Part 14

"It's a fine thing to be generous, certainly, and we shouldn't regret the money we give to do good. Still, monsieur, it seems to me that three thousand francs is a good deal just at this time when our cash-box isn't very well supplied; you might have embarrassed yourself less by giving it in several instalments, and it would have amounted to the same thing."

"I probably shall not come to the village again for a long while," said Auguste pensively.

"Oh! that makes a difference, and I am wrong."

XII

INVESTMENTS AND INNOCENT GAMES.--THE PUNCH AND THE LAMP-POST

On his return to Paris, Auguste found Monsieur Destival waiting for him at his rooms. The business agent shook hands effusively with his dear friend.

"Dear Dalville, where in the deuce have you been?" said Destival, casting a glance out of the window, into the street, from time to time.

"You have been waiting for me--I am very sorry."

"Oh! there's no harm done. To be sure, I have a thousand and one places to go to; but my new horse is splendid. By George! he's an invaluable beast! Did you notice him at the door?"

"No, I didn't pay any attention."

"I have had my cabriolet repainted, and I have hired a negro groom. One must needs increase his household when his business is increasing. I have presented my wife with a cook, a _cordon-bleu_; you will have a chance to judge of her talent, for I want you to come to dinner to-morrow. There will be a few other people, all very rich. Not that I care for that; I am not like La Thomassinière, who is always dinning his fortune and his houses into your ears! It's all the more ridiculous to one who, like myself, knows about our dear speculator's origin; for to such a one his pretensions are simply laughable.--Did you notice my negro below?"

"No, I didn't notice."

"He's a well-built fellow, of magnificent color. I prefer a single negro to a lot of long-legged varlets who ruin a carriage.--By the way, my wife has a bone to pick with you, my friend; she says that you are neglecting her."

"But I assure you----"

"Oh! you never come to the house now! That is not kind! No more music, no more singing, no more theatre parties; you have deserted us, Dalville, and yet you must know that we are your true friends. But let's talk business a little. I have had your interests in mind; for although I don't see you, I think of you none the less."

"You are too kind!"

"You are a heedless fellow, and you don't think about making money. But I am not, like La Thomassinière, one of those selfish men who think of nobody but themselves. I find an opportunity to get a handsome return for my funds, but I say to myself: 'Why shouldn't I take my dear friend Dalville into this affair? Why enrich myself alone? A friend's happiness doubles our own.' And then I am not ambitious, I have no desire to throw dust in people's eyes and put on airs, like certain acquaintances of ours. I want to make myself comfortable, that's all. In a word, the matter that I spoke to you about some time ago can be carried through; I will guarantee a certain profit; but I must have funds."

"I can raise two hundred and fifty thousand francs."

"That's enough; with what I have we can go ahead. In less than a year I propose that that amount shall bring you in twenty-five thousand. Not so bad, eh?"

"I trust to your prudence; I understand very little about business, but I should not want to risk my fortune."

"Oh! never fear, my friend; when it comes to prudence, I am a regular serpent! Besides, what about myself? do you suppose that I mean to risk my own money?--When will you be able to obtain the cash?"

"To-morrow."

"Bring it when you come to dinner."

"Certainly."

"That's settled; the receipt will be all ready, for everything must be done in due form.--My dear fellow, you are growing fat; you look delightfully well."

"Do you think so? The fact is that I feel a little tired to-day."

"Faith, it doesn't show. You're a hearty buck! How old are you? Not more than twenty-two, surely?"

"Almost twenty-seven."

"That is most extraordinary!--But I must leave you; I have so much business on hand. I must go to see Monin; I have sold his drug shop for him. I am going to ask him to dinner, and his wife too. They are not very brilliant, especially poor Monin himself, who allows his wife to lead him about like a baby; but he's honest, yes, he's probity itself; and I demand that, yes, I demand that above all things.--Until to-morrow then, my dear fellow, and don't forget the money."

"That is understood."

