpensesamountedtosixty-sixfrancspermonth(forhespentfifteenfrancsontobacco),andsixty- sixfrancsmultipliedbytwelveproducesthesumtotalofsevenhundredandninety-twofrancs。Addtwohundredandtwentyfrancsforrent,rates,andtaxes,andyouhaveathousandandtwelvefrancs。 CibotwasSchmucke\'stailor;hisclothescosthimonaverageahundredandfiftyfrancs,whichfurtherswellsthetotaltothesumoftwelvehundred。Ontwelvehundredfrancsperannumthisprofoundphilosopherlived。HowmanypeopleinEurope,whoseonethoughtitistocometoParisandlivethere,willbeagreeablysurprisedtolearnthatyoumayexistincomfortuponanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancsintheRuedeNormandieintheMarais,underthewingofaMme。Cibot。 Mme。Cibot,toresumethestory,wasamazedbeyondexpressiontoseePons,goodman,returnatfiveo\'clockintheevening。Suchathinghadneverhappenedbefore;andnotonlyso,but“hergentleman“hadgivenhernogreeting——hadnotsomuchasseenher! “Well,well,Cibot,“saidshetoherspouse,“M。Ponshascomeinforamillion,orgoneoutofhismind！” “Thatishowitlookstome,“saidCibot,droppingthecoat-sleeveinwhichhewasmakinga“dart,“intailor\'slanguage。 Thesavoryodorofastewpervadedthewholecourtyard,asPonsreturnedmechanicallyhome。Mme。CibotwasdishingupSchmucke\'sdinner,whichconsistedofscrapsofboiledbeeffromalittlecook- shopnotabovedoingalittletradeofthiskind。Thesemorselswerefricasseedinbrownbutter,withthinslicesofonion,untilthemeatandvegetableshadabsorbedthegravyandthistrueporter\'sdishwasbrownedtotherightdegree。Withthatfricassee,preparedwithlovingcareforCibotandSchmucke,andaccompaniedbyabottleofbeerandapieceofcheese,theoldGermanmusic-masterwasquitecontent。NotKingSolomoninallhisglory,besure,coulddinebetterthanSchmucke。Adishofboiledbeeffricasseedwithonions,scrapsof/saute/chicken,orbeefandparsley,orvenison,orfishservedwithasauceofLaCibot\'sowninvention(asaucewithwhichamothermightunsuspectinglyeatherchild),——suchwasSchmucke\'sordinary,varyingwiththequantityandqualityoftheremnantsoffoodsuppliedbyboulevardrestaurantstothecook-shopintheRueBoucherat。Schmucketookeverythingthat“gootMontameZipod“gavehim,andwascontent,andsofromdaytoday“gootMontameZipod“cutdownthecostofhisdinner,untilitcouldbeservedfortwentysous。 “Itwon\'tbelongaforeIfindoutwhatisthematterwithhim,poordear,“saidMme。Cibottoherhusband,“forhereisM。Schmucke\'sdinnerallreadyforhim。“ Asshespokeshecoveredthedeepearthenwaredishwithaplate;and,notwithstandingherage,sheclimbedthestairandreachedthedoorbeforeSchmuckeopenedittoPons。 “Vatisdemattermityou,meingootfriend？”askedtheGerman,scaredbytheexpressionofPons\'face。 “Iwilltellyouallaboutit;butIhavecomehometohavedinnerwithyou——“ “Tinner!tinner！”criedSchmuckeinecstasy;“butitisimpossible！” theoldGermanadded,ashethoughtofhisfriend\'sgastronomicaltastes;andatthatverymomenthecaughtsightofMme。Cibotlisteningtotheconversation,asshehadarighttodoashislawfulhousewife。Struckwithoneofthosehappyinspirationswhichonlyenlightenafriend\'sheart,hemarcheduptotheportressanddrewherouttothestairhead。 “MontameZipod,“hesaid,“dergootPonsisfondofgootdings;shoostgorounttoder/CatranPleu/undorderadaintyliddletinner,mitanjoviesundmaggaroni。EintinnerforLugullus,invact。“ “Whatisthat？”inquiredLaCibot。 “Oh!ah！”returnedSchmucke,“itisveal/alapourcheoise/“ (/bourgeoise/,hemeant),“anicefisch,einpottleoffPorteaux,undnicedings,derferybestdeyhaf,likegroquettesofriceundshmokedpacon!Bayforit,undsaynodings;Ivillgifyoubackdemonnyto-morrowmorning。“ BackwentSchmucke,radiantandrubbinghishands;buthisexpressionslowlychangedtoalookofbewilderedastonishmentasheheardPons\' storyofthetroublesthathadbutjustnowoverwhelmedhiminamoment。HetriedtocomfortPonsbygivinghimasketchoftheworldfromhisownpointofview。Paris,inhisopinion,wasaperpetualhurly-burly,themenandwomeninitwerewhirledawaybyatempestuouswaltz;itwasnouseexpectinganythingoftheworld,whichonlylookedattheoutsidesofthings,“undnotatderinderior。“Forthehundredthtimeherelatedhowthattheonlythreepupilsforwhomhehadreallycared,forwhomhewasreadytodie,thethreewhohadbeenfondofhim,andevenallowedhimalittlepensionofninehundredfrancs,eachcontributingthreehundredtotheamount——hisfavoritepupilshadquiteforgottentocometoseehim;andsoswiftwasthecurrentofParisianlifewhichsweptthemaway,thatifhecalledattheirhouses,hehadnotsucceededinseeingthemonceinthreeyears——(itisafact,however,thatSchmuckehadalwaysthoughtfittocallonthesegreatladiesatteno\'clockinthemorning!)—— still,hispensionwaspaidquarterlythroughthemediumofsolicitors。 “Undyet,deyareheartsofgold,“heconcluded。“DeyaremyliddleSaintCecilias,sharmingvimmen,MontamedeBordentuere,MontamedeFantenesse,undMontameduDilet。GifIseedematall,itisatdieJambsElusees,unddeydonotseeme……yetdeyarever\'fondofme,undImightgotodinemitdem,unddeyvouldbever\'bleasedtoseeme;undImightgotodeircountry-houses,butIvouldmuchraderbemitminefriendBons,becauseIkannseehimveneferIlike,undeferytay。“ PonstookSchmucke\'shandandgraspeditbetweenhisown。Allthatwaspassinginhisinmostsoulwascommunicatedinthattightpressure。 Andsoforawhilethefriendssatliketwolovers,meetingatlastafteralongabsence。 “Tinehere,eferytay！”brokeoutSchmucke,inwardlyblessingMme。deMarvilleforherhardnessofheart。“Lookhere!Veshallgoaprick-a- prackingtogeders,undderteufelshallnefershowhistailhere。“ “Veshallgoprick-a-prackingtogeders！”forthefullcomprehensionofthosetrulyheroicwords,itmustbeconfessedthatSchmucke\'signoranceofbric-a-bracwassomethingofthedensest。Itrequiredallthestrengthofhisfriendshiptokeephimfromdoingheedlessdamageinthesitting-roomandstudywhichdiddutyasamuseumforPons。 