The Milkmaid of Montfermeil Part 32

"I will pay it, lieutenant."

Auguste went out singing, and Bertrand went down to his friend Schtrack's, to question his wife.

Bertrand paid the note and Leonie was more loving than ever with Auguste. But one morning, when she did not expect him, Dalville found in his neighbor's room a little man, who instantly took his leave with a very low bow, which Madame Saint-Edmond barely acknowledged, dismissing her gentleman in a very curt tone.

"Who is that man?" Auguste inquired when the stranger had gone.

"Mon Dieu! that is a very ridiculous individual, whom one of my aunts sent to me. He is fresh from the provinces and is seeking employment.

But, as he is a terrible bore to me, I receive him in such fas.h.i.+on that he soon brings his visits to an end. He's as stupid as he is ugly."

"Why, he didn't strike me as being so very ugly."

"Bah! how did you look at him? He is horrible! A hideous nose and sunken eyes, and such an awkward, ridiculous figure! Oh! I can't endure the man."

Auguste pushed his questions no farther and said no more about the little man; but he was secretly vexed to hear her speak so ill of him, because he knew the tactics of ladies of her stamp, who often employ that method to conceal their intimacy with a person.

On returning to his own rooms, Auguste noticed that Bertrand looked at him with a sly expression, and hovered about him as if he were seeking an opportunity to speak to him.

"You want to tell me or ask me something, I see, Bertrand," said Auguste, stopping in front of the corporal. "Speak, for heaven's sake, instead of prowling about me in this way. You have no comprehension, my old friend, of the little wiles of the ladies, who, when they have anything to say to us, have the art to force us to question them."

"True, lieutenant, you're right; it's better to go straight to the point without countermarching. You must have met a certain little man at the neighbor's, for I saw him come down just after you went up."

"Well, yes, I did see a gentleman there; what of it?"

"What of it! Is this the first time you've met him?"

"Yes."

"He goes there often, however."

"Who told you that?"

"Madame Schtrack, the concierge."

"What, Bertrand! do you chatter and talk gossip with a concierge?"

"Gossip! no, lieutenant; ten thousand cartridges! I! gossip! Do you call what I've just told you gossip, lieutenant?"

"Why, pretty nearly. Is not Madame de Saint-Edmond at liberty to receive visits? Does she owe me an account of all her callers? What right have I to set spies on her acts? and if anyone should give her a faithful report of mine, do you think that she would have no reason to reproach me?"

"True, lieutenant; I am in the wrong. I'll go on drinking with Schtrack, but I won't talk with his wife any more, because I don't want it said that an old moustache like me talks gossip."

Although he had scolded Bertrand, Auguste remembered Madame Schtrack's statement; and, when he thought of the abuse Leonie had heaped upon the little man, he could not avoid conceiving some suspicions. We may agree that we do not deserve a faithful mistress, but we can never forgive her for her infidelity.

"Leonie must be horribly false, horribly treacherous!" said Auguste to himself. "Why need she pretend to love me, unless she retains her hold on me for selfish reasons, or unless she loves two men at once? Such things have been known."

As he walked down Boulevard Montmartre, Auguste felt a light touch on his arm. He turned; Mademoiselle Virginie stood before him.

"I am very lucky to meet you, monsieur," she said, looking at Auguste with a certain expression in which there was something most seductive; indeed, Mademoiselle Virginie made many conquests, because she had adopted the habit of imparting that alluring expression to her eyes; and although Auguste knew her glances by heart, he still took delight in looking at her, especially when it was a long time since her lovely black eyes had been fastened upon him.

"Oh! although you look at me with a smile," she continued, "that doesn't prevent me from being horribly angry with you."

"Really? you are angry with me?"

"Monsieur, I beg you not to address me so familiarly! Have we ever been on intimate terms?"

As she spoke, Mademoiselle Virginie burst into a roar of laughter that caused several pa.s.sers-by to turn their heads; for in Paris very little is required to attract the attention of the pa.s.sers-by. In fact, there was one man who stopped, and who, presumably because he had never in his life heard anyone laugh, was about to ask Virginie what the matter was; but a glance from Auguste led him to walk on.

"You make me laugh, when I haven't the slightest inclination to," said Virginie, suddenly a.s.suming a most serious air.

"What's the matter with you? Come, tell me your troubles; you know very well that I am your friend."

"My friend! oh, yes! You are just nothing at all! A pretty friend, to go two months without seeing me!"

"It wasn't my fault--I have been busy."

"Indeed! busy, eh? I know what kind of business. The blonde of the third floor, and the lady in the country, and this one, and the other one!

It's no use talking, you're a thorough scamp, you're not a bit agreeable any more! You used to be agreeable to me now and then."

"Why didn't you come to see me?"

"Oh! I say! do you think I haven't anything else to