Destival left Auguste after shaking hands with him again, as if he had a convulsion. In the reception room the business agent met Bertrand. New salutations to the ex-corporal, with whom he also shook hands, saying:

"The excellent and worthy Bertrand! I am so glad to meet you! How's the health, old fellow? still robust? As well set up as ever, I see! What a fine thing it is to have been a soldier! But I assure you that that one lesson you gave me did me a deal of good! I hope that one of these days you will be willing to give me another, my good fellow, and I shall always be proud to receive them.--Au revoir, excellent Bertrand!"

And without giving Bertrand time to say a word in reply, Monsieur Destival rushed through the door and down the stairs; and shouted at the top of his voice before he reached the foot of the last flight:

"Domingo! Holà, Domingo! my negro! open the door for me!"

A short, thick-set negro, wearing a red jacket, and a little jockey cap with a ten-inch visor, came forward, walking with difficulty in a pair of doeskin trousers which Monsieur Destival had worn ten years, and which he had thought it best to resign to his groom, for whom they were much too small; assuring him that they would be as much too large before he had been two years in his service.

When his negro appeared, Destival looked to the right hand and to the left, to see if he were observed; but as no one stopped to look at Domingo, the business agent concluded to enter his cabriolet; and having assured himself by looking through the little window, that the negro was behind, Monsieur Destival lashed his horse, and shouted "look out!" even when nobody was in danger.

"You won't have any further occasion to scold me, my dear Bertrand," said Auguste to the ex-corporal, after Monsieur Destival had gone.

"Why not, lieutenant?"

"Because I am about putting my affairs in order. I am going to entrust my money to Destival, who will invest it to such good advantage that in a short time I shall be as rich as I was before."

"You are going to turn over your money to that gentleman, who is so polite?"

"Yes, my friend."

"All of it?"

"Why, almost all; I am going to give him two hundred and fifty thousand francs; that will leave me about twenty thousand francs to live on and enjoy myself, until I settle with him, which I don't expect to do for some time."

"That is all very well, monsieur, but have you got any security? For two hundred and fifty thousand francs is quite a little sum, you know! and when it's all you have----"

"Don't be alarmed; I shall have all possible security. Besides, Destival is a shrewd, prudent man. I have more confidence in him than in La Thomassinière, who is much richer, however; and then, when I want my money, I shall only have to give him three months' notice."

"But suppose he meant to keep it, would he give you notice, lieutenant?"

"For shame! must we look upon everybody as a knave and sharper, Bertrand?"

"God forbid, lieutenant, for in that case we should have to keep up a continual fire on everybody we met."

"In truth, I have no reason to complain of my lot: I enjoy life, I deny myself nothing, and my fortune will soon be increased. If a coquette does deceive me now and then, I pay her back in her own coin. But I am angry with that little Denise; I feel that I should have loved her so dearly! The idea of her giving her heart away without telling me!"

"Did she require your permission, lieutenant?"

"No, but if I had fallen in love with her, if I had formed the hope of winning her love--You must agree, Bertrand, that it is most unpleasant for a young man who has some good qualities to think that such a pretty girl prefers some clodhopper, some lubberly peasant to him!"

"That clodhopper, that peasant, will offer her his hand, monsieur, and make her his wife; he will love in her the mother of his children, and will never leave her. Don't you suppose that those things weigh more in the scales than the glances and sighs and pretty speeches of the young man from Paris?"

"You are right, Bertrand; sometimes I have no common sense. Let us say no more about Denise. I will go to see her when she's married; but until then I don't propose to go to Montfermeil again; the girl is too enticing."

"Bravo! that is acting like an honorable man, lieutenant."

Auguste started for his notary's; as he went downstairs he met Madame Saint-Edmond for the first time since the adventure at the Tournebride.

At sight of Auguste, Léonie stopped, leaned against the wall, turned her head away, drew her handkerchief, and omitted nothing calculated to give the impression that she was about to faint; but Auguste, paying no heed to his neighbor's expressive pantomime, contented himself with a low bow, and passed without stopping.