Schmucke,whollyabsorbedinmusic,acomposerforloveofhisart,tookaboutasmuchinterestinhisfriend\'slittletriflesasafishmighttakeinaflower-showattheLuxembourg,supposingthatithadreceivedaticketofadmission。AcertainawewhichhecertainlyfeltforthemarvelswassimplyareflectionoftherespectwhichPonsshowedhistreasureswhenhedustedthem。ToPons\'exclamationsofadmiration,hewaswonttoreplywitha“Yes,itisver\'bretty,“asamotheranswersbaby-gestureswithmeaninglessbaby-talk。Seventimessincethefriendshadlivedtogether,Ponshadexchangedagoodclockforabetterone,tillatlasthepossessedatimepieceinBoule\'sfirstandbestmanner,forBoulehadtwomanners,asRaphaelhadthree。Inthefirsthecombinedebonyandcopper;inthesecond—— contrarytohisconvictions——hesacrificedtotortoise-shellinlaidwork。InspiteofPons\'learneddissertations,SchmuckenevercouldseetheslightestdifferencebetweenthemagnificentclockinBoule\'sfirstmanneranditssixpredecessors;but,forPons\'sake,Schmuckewasevenmorecarefulamongthe“chimcracks“thanPonshimself。SoitshouldnotbesurprisingthatSchmucke\'ssublimewordscomfortedPonsinhisdespair;for“Veshallgoprick-a-prackingtogeders,“meant,beinginterpreted,“Iwillputmoneyintobric-a-brac,ifyouwillonlydinehere。“ “Dinnerisready,“Mme。Cibotannounced,withastonishingself- possession。 ItisnotdifficulttoimaginePons\'surprisewhenhesawandrelishedthedinnerduetoSchmucke\'sfriendship。Sensationsofthiskind,thatcamesorarelyinalifetime,arenevertheoutcomeoftheconstant,closerelationshipbywhichfrienddailysaystofriend,“Youareasecondselftome“;forthis,too,becomesamatterofuseandwont。 Itisonlybycontactwiththebarbarismoftheworldwithoutthatthehappinessofthatintimatelifeisrevealedtousasasuddengladsurprise。Itistheouterworldwhichrenewsthebondbetweenfriendandfriend,loverandlover,alltheirliveslong,wherevertwogreatsoulsareknittogetherbyfriendshiporbylove。 Ponsbrushedawaytwobigtears,Schmuckehimselfwipedhiseyes;andthoughnothingwassaid,thetwowerecloserfriendsthanbefore。 LittlefriendlynodsandglancesexchangedacrossthetablewerelikebalmtoPons,soothingthepaincausedbythesanddroppedinhisheartbythePresident\'swife。AsforSchmucke,herubbedhishandstilltheyweresore;foranewideahadoccurredtohim,oneofthosegreatdiscoverieswhichcauseaGermannosurprise,unlesstheysproutupsuddenlyinaTeutonbrainfrost-boundbytheaweandreverenceduetosovereignprinces。 “MinegootBons？”beganSchmucke。 “Icanguesswhatyoumean;youwouldlikeusbothtodinetogetherhere,everyday——“ “GifonlyIvasrichenoftoliflikediseferytay——“beganthegoodGermaninamelancholyvoice。ButhereMme。Cibotappeareduponthescene。Ponshadgivenheranorderforthetheatrefromtimetotime,andstoodinconsequencealmostashighinheresteemandaffectionasherboarderSchmucke。 “Lordloveyou,“saidshe,“forthreefrancsandwineextraIcangiveyoubothsuchadinnereverydaythatyouwillbereadytolicktheplatesascleanasiftheywerewashed。“ “Itisafact,“Schmuckeremarked,“datdiedinnersdatMontameZipodcooksformearebetterasdemessesdeyeatatderroyaldable！”Inhiseagerness,Schmucke,usuallysofullofrespectforthepowersthatbe,sofarforgothimselfastoimitatetheirreverentnewspaperswhichscoffedatthe“fixed-price“dinnersofRoyalty。 “Really？”saidPons。“Verywell,Iwilltryto-morrow。“ AndatthatpromiseSchmuckesprangfromoneendofthetabletotheother,sweepingofftablecloth,bottles,anddishesashewent,andhuggedPonstohisheart。Somightgasrushtocombinewithgas。 “Vathappiness！”criedhe。 Mme。Cibotwasquitetouched。“Monsieurisgoingtodinehereeveryday！”shecriedproudly。 Thatexcellentwomandeparteddownstairsagaininignoranceoftheeventwhichhadbroughtaboutthisresult,enteredherroomlikeJosephain/WilliamTell/,setdowntheplatesanddishesonthetablewithabang,andcalledaloudtoherhusband： “Cibot!runtothe/CafeTurc/fortwosmallcupsofcoffee,andtellthemanatthestovethatitisforme。“ Thenshesatdownandrestedherhandsonhermassiveknees,andgazedoutofthewindowattheoppositewall。 “Iwillgoto-nightandseewhatMa\'amFontainesays,“shethought。 (MadameFontainetoldfortunesonthecardsforalltheservantsinthequarteroftheMarais。)“Sincethesetwogentlemencamehere,wehaveputtwothousandfrancsinthesavingsbank。Twothousandfrancsineightyears!Whatluck!WoulditbebettertomakenoprofitoutofM。Pons\'dinnerandkeephimhereathome?Ma\'amFontaine\'shenwilltellmethat。“ ThreeyearsagoMme。Cibothadbeguntocherishahopethathernamemightbementionedin“hergentlemen\'s“wills;shehadredoubledherzealsincethatcovetousthoughttardilysproutedupinthemidstofthatsohonestmoustache。Ponshithertohaddinedabroad,eludingherdesiretohavebothof“hergentlemen“entirelyunderhermanagement; his“troubadour“collector\'slifehadscaredawaycertainvagueideaswhichhoveredinLaCibot\'sbrain;butnowhershadowyprojectsassumedtheformidableshapeofadefiniteplan,datingfromthatmemorabledinner。Fifteenminuteslatershereappearedinthedining- roomwithtwocupsofexcellentcoffee,flankedbyacoupleoftinyglassesof/kirschwasser/。 “LonglifMontameZipod！”criedSchmucke;“shehafguessedright！” Thediner-outbemoanedhimselfalittle,whileSchmuckemethislamentationswithcoaxingfondness,likeahomepigeonwelcomingbackawanderingbird。Thenthepairsetoutforthetheatre。 SchmuckecouldnotleavehisfriendintheconditiontowhichhehadbeenbroughtbytheCamusots——mistressesandservants。HeknewPonssowell;hefearedlestsomecruel,sadthoughtshouldseizeonhimathisconductor\'sdesk,andundoallthegooddonebyhiswelcomehometothenest。 AndSchmuckebroughthisfriendbackonhisarmthroughthestreetsatmidnight。Alovercouldnotbemorecarefulofhislady。Hepointedouttheedgesofthecurbstones,hewasonthelookoutwhenevertheysteppedonoroffthepavement,readywithawarningiftherewasaguttertocross。Schmuckecouldhavewishedthatthestreetswerepavedwithcotton-down;hewouldhavehadablueskyoverhead,andPonsshouldhearthemusicwhichalltheangelsinheavenweremakingforhim。