The notary handed Dalville the funds which he had in his hands belonging to him. Auguste put two hundred and fifty thousand francs in his wallet, and left the balance with Bertrand, urging him to be less economical in his expenditure, because, as their fortune was about to be doubled, he did not see why they should deny themselves anything. The next afternoon, at five, Auguste took his wallet and went to Destival's house, bidding Bertrand enjoy himself while he was away. To obey his master, the ex-corporal went in search of his friend Schtrack, with whom he proposed to take a short promenade.

The business agent had taken larger apartments than those he formerly occupied. He had mounted his household with more splendor, and although he could not as yet rival Monsieur de la Thomassinière in magnificence, it was plain that he was doing all that he could to approach him. As a general rule, however, the pains that one takes to deceive the eyes do not have the hoped-for result, and serve only to arouse mockery. One rarely succeeds in art by departing from one's specialty; and in the world he who tries to make himself out what he is not, is a laughing-stock. In vain does the grisette, beneath her big bonnet, strive to copy the simpers of a lady in society; in vain does the tailor's apprentice, newly-clad from head to foot, believe that, because he is dressed in the latest fashion, he has the air and aspect of a stockbroker. The natural characteristics always show through; one may impose on the multitude, and amid the multitude pass for what one is not; but at the slightest examination,

"The mask falls, the man remains, The hero vanishes."

Thus we find in the world a great many people who would be most estimable and would not arouse criticism, if they did not try to do more than they are able to do. An under clerk, with a salary of a hundred louis, must needs give evening parties, balls; the house is turned topsy-turvy; beds are taken down to make more room, a piano is hired, and lamps of all kinds; decanters of syrups are prepared, and punch, and there is a supper. But, despite all the trouble he has taken, the company, much too numerous for the tiny apartments, cannot find room. There are not enough chairs; the paper behind the beds is of a different color and betrays the moving in the morning; the piano is out of tune; the refreshments, bought all made, are not sweet enough, because the sugar has been used sparingly in order to make another decanter of syrup; the lamps refuse to burn, because the host is not familiar with them; the punch is compounded of poor brandy, because they bought the cheapest brand; and at supper you will find nothing but stale bread to eat with the fowl that is handed you. People love to criticise; you laugh quietly at everything that is bad, entirely oblivious to what is all right. Now, is it not much better to give, instead of this, an unpretentious party, to have fewer guests, and to leave the bed in place; to have one less cold joint, and to serve fresh bread; in short, to put aside the ambition to have a grand reception, and aim at nothing more than getting a few friends together?

At Monsieur Destival's the beds were not taken down because they had a salon large enough to hold a numerous company; the lamps burned well, because they were frequently used; and the punch was good, because Madame Destival knew nothing of that false economy by virtue of which nothing is ever done well. But Domingo, stationed in the reception room to announce the guests, and Baptiste, who ran constantly from one room to another to execute his masters's orders, and who commented aloud on everything that he was told to do, produced an irresistibly comical effect, largely because Destival was incessantly calling one or the other of them by the epithets of "knave" and "rascal."

When Dalville arrived he found several persons in the salon; he recognized Monsieur Monin and his better half, the latter of whom did not wear a shepherdess's hat on this occasion, but a huge turban beneath which her fat face strikingly resembled a Turk's. Auguste had hardly entered the salon when Monin inquired concerning the state of his health. Madame Destival accorded him a most gracious welcome, and her reproaches for the infrequency of his visits were uttered in such an amiable tone that they could not fail to make him regret that he had earned them.

Before Auguste had looked at the other guests, Monsieur Destival entered the salon, and at sight of Dalville uttered a joyful cry as if he had thought him dead; then he ran to him and grasped his hands, saying:

"Here is our dear friend; it is really he! he has not failed us! How kind of him! You see, it is a great favor to have him here! He has so many acquaintances, so many invitations! he can hardly keep track of them all.--Have you thought about our little investment?" he added in an undertone.