Hehadwonthelostprovinceinhisfriend\'sheart! FornearlythreemonthsPonsandSchmuckedinedtogethereveryday。 Ponswasobligedtoretrenchatonce;fordinneratforty-fivefrancsamonthandwineatthirty-fivemeantpreciselyeightyfrancslesstospendonbric-a-brac。Andverysoon,inspiteofallthatSchmuckecoulddo,inspiteofhislittleGermanjokes,Ponsfelltoregrettingthedelicatedishes,theliqueurs,thegoodcoffee,thetabletalk,theinsincerepoliteness,theguests,andthegossip,andthehouseswhereheusedtodine。Onthewrongsideofsixtyamancannotbreakhimselfofahabitofthirty-sixyears\'growth。Wineatahundredandthirtyfrancsperhogsheadisscarcelyagenerousliquidina/gourmet\'s/glass;everytimethatPonsraisedittohislipshethought,withinfiniteregret,oftheexquisitewinesinhisentertainers\'cellars。 Inshort,attheendofthreemonths,thecruelpangswhichhadgoneneartobreakPons\'sensitivehearthaddiedaway;heforgoteverythingbutthecharmsofsociety;andlanguishedforthemlikesomeelderlyslaveofapetticoatcompelledtoleavethemistresswhotoorepeatedlydeceiveshim。Invainhetriedtohidehisprofoundandconsumingmelancholy;itwastooplainthathewassufferingfromoneofthemysteriouscomplaintswhichthemindbringsuponthebody。 Asinglesymptomwillthrowlightuponthiscaseofnostalgia(asitwere)producedbybreakingawayfromanoldhabit;initselfitistrifling,oneofthemyriadnothingswhichareasringsinacoatofchain-mailenvelopingthesoulinanetworkofiron。OneofthekeenestpleasuresofPons\'oldlife,oneofthejoysofthedinner- tableparasiteatalltimes,wasthe“surprise,“thethrillproducedbytheextradaintydishaddedtriumphantlytothebilloffarebythemistressofabourgeoishouse,togiveafestalairtothedinner。 Pons\'stomachhankeredafterthatgastronomicalsatisfaction。Mme。 Cibot,intheprideofherheart,enumeratedeverydishbeforehand;asaltandsavoronceperiodicallyrecurrent,hadvanishedutterlyfromdailylife。Dinnerproceededwithout/leplatcouvert/,asourgrandsirescalledit。ThislaybeyondtheboundsofSchmucke\'spowersofcomprehension。 Ponshadtoomuchdelicacytogrumble;butifthecaseofunappreciatedgeniusishard,itgoesharderstillwiththestomachwhoseclaimsareignored。Slightedaffection,asubjectofwhichtoomuchhasbeenmade,isfoundeduponanillusorylonging;forifthecreaturefails,lovecanturntotheCreatorwhohastreasurestobestow。Butthestomach!……Nothingcanbecomparedtoitssufferings;for,inthefirstplace,onemustlive。 Ponsthoughtwistfullyofcertaincreams——surelythepoetryofcookery!——ofcertainwhitesauces,masterpiecesoftheart;oftruffledchickens,fittomeltyourheart;andabovethese,andmorethanallthese,ofthefamousRhinecarp,onlyknownatParis,servedwithwhatcondiments!ThereweredayswhenPons,thinkinguponCountPopinot\'scook,wouldsighaloud,“Ah,Sophie！”Anypasser-byhearingtheexclamationmighthavethoughtthattheoldmanreferredtoalostmistress;buthisfancydweltuponsomethingrarer,onafatRhinecarpwithasauce,thininthesauce-boat,creamyuponthepalate,asaucethatdeservedtheMontyonprize!Theconductoroftheorchestra,livingonmemoriesofpastdinners,grewvisiblyleaner;hewaspiningaway,avictimtogastricnostalgia。 Bythebeginningofthefourthmonth(towardstheendofJanuary,1845),Pons\'conditionattractedattentionatthetheatre。Theflute,ayoungmannamedWilhelm,likealmostallGermans;andSchwab,todistinguishhimfromallotherWilhelms,ifnotfromallotherSchwabs,judgeditexpedienttoopenSchmucke\'seyestohisfriend\'sstateofhealth。ItwasafirstperformanceofapieceinwhichSchmucke\'sinstrumentswereallrequired。 “Theoldgentlemanisfailing,“saidtheflute;“thereissomethingwrongsomewhere;hiseyesareheavy,andhedoesn\'tbeattimeasheusedtodo,“addedWilhelmSchwab,indicatingPonsashegloomilytookhisplace。 “Datisalvaysdevay,gifamanissixtyyearsold,“answeredSchmucke。 TheHighlandwidow,in/TheChroniclesoftheCanongate/,senthersontohisdeathtohavehimbesideherfortwenty-fourhours;andSchmuckecouldhavesacrificedPonsforthesakeofseeinghisfaceeverydayacrossthedinner-table。 “Everybodyinthetheatreisanxiousabouthim,“continuedtheflute; “and,asthe/premieredanseuse/,Mlle。Brisetout,says,\'hemakeshardlyanynoisenowwhenheblowshisnose。\'“ And,indeed,apeallikeablastofahornusedtoresoundthroughtheoldmusician\'sbandanahandkerchiefwheneverheraisedittothatlengthyandcavernousfeature。ThePresident\'swifehadmorefrequentlyfoundfaultwithhimonthatscorethanonanyother。 “Ivouldgifagoottealtoamusehim,“saidSchmucke,“hegetssodull。“ “M。Ponsalwaysseemssomuchabovethelikeofuspoordevils,that,uponmyword,Ididn\'tdaretoaskhimtomywedding,“saidWilhelmSchwab。“Iamgoingtobemarried——“ “How？”demandedSchmucke。 “Oh!quiteproperly,“returnedWilhelmSchwab,takingSchmucke\'squaintinquiryforagibe,ofwhichthatperfectChristianwasquiteincapable。 “Come,gentlemen,takeyourplaces！”calledPons,lookingroundathislittlearmy,asthestagemanager\'sbellrangfortheoverture。 Thepiecewasadramatizedfairytale,apantomimecalled/TheDevil\'sBetrothed/,whichranfortwohundrednights。Intheinterval,afterthefirstact,WilhelmSchwabandSchmuckewereleftaloneintheorchestra,withahouseatatemperatureofthirty-twodegreesReaumur。 “Tellmeyourhishdory,“saidSchmucke。 “Lookthere!Doyouseethatyoungmanintheboxyonder?……Doyourecognizehim？” “Neferapit——“ “Ah!Thatisbecauseheiswearingyellowglovesandshineswithalltheradianceofriches,butthatismyfriendFritzBrunneroutofFrankfort-on-the-Main。“ “Datusedtokommtoseedublavundsitpesideyouinderorghestra？” “Thesame。Youwouldnotbelievehecouldlooksodifferent,wouldyou？” TheheroofthepromisedstorywasaGermanofthatparticulartypeinwhichthesombreironyofGoethe\'sMephistophelesisblendedwithahomelycheerfulnessfoundintheromancesofAugustLafontaineofpacificmemory;butthepredominatingelementinthecompoundofartlessnessandguile,ofshopkeeper\'sshrewdness,andthestudiedcarelessnessofamemberoftheJockeyClub,wasthatformofdisgustwhichsetapistolinthehandsofayoungWerther,boredtodeathlessbyCharlottethanbyGermanprinces。ItwasathoroughlyGermanface,fullofcunning,fullofsimplicity,stupidity,andcourage;theknowledgewhichbringsweariness,theworldlywisdomwhichtheveriestchild\'strickleavesatfault,theabuseofbeerandtobacco,——alltheseweretheretobeseeninit,andtoheightenthecontrastofopposedqualities,therewasawilddiabolicalgleaminthefineblueeyeswiththejadedexpression。 Dressedwithalltheeleganceofacityman,FritzBrunnersatinfullviewofthehousedisplayingabaldcrownofthetintbelovedbyTitian,andafewstrayfieryredhairsoneithersideofit;aremnantsparedbydebaucheryandwant,thattheprodigalmighthavearighttospendmoneywiththehairdresserwhenheshouldcomeintohisfortune。Aface,oncefairandfreshasthetraditionalportraitofJesusChrist,hadgrownhardersincetheadventofaredmoustache;atawnybeardlentitanalmostsinisterlook。Thebrightblueeyeshadlostsomethingoftheirclearnessinthestrugglewithdistress。ThecountlesscoursesbywhichamansellshimselfandhishonorinParishadlefttheirtracesuponhiseyelidsandcarvedlinesabouttheeyes,intowhichamotheroncelookedwithamother\'srapturetofindacopyofherownfashionedbyGod\'shand。 Thisprecociousphilosopher,thiswizenedyouthwastheworkofastepmother。 HerewithbeginsthecurioushistoryofaprodigalsonofFrankfort-on- the-Main——themostextraordinaryandastoundingportenteverbeheldbythatwell-conducted,ifcentral,city。 GideonBrunner,fatheroftheaforesaidFritz,wasoneofthefamousinnkeepersofFrankfort,atribewhomakelaw-authorizedincisionsintravelers\'purseswiththeconnivanceofthelocalbankers。AninnkeeperandanhonestCalvinisttoboot,hehadmarriedaconvertedJewessandlaidthefoundationsofhisprosperitywiththemoneyshebroughthim。 WhentheJewessdied,leavingasonFritz,twelveyearsofage,underthejointguardianshipofhisfatherandmaternaluncle,afurrieratLeipsic,headofthefirmofVirlazandCompany,Brunnerseniorwascompelledbyhisbrother-in-law(whowasbynomeansassoftashispeltry)toinvestlittleFritz\'smoney,agoodlyquantityofcurrentcoinoftherealm,withthehouseofAl-Sartchild。Notapennyofitwasheallowedtotouch。So,bywayofrevengefortheIsraelite\'spertinacity,Brunnerseniormarriedagain。Itwasimpossible,hesaid,tokeephishugehotelsingle-handed;itneededawoman\'seyeandhand。GideonBrunner\'ssecondwifewasaninnkeeper\'sdaughter,averypearl,ashethought;buthehadhadnoexperienceofonlydaughtersspoiledbyfatherandmother。 ThesecondMme。BrunnerbehavedasGermangirlsmaybeexpectedtobehavewhentheyarefrivolousandwayward。Shesquanderedherfortune,sheavengedthefirstMme。BrunnerbymakingherhusbandasmiserableamanasyoucouldfindinthecompassofthefreecityofFrankfort-on-the-Main,wherethemillionaires,itissaid,areabouttopassalawcompellingwomankindtocherishandobeythemalone。ShewaspartialtoallthevarietiesofvinegarcommonlycalledRhinewineinGermany;shewasfondof/articlesParis/,ofhorsesanddress; indeed,theoneexpensivetastewhichshehadnotwasalikingforwomen。ShetookadisliketolittleFritz,andwouldperhapshavedrivenhimmadifthatyoungoffspringofCalvinismandJudaismhadnothadFrankfortforhiscradleandthefirmofVirlazatLeipsicforhisguardian。UncleVirlaz,however,deepinhisfurs,confinedhisguardianshiptothesafe-keepingofFritz\'ssilvermarks,andlefttheboytothetendermerciesofthisstepmother。 Thathyenainwoman\'sformwasthemoreexasperatedagainsttheprettychild,thelovelyJewess\'son,becausesheherselfcouldhavenochildreninspiteofeffortsworthyofalocomotiveengine。A diabolicalimpulsepromptedhertoplungeheryoungstepson,attwenty-oneyearsofage,intodissipationscontrarytoallGermanhabits。ThewickedGermanhopedthatEnglishhorses,Rhinevinegar,andGoethe\'sMargueriteswouldruintheJewess\'childandshortenhisdays;forwhenFritzcameofage,UncleVirlazhadhandedoveraveryprettyfortunetohisnephew。ButwhilerouletteatBadenandelsewhere,andbooncompanions(WilhelmSchwabamongthem)devouredthesubstanceaccumulatedbyUncleVirlaz,theprodigalsonhimselfremainedbythewillofProvidencetopointamoraltoyoungerbrothersinthefreecityofFrankfort;parentsheldhimupasawarningandanawfulexampletotheiroffspringtoscarethemintosteadyattendanceintheircast-ironcountinghouses,linedwithsilvermarks。 Butsofarfromperishingintheflowerofhisage,FritzBrunnerhadthepleasureoflayinghisstepmotherinoneofthosecharminglittleGermancemeteries,inwhichtheTeutonindulgeshisunbridledpassionforhorticultureunderthespeciouspretextofhonoringhisdead。AndasthesecondMme。Brunnerexpiredwhiletheauthorsofherbeingwereyetalive,Brunnerseniorwasobligedtobearthelossofthesumsofwhichhiswifehaddrainedhiscoffers,tosaynothingofotherills,whichhadtolduponaHerculeanconstitution,tillattheageofsixty-seventheinnkeeperhadwizenedandshrunkasifthefamousBorgia\'spoisonhadunderminedhissystem。Fortenwholeyearshehadsupportedhiswife,andnowheinheritednothing!TheinnkeeperwasasecondruinofHeidelberg,repairedcontinually,itistrue,bytravelers\'hotelbills,muchastheremainsofthecastleofHeidelbergitselfarerepairedtosustaintheenthusiasmofthetouristswhoflocktoseesofineandwell-preservedarelicofantiquity。 AtFrankfortthedisappointmentcausedasmuchtalkasafailure。 PeoplepointedoutBrunner,saying,“SeewhatamanmaycometowithabadwifethatleaveshimnothingandasonbroughtupintheFrenchfashion。“ InItalyandGermanytheFrenchnationistherootofallevil,thetargetforallbullets。“Butthegodpursuinghisway——“(Fortherest,seeLefrancdePompignan\'sOde。) ThewrathoftheproprietoroftheGrandHoteldeHollandefellonothersbesidesthetravelers,whosebillswereswelledwithhisresentment。Whenhissonwasutterlyruined,Gideon,regardinghimastheindirectcauseofallhismisfortunes,refusedhimbreadandsalt,fire,lodging,andtobacco——theforceofthepaternalmaledictioninaGermanandaninnkeepercouldnofarthergo。Whereuponthelocalauthorities,makingnoallowanceforthefather\'smisdeeds,regardedhimasoneofthemostill-usedpersonsinFrankfort-on-the-Main,cametohisassistance,fastenedaquarrelonFritz(/unequerelled\'Allemand/),andexpelledhimfromtheterritoryofthefreecity。 JusticeinFrankfortisnowhitwisernormorehumanethanelsewhere,albeitthecityistheseatoftheGermanDiet。Itisnotoftenthatamagistratetracesbackthestreamofwrongdoingandmisfortunetotheholderoftheurnfromwhichthefirstbeginningstrickledforth。IfBrunnerforgothisson,hisson\'sfriendsspeedilyfollowedtheoldinnkeeper\'sexample。 Ah!ifthejournalists,thedandies,andsomefewfairParisiansamongtheaudiencewonderedhowthatGermanwiththetragicalcountenancehadcroppeduponafirstnighttooccupyasideboxalltohimselfwhenfashionableParisfilledthehouse,——ifthesecouldhaveseenthehistoryplayedoutuponthestagebeforetheprompter\'sbox,theywouldhavefounditfarmoreinterestingthanthetransformationscenesof/TheDevil\'sBetrothed/,thoughindeeditwasthetwohundredthousandthrepresentationofasublimeallegoryperformedaforetimeinMesopotamiathreethousandyearsbeforeChristwasborn。 FritzbetookhimselfonfoottoStrasbourg,andtherefoundwhattheprodigalsonoftheBiblefailedtofind——towit,afriend。AndhereinisrevealedthesuperiorityofAlsace,wheresomanygenerousheartsbeattoshowGermanythebeautyofacombinationofGallicwitandTeutonicsolidity。WilhelmSchwab,butlatelyleftinpossessionofahundredthousandfrancsbythedeathofbothparents,openedhisarms,hisheart,hishouse,hispursetoFritz。AsfordescribingFritz\'sfeelings,whendusty,downonhisluck,andalmostlikealeper,hecrossedtheRhineandfoundarealtwenty-francpieceheldoutbythehandofarealfriend,——thatmomenttranscendsthepowersoftheprosewriter;PindaralonecouldgiveitforthtohumanityinGreekthatshouldrekindlethedyingwarmthoffriendshipintheworld。 PutthenamesofFritzandWilheimbesidethoseofDamonandPythias,CastorandPollux,OrestesandPylades,DubreuilandPmejah,SchmuckeandPons,andallthenamesthatweimagineforthetwofriendsofMonomotapa,forLaFontaine(manofgeniusthoughhewas)hasmadeofthemtwodisembodiedspirits——theylackreality。Thetwonewnamesmayjointheillustriouscompany,andwithsomuchthemorereason,sincethatWilhelmwhohadhelpedtodrinkFritz\'sinheritancenowproceeded,withFritz\'sassistance,todevourhisownsubstance; smoking,needlesstosay,everyknownvarietyoftobacco。 Thepair,strangetorelate,squanderedthepropertyinthedullest,stupidest,mostcommonplacefashion,inStrasbourg/brasseries/,inthecompanyofballet-girlsoftheStrasbourgtheatres,andlittleAlsacienneswhohadnotaragofatatteredreputationleft。 Everymorningtheywouldsay,“Wereallymuststopthis,andmakeupourmindsanddosomethingorotherwiththemoneythatisleft。“ “Pooh！”Fritzwouldretort,“justonemoreday,andto-morrow“…… ah!to-morrow。 InthelivesofProdigalSons,/To-day/isaprodigiouscoxcomb,but/To-morrow/isaverypoltroon,takingfrightatthebigwordsofhispredecessor。/To-day/isthetruculentcaptainofoldworldcomedy,/To-morrow/theclownofmodernpantomime。 Whenthetwofriendshadreachedtheirlastthousand-francnote,theytookplacesinthemail-coach,styledRoyal,anddepartedforParis,wheretheyinstalledthemselvesintheatticsoftheHotelduRhin,intheRueduMail,thepropertyofoneGraff,formerlyGideonBrunner\'shead-waiter。FritzfoundasituationasclerkintheKellers\'bank(onGraff\'srecommendation),withasalaryofsixhundredfrancs。Andaplaceasbook-keeperwaslikewisefoundforWilhelm,inthebusinessofGraffthefashionabletailor,brotherofGraffoftheHotelduRhin,whofoundthescantily-paidemploymentforthepairofprodigals,forthesakeofoldtimes,andhisapprenticeshipattheHoteldeHollande。Thesetwoincidents——therecognitionofaruinedmanbyawell-to-dofriend,andaGermaninnkeeperinterestinghimselfintwopennilessfellow-countrymen——give,nodoubt,anairofimprobabilitytothestory,buttruthissomuchthemorelikefiction,sincemodernwritersoffictionhavebeenatsuchuntoldpainstoimitatetruth。 ItwasnotlongbeforeFritz,aclerkwithsixhundredfrancs,andWilhelm,abook-keeperwithpreciselythesamesalary,discoveredthedifficultiesofexistenceinacitysofulloftemptations。In1837,thesecondyearoftheirabode,Wilhelm,whopossessedaprettytalentfortheflute,enteredPons\'orchestra,toearnalittleoccasionalbuttertoputonhisdrybread。AstoFritz,hisonlywaytoanincreaseofincomelaythroughthedisplayofthecapacityforbusinessinheritedbyadescendantoftheVirlazfamily。Yet,inspiteofhisassiduity,inspiteofabilitieswhichpossiblymayhavestoodinhisway,hissalaryonlyreachedthesumoftwothousandfrancsin1843。Penury,thatdivinestepmother,didforthetwomenallthattheirmothershadnotbeenabletodoforthem;Povertytaughtthemthriftandworldlywisdom;Povertygavethemhergrandrougheducation,thelessonswhichshedriveswithhardknocksintotheheadsofgreatmen,whoseldomknowahappychildhood。FritzandWilhelm,beingbutordinarymen,learnedaslittleastheypossiblycouldinherschool;theydodgedtheblows,shrankfromherhardbreastandbonyarms,andneverdiscoveredthegoodfairylurkingwithin,readytoyieldtothecaressesofgenius。Onething,however,theylearnedthoroughly——theydiscoveredthevalueofmoney,andvowedtoclipthewingsofrichesifeverasecondfortuneshouldcometotheirdoor。 ThiswasthehistorywhichWilhelmSchwabrelatedinGerman,atmuchgreaterlength,tohisfriendthepianist,endingwith; “Well,PapaSchmucke,therestissoonexplained。OldBrunnerisdead。 Heleftfourmillions!HemadeanimmenseamountofmoneyoutofBadenrailways,thoughneitherhissonnorM。Graff,withwhomwelodge,hadanyideathattheoldmanwasoneoftheoriginalshareholders。Iamplayingtheflutehereforthelasttimethisevening;Iwouldhaveleftsomedaysago,butthiswasafirstperformance,andIdidnotwanttospoilmypart。“ “Goot,minefriend,“saidSchmucke。“Butwhoisdieprite？” “SheisMlle。Graff,thedaughterofourhost,thelandlordoftheHotelduRhin。IhavelovedMlle。Emiliethesesevenyears;shehasreadsomanyimmoralnovels,thatsherefusedalloffersforme,withoutknowingwhatmightcomeofit。Shewillbeaverywealthyyounglady;heruncles,thetailorsintheRuedeRichelieu,willleaveheralltheirmoney。FritzisgivingmethemoneywesquanderedatStrasbourgfivetimesover!Heisputtingamillionfrancsinabankinghouse,M。Graffthetailorisaddinganotherfivehundredthousandfrancs,andMlle。Emilie\'sfathernotonlyallowsmetoincorporateherportion——twohundredandfiftythousandfrancs——withthecapital,buthehimselfwillbeashareholderwithasmuchagain。 SothefirmofBrunner,SchwabandCompanywillstartwithtwomillionsfivehundredthousandfrancs。Fritzhasjustboughtfifteenhundredthousandfrancs\'worthofsharesintheBankofFrancetoguaranteeouraccountwiththem。ThatisnotallFritz\'sfortune。Hehashisfather\'shouseproperty,supposedtobeworthanothermillion,andhehaslettheGrandHoteldeHollandealreadytoacousinoftheGraffs。“ “Youlooksadvenyoulookatyourfriend,“remarkedSchmucke,whohadlistenedwithgreatinterest。“Kannyoupechealousofhim？” “IamjealousforFritz\'shappiness,“saidWilhelm。“Doesthatfacelookasifitbelongedtoahappyman?IamafraidofParis;IshouldliketoseehimdoasIamdoing。Theoldtemptermayawakeagain。Ofourtwoheads,hiscarriesthelessballast。Hisdress,andtheopera- glassandtherestofitmakemeanxious。Hekeepslookingatthelorettesinthehouse。Oh!ifyouonlyknewhowharditistomarryFritz。Hehasahorrorof\'goinga-courting,\'asyousay;youwouldhavetogivehimadropintoafamily,justasinEnglandtheygiveamanadropintothenextworld。“ Duringtheuproarthatusuallymarkstheendofafirstnight,theflutedeliveredhisinvitationtotheconductor。Ponsacceptedgleefully;and,forthefirsttimeinthreemonths,Schmuckesawasmileonhisfriend\'sface。TheywentbacktotheRuedeNormandieinperfectsilence;thatsuddenflashofjoyhadthrownalightontheextentofthediseasewhichwasconsumingPons。Oh,thatamansotrulynoble,sodisinterested,sogreatinfeeling,shouldhavesuchaweakness!……ThiswasthethoughtthatstruckthestoicSchmuckedumbwithamazement。Hegrewwoefullysad,forhebegantoseethattherewasnohelpforit;hemustevenrenouncethepleasureofseeing“hisgootBons“oppositehimatthedinner-table,forthesakeofPons\'welfare;andhedidnotknowwhetherhecouldgivehimup;themerethoughtofitdrovehimdistracted。 Meantime,Pons\'proudsilenceandwithdrawaltotheMonsAventinusoftheRuedeNormandiehad,asmightbeexpected,impressedthePresidente,notthatshetroubledherselfmuchaboutherparasite,nowthatshewasfreedfromhim。Shethought,withhercharmingdaughter,thatCousinPonshadseenthroughherlittle“Lili\'s“joke。ButitwasotherwisewithherhusbandthePresident。 CamusotdeMarville,ashortandstoutman,grownsolemnsincehispromotionattheCourt,admiredCicero,preferredtheOpera-ComiquetotheItaliens,comparedtheactorsonewithanother,andfollowedthemultitudestepbystep。HeusedtoreciteallthearticlesintheMinisterialistjournals,asifheweresayingsomethingoriginal,andingivinghisopinionattheCouncilBoardheparaphrasedtheremarksofthepreviousspeaker。Hisleadingcharacteristicsweresufficientlywellknown;hispositioncompelledhimtotakeeverythingseriously; andhewasparticularlytenaciousoffamilyties。 Likemostmenwhoareruledbytheirwives,thePresidentassertedhisindependenceintrifles,inwhichhiswifewasverycarefulnottothwarthim。ForamonthhewassatisfiedwiththePresidente\'scommonplaceexplanationsofPons\'disappearance;butatlastitstruckhimassingularthattheoldmusician,afriendoffortyyears\' standing,shouldfirstmakethemsovaluableapresentasafanthatbelongedtoMme。dePompadour,andthenimmediatelydiscontinuehisvisits。CountPopinothadpronouncedthetrinketamasterpiece;whenitsownerwenttoCourt,thefanhadbeenpassedfromhandtohand,andhervanitywasnotalittlegratifiedbythecomplimentsitreceived;othershaddweltonthebeautiesofthetenivorysticks,eachonecoveredwithdelicatecarving,thelikeofwhichhadneverbeenseen。ARussianlady(RussianladiesareapttoforgetthattheyarenotinRussia)hadofferedhersixthousandfrancsforthemarvelonedayatCountPopinot\'shouse,andsmiledtoseeitinsuchhands。 Truthtotell,itwasafanforaDuchess。 “ItcannotbedeniedthatpoorCousinPonsunderstandsrubbishofthatsort——“saidCecile,thedayafterthebid。 “Rubbish！”criedherparent。“Why,GovernmentisjustabouttobuythelateM。leConseillerDusommerard\'scollectionforthreehundredthousandfrancs;andtheStateandtheMunicipalityofParisbetweenthemarespendingnearlyamillionfrancsoverthepurchaseandrepairoftheHoteldeClunytohousethe\'rubbish,\'asyoucallit——Such\'rubbish,\'dearchild,“heresumed,“isfrequentlyallthatremainsofvanishedcivilizations。AnEtruscanjar,andanecklace,whichsometimesfetchfortyandfiftythousandfrancs,is\'rubbish\'whichrevealstheperfectionofartatthetimeofthesiegeofTroy,provingthattheEtruscanswereTrojanrefugeesinItaly。“ ThiswasthePresident\'scumbrouswayofjoking;theshort,fatmanwasheavilyironicalwithhiswifeanddaughter。 “Thecombinationofvariouskindsofknowledgerequiredtounderstandsuch\'rubbish,\'Cecile,“heresumed,“isascienceinitself,calledarchaeology。Archaeologycomprehendsarchitecture,sculpture,painting,goldsmiths\'work,ceramics,cabinetmaking(apurelymodernart),lace,tapestry——inshort,humanhandiworkofeverysortanddescription。“ “ThenCousinPonsislearned？”saidCecile。 “Ah!bytheby,whyishenevertobeseennowadays？”askedthePresident。Hespokewiththeairofamaninwhomthousandsofforgottenanddormantimpressionshavesuddenlybeguntostir,andshapingthemselvesintooneidea,reachconsciousnesswitharicochet,assportsmensay。 “Hemusthavetakenoffenceatnothingatall,“answeredhiswife。“I daresayIwasnotasfullysensibleasImighthavebeenofthevalueofthefanthathegaveme。Iamignorantenough,asyouknow,of——“ “/You!/OneofServin\'sbestpupils,andyoudon\'tknowWatteau？” criedthePresident。 “IknowGerardandDavidandGrosandGriodet,andM。deForbinandM。 TurpindeCrisse——“ “Youought——“ “Oughtwhat,sir？”demandedthelady,gazingatherhusbandwiththeairofaQueenofSheba。 “ToknowaWatteauwhenyouseeit,mydear。Watteauisverymuchinfashion,“answeredthePresidentwithmeekness,thattoldplainlyhowmuchheowedtohiswife。 Thisconversationtookplaceafewdaysbeforethatnightoffirstperformanceof/TheDevil\'sBetrothed/,whenthewholeorchestranoticedhowillPonswaslooking。Butbythattimeallthecircleofdinner-giverswhowereusedtoseeingPons\'faceattheirtables,andtosendhimonerrands,hadbeguntoaskeachotherfornewsofhim,anduneasinessincreasedwhenitwasreportedbysomewhohadseenhimthathewasalwaysinhisplaceatthetheatre。Ponshadbeenverycarefultoavoidhisoldacquaintanceswheneverhemettheminthestreets;butonedayitsofelloutthathemetCountPopinot,theex-cabinetminister,facetofaceinthebric-a-bracdealer\'sshopinthenewBoulevardBeaumarchais。ThedealerwasnoneotherthanthatMonistrolofwhomPonshadspokentothePresidente,oneofthefamousandaudaciousvendorswhosecunningenthusiasmleadsthemtosetmoreandmorevaluedailyontheirwares;forcuriosities,theytellyou,aregrowingsoscarcethattheyarehardlytobefoundatallnowadays。 “Ah,mydearPons,howcomesitthatweneverseeyounow?Wemissyouverymuch,andMme。Popinotdoesnotknowwhattothinkofyourdesertion。“ “M。leComte,“saidthegoodman,“Iwasmadetofeelinthehouseofarelativethatatmyageoneisnotwantedintheworld。Ihaveneverhadmuchconsiderationshownme,butatanyrateIhadnotbeeninsulted。Ihaveneveraskedanythingofanyman,“hebrokeoutwithanartist\'spride。“Ihaveoftenmademyselfusefulinreturnforhospitality。ButIhavemadeamistake,itseems;Iamindefinitelybeholdentothosewhohonormebyallowingmetositattablewiththem;myfriends,andmyrelatives……Wellandgood;Ihavesentinmyresignationassmellfeast。AthomeIfinddailysomethingwhichnootherhousehasofferedme——arealfriend。“ Theoldartist\'spowerhadnotfailedhim;withtoneandgestureheputsuchbitternessintothewords,thatthepeerofFrancewasstruckbythem。HedrewPonsaside。 “Come,now,myoldfriend,whatisit?Whathashurtyou?Couldyounottellmeinconfidence?Youwillpermitmetosaythatatmyhousesurelyyouhavealwaysmetwithconsideration——“ “Youaretheoneexception,“saidtheartist。“Andbesides,youareagreatlordandastatesman,youhavesomanythingstothinkabout。 Thatwouldexcuseanything,iftherewereneedforit。“ ThediplomaticskillthatPopinothadacquiredinthemanagementofmenandaffairswasbroughttobearuponPons,tillatlengththestoryofhismisfortunesinthePresident\'shousewasdrawnfromhim。 Popinottookupthevictim\'scausesowarmlythathetoldthestorytoMme。Popinotassoonashewenthome,andthatexcellentandnoble- naturedwomanspoketothePresidenteonthesubjectatthefirstopportunity。AsPopinothimselflikewisesaidawordortwotothePresident,therewasageneralexplanationinthefamilyofCamusotdeMarville。 Camusotwasnotexactlymasterinhisownhouse;butthistimehisremonstrancewassowellfoundedinlawandinfact,thathiswifeanddaughterwereforcedtoacknowledgethetruth。Theybothhumbledthemselvesandthrewtheblameontheservants。Theservants,firstbidden,andthenchidden,onlyobtainedpardonbyafullconfession,whichmadeitcleartothePresident\'smindthatPonshaddonerightlytostopaway。ThePresidentdisplayedhimselfbeforetheservantsinallhismasculineandmagisterialdignity,afterthemannerofmenwhoareruledbytheirwives。Heinformedhishouseholdthattheyshouldbedismissedforthwith,andforfeitanyadvantageswhichtheirlongtermofserviceinhishousemighthavebroughtthem,unlessfromthattimeforwardhiscousinandallthosewhodidhimthehonorofcomingtohishouseweretreatedashehimselfwas。AtwhichspeechMadeleinewasmovedtosmile。 “Youhaveonlyonechanceofsalvationasitis,“continuedthePresident。“Gotomycousin,makeyourexcusestohim,andtellhimthatyouwillloseyoursituationsunlessheforgivesyou,forIshallturnyouallawayifhedoesnot。“ NextmorningthePresidentwentoutfairlyearlytopayacallonhiscousinbeforegoingdowntothecourt。TheapparitionofM。lePresidentdeMarville,announcedbyMme。Cibot,wasaneventinthehouse。Pons,thushonoredforthefirsttimeinhislifesawreparationahead。 “Atlast,mydearcousin,“saidthePresidentaftertheordinarygreetings;“atlastIhavediscoveredthecauseofyourretreat。Yourbehaviorincreases,ifthatwerepossible,myesteemforyou。Ihavebutonewordtosayinthatconnection。Myservantshaveallbeendismissed。Mywifeanddaughterareindespair;theywanttoseeyoutohaveanexplanation。Inallthis,mycousin,thereisoneinnocentperson,andheisanoldjudge;youwillnotpunishme,willyou,fortheescapadeofathoughtlesschildwhowishedtodinewiththePopinots?especiallywhenIcometobegforpeace,admittingthatallthewronghasbeenonourside?……Anoldfriendshipofthirty-sixyears,evensupposethattherehadbeenamisunderstanding,hasstillsomeclaims。Come,signatreatyofpeacebydiningwithusto-night——“ Ponsinvolvedhimselfinadiffusereply,andendedbyinforminghiscousinthathewastosignamarriagecontractthatevening;howthatoneoftheorchestrawasnotonlygoingtobemarried,butalsoabouttoflinghisflutetothewindstobecomeabanker。 “Verywell。To-morrow。“ “Mme。laComtessePopinothasdonemethehonorofaskingme,cousin。 Shewassokindastowrite——“ “Thedayafterto-morrowthen。“ “M。Brunner,aGerman,myfirstflute\'sfuturepartner,returnsthecomplimentpaidhimto-daybytheyoungcouple——“ “Youaresuchpleasantcompanythatitisnotsurprisingthatpeopledisputeforthehonorofseeingyou。Verywell,nextSunday?Withinaweek,aswesayatthecourts？” “OnSundaywearetodinewithM。Graff,theflute\'sfather-in-law。“ “Verywell,onSaturday。Betweennowandthenyouwillhavetimetoreassurealittlegirlwhohasshedtearsalreadyoverherfault。Godasksnomorethanrepentance;youwillnotbemoreseverethantheEternalfatherwithpoorlittleCecile?——“ Pons,thusreachedonhisweakside,againplungedintoformulasmorethanpolite,andwentasfarasthestairheadwiththePresident。 AnhourlaterthePresident\'sservantsarrivedinatrooponpoorPons\'secondfloor。Theybehavedafterthemanneroftheirkind;theycringedandfawned;theywept。MadeleinetookM。Ponsasideandflungherselfresolutelyathisfeet。 “Itisallmyfault;andmonsieurknowsquitewellthatIlovehim,“ heresheburstintotears。“Itwasvengeanceboilinginmyveins; monsieuroughttothrowalltheblameoftheunhappyaffaironthat。 Wearealltoloseourpensions……Monsieur,Iwasmad,andI wouldnothavetherestsufferformyfault……Icanseenowwellenoughthatfatedidnotmakemeformonsieur。Ihavecometomysenses,Iaimedtoohigh,butIloveyoustill,monsieur。ThesetenyearsIhavethoughtofnothingbutthehappinessofmakingyouhappyandlookingafterthingshere。Whatalot!……Oh!ifmonsieurbutknewhowmuchIlovehim!Butmonsieurmusthaveseenitthroughallmymischief-making。IfIweretodieto-morrow,whatwouldtheyfind?—— Awillinyourfavor,monsieur……Yes,monsieur,inmytrunkundermybestthings。“ Madeleinehadsetaresponsivechordvibrating;thepassioninspiredinanothermaybeunwelcome,butitwillalwaysbegratifyingtoself- love;thiswasthecasewiththeoldbachelor。AftergenerouslypardoningMadeleine,heextendedhisforgivenesstotheotherservants,promisingtousehisinfluencewithhiscousinthePresidenteontheirbehalf。 ItwasunspeakablypleasanttoPonstofindallhisoldenjoymentsrestoredtohimwithoutanylossofself-respect。TheworldhadcometoPons,hehadrisenintheesteemofhiscircle;butSchmuckelookedsodowncastanddubiouswhenheheardthestoryofthetriumph,thatPonsfelthurt。When,however,thekind-heartedGermansawthesuddenchangewroughtinPons\'face,heendedbyrejoicingwithhisfriend,andmadeasacrificeofthehappinessthathehadknownduringthosefourmonthsthathehadhadPonsalltohimself。Mentalsufferinghasthisimmenseadvantageoverphysicalills——whenthecauseisremoveditceasesatonce。Ponswasnotlikethesamemanthatmorning。Theoldman,depressedandvisiblyfailing,hadgivenplacetotheserenelycontentedPons,whoenteredthePresidente\'shousethatOctoberafternoonwiththeMarquisedePompadour\'sfaninhispocket。 Schmucke,ontheotherhand,pondereddeeplyoverthisphenomenon,andcouldnotunderstandit;yourtruestoicnevercanunderstandthecourtierthatdwellsinaFrenchman。PonswasabornFrenchmanoftheEmpire;amixtureofeighteenthcenturygallantryandthatdevotiontowomankindsooftencelebratedinsongsofthetypeof/PartantpourlaSyrie/。 SoSchmuckewasfaintoburyhischagrinbeneaththeflowersofhisGermanphilosophy;butaweeklaterhegrewsoyellowthatMme。Cibotexertedheringenuitytocallintheparishdoctor。Theleechhadfearsoficterus,andleftMme。CibotfrightenedhalfoutofherwitsbytheLatinwordforanattackofthejaundice。 Meantimethetwofriendswentouttodinnertogether,perhapsforthefirsttimeintheirlives。ForSchmuckeitwasareturntotheFatherland;forJohannGraffoftheHotelduRhinandhisdaughterEmilie,WolfgangGraffthetailorandhiswife,FritzBrunnerandWilhelmSchwab,wereGermans,andPonsandthenotaryweretheonlyFrenchmenpresentatthebanquet。TheGraffsofthetailor\'sbusinessownedasplendidhouseintheRuedeRichelieu,betweentheRueNeuve- des-Petits-ChampsandtheRueVilledo;theyhadbroughtuptheirniece,forEmilie\'sfather,notwithoutreason,hadfearedcontactwiththeverymixedsocietyofaninnforhisdaughter。ThegoodtailorGraffs,wholovedEmilieasifshehadbeentheirowndaughter,weregivingupthegroundflooroftheirgreathousetotheyoungcouple,andherethebankofBrunner,SchwabandCompanywastobeestablished。Thearrangementsforthemarriagehadbeenmadeaboutamonthago;sometimemustelapsebeforeFritzBrunner,authorofallthisfelicity,couldsettlehisdeceasedfather\'saffairs,andthefamousfirmoftailorshadtakenadvantageofthedelaytoredecoratethefirstfloorandtofurnishitveryhandsomelyforthebrideandbridegroom。Theofficesofthebankhadbeenfittedintothewingwhichunitedahandsomebusinesshousewiththehotelattheback,betweencourtyardandgarden。 OnthewayfromtheRuedeNormandietotheRuedeRichelieu,PonsdrewfromtheabstractedSchmuckethedetailsofthestoryofthemodernprodigalson,forwhomDeathhadkilledthefattedinnkeeper。 Pons,butnewlyreconciledwithhisnearestrelatives,wasimmediatelysmittenwithadesiretomakeamatchbetweenFritzBrunnerandCeciledeMarville。ChanceordainedthatthenotarywasnoneotherthanBerthier,oldCardot\'sson-in-lawandsuccessor,thesometimesecondclerkwithwhomPonshadbeenwonttodine。 “Ah!M。Berthier,youhere！”hesaid,holdingoutahandtohishostofformerdays。 “Wehavenothadthepleasureofseeingyouatdinnerlately;howisit？”returnedthenotary。“Mywifehasbeenanxiousaboutyou。Wesawyouatthefirstperformanceof/TheDevil\'sBetrothed/,andouranxietybecamecuriosity？” “Oldfolkaresensitive,“repliedtheworthymusician;“theymakethemistakeofbeingacenturybehindthetimes,buthowcanitbehelped? Itisquiteenoughtorepresentonecentury——theycannotentirelybelongtothecenturywhichseesthemdie。“ “Ah！”saidthenotary,withashrewdlook,“onecannotruntwocenturiesatonce。“ “Bytheby,“continuedPons,drawingtheyounglawyerintoacorner,“whydoyounotfindsomeoneformycousinCeciledeMarville——“ “Ah!why——？”answeredBerthier。“Inthiscentury,whenluxuryhasfiltereddowntoourveryporters\'lodges,ayoungfellowhesitatesbeforeunitinghislotwiththedaughterofaPresidentoftheCourtofAppealinParisifshebringshimonlyahundredthousandfrancs。 IntherankoflifeinwhichMlle。deMarville\'shusbandwouldtake,thewifewasneveryetknownthatdidnotcostherhusbandthreethousandfrancsayear;theinterestonahundredthousandfrancswouldscarcelyfindherinpin-money。Abachelorwithanincomeoffifteenortwentythousandfrancscanliveonanentre-sol;heisnotexpectedtocutanyfigure;heneednotkeepmorethanoneservant,andallhissurplusincomehecanspendonhisamusements;heputshimselfinthehandsofagoodtailor,andneednottroubleanyfurtheraboutkeepingupappearances。Far-sightedmothersmakemuchofhim;heisoneofthekingsoffashioninParis。