"I have the money with me," said Auguste.

"In that case, let us step into my study and fix it up before dinner, so that we need think of nothing but enjoying ourselves."

"Very well."

"A million pardons, mesdames, for taking our dear Dalville away from you; I promise to restore him to you in five minutes; otherwise I imagine that you would hate me mortally."

As he spoke, Destival led Auguste into his study, where the younger man produced his wallet. Having counted the notes, the business agent locked them up in his desk and gave Auguste a receipt for the amount, which Auguste put in his pocket.

"That's all right," he said; "I will examine this when I am at home."

Then the gentlemen returned to the salon, Dalville eager to make the acquaintance of two or three attractive women of whom he had caught a glimpse, and Destival as radiant as if he had just discovered a diamond mine.

The company was increased by several persons among whom Auguste noticed three sisters, young and pretty, whose manners and speech and smiles, however, were never free from affectation; a very merry and talkative young woman, ready to joke with everybody, but especially with the gentlemen; a silly little creature of sixteen, very shy and awkward, who dared not leave her mamma's chair or look at the persons to whom she spoke. A tall man with spectacles, who ran his nose against the paintings, engravings, screens and decanters, persisted in handling and examining everything, shaking his head and emitting an occasional _hum! hum!_ doubtless fraught with meaning; while a short man, embarrassed by his huge paunch, his short arms, and his small head, not knowing what to do with himself, stood first on one leg, then on the other, played with his watch chain, stuck out his tongue when anybody looked at him, and scratched his nose when nobody was looking.

Generally speaking, the female portion of the company seemed more select than the male portion; but a business agent has to do with all classes, and it frequently happens that it is not the most fashionably dressed men through whom the most money is to be made.

Monin remained almost all the time behind his wife's chair, leaving his station only to inquire for somebody's health; and, when he had put his question to some new arrival, he would return with a smile on his face, open his snuff-box, and offer it to _Bichette_, who, despite her turban, emulated her husband in the size of her pinch.

The clock struck six, and Domingo came writhing into the room, and said in a jargon composed of all known languages:

"Master, soup served."

And Monin, who had not noticed the negro in the reception room, and who supposed that he was a trader from the coast of Guinea, who was invited to dinner, was about to leave his wife's chair to ask him how his health was, when Bichette, divining her husband's purpose, caught him by his coat, saying:

"Where on earth are you going, Monsieur Monin? Stay where you are! Don't you see that that's Monsieur Destival's negro?"

"What! is that a negro, Bichette?"

"Do you mean to say that you can't see it for yourself?"

"Yes, of course; but I'll tell you--I thought he was talking German. 'Soup served,' he said."

"Well, monsieur, is that German, I'd like to know? Still, when a person makes so much talk about having a negro, he ought to teach him to walk. Do you suppose I'd have a groom that acted as if he had lead in his breeches? A sweet creature, their Domingo! He's some wretched savage who's been soaked in licorice juice to make a negro of him."

"Dinner is served, and Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière have not come!" said Madame Destival, snappishly.

"We are only waiting for them. They are terrible people--never on time! It's after six."

"Six ten," said the tall man in spectacles. "I am always with the sun; hum! hum!"

"Six seven," said Monin, consulting his watch.

"You are slow, monsieur; hum! hum!"

"My husband sets his watch every day by the cannon at the Palais-Royal," said Madame Monin, with a disdainful glance at the spectacled man; while the little man with short arms stood thrice on his right leg and twice on his left, in his struggles to draw his watch from his fob; and, having finally succeeded in producing a silver time-piece, to which a gold chain was attached, he gazed a long time at the dial and said:

"Yes, it must be about that."

"Faith," said Destival, "if La Thomassinière weren't going to bring his wife, we wouldn't wait any longer, for it's ridiculous to keep a whole large party waiting like this; but a pretty woman always has some additional touch to give her costume, and we must always forgive the Graces.--Domingo, see that the entrées are kept warm. Baptiste, have the chafing dishes red hot. Come, you knaves, move a little more quickly when I give an order!"

Domingo did not move any more quickly, because the doeskin breeches made it impossible. Baptiste, always in ill humor, pushed the negro roughly, muttering:

"Well, you darkie! A pretty sort of assistant to give me! He can't do anything but break dishes and steal liquor! I wish he'd drink so much that he'd smash the whole crockery closet! That would teach 'em to give a brand new red jacket to that miserable black fellow, when they've made me wear the same shabby coat for three years."

The half hour struck and the guests' faces lengthened. Auguste talked with one of his neighbors, who said:

"Don't you think, monsieur, that it's absurd that one or two people should keep a whole party waiting, and that decent people should be at the mercy of a fellow who doesn't choose to be prompt? At my house, monsieur, we dine at a fixed hour; I never wait two minutes for the people I invite, and they are always prompt, I assure you, for they know we should dine without them."

Auguste agreed that his neighbor was right. Madame Destival lost patience; monsieur kept running to the dining-room and back, crying:

"Everything will be cold! The little pâtés won't be eatable! It's exceedingly unpleasant!"

"Yes," said the man with the spectacles, "warmed-over pastry is good for nothing, hum! hum! because it's good only when it's just out of the oven, hum!"

Monin seemed profoundly affected by what was said about the little pâtés, and the uneasy gentleman scratched his nose with a piteous expression. At last, about seven o'clock, there was a violent ring and Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière soon entered the salon.

Athalie was resplendent; her costume was magnificent; her neck and arms were covered with diamonds and their dazzling reflection was in perfect harmony with the piquant expression of her features. At sight of her, the men uttered involuntary murmurs of admiration; the women said nothing, but scrutinized her costume, even to the tiniest details, and their eyes were unable to dissemble a gleam of jealousy, because everything was unexceptionable and there was nothing to criticise. Now criticism is a source of the greatest pleasure in society, where people do not spare even their friends! Fancy what they say of others!

La Thomassinière, who had made twenty thousand francs that very morning on a piece of land which he had resold, and who had the Marquis de Cligneval at his table almost every day, had assumed a more supercilious air than ever. He puffed himself out until his coat and his cravat were too tight for him, dragged his feet when he walked, and swayed his body like a pendulum. As he entered the salon he cast insolent glances upon all the guests, bowed to nobody, trod upon feet and dresses without apologizing, and did not answer Monin when he quitted his post behind Bichette's chair to ask the speculator:

"How's the state of your health?"

"How cruel of you to keep us waiting, my dear La Thomassinière!" said Monsieur Destival, offering his hand to the parvenu, who patronizingly gave him two fingers to shake, saying:

"Yes, that is true. But what can I do, when I haven't a moment to myself? We nearly missed coming. My friend the marquis wanted to take us into the country; but I thought that it would incommode you if we didn't come, so I said: 'Let's go.' But it was a close shave, on my word!"

During this conversation, Monin had remained behind La Thomassinière. Obtaining no reply, he decided to return to his wife; but Bichette, who saw everything that took place in every corner of the salon, had noticed that La Thomassinière did not acknowledge her husband's salutation, and she glared fiercely at the parvenu, as she said to Monin:

"Why did you go to speak to that uncivil fellow?"

"Bichette, I----"

"Why do you need to inquire for everybody's health?"

"Because, Bichette----"

"Are you a friend of those people?"

"You know perfectly well that we met them at Monsieur Destival's. Will you have a pinch, Bichette?"

"Didn't you notice that the insolent wretch, the pitiful creature, who makes such a ridiculous splurge, turned his back on you without acknowledging your greeting?"

"Perhaps he didn't see me, Bichette."

"Not see you! You were right under his nose! You're a chicken-hearted creature, Monsieur Monin! Those Thomassinières shall pay me for this. Meanwhile, let me see you speaking to that man or his wife, and I'll take away your snuff-box for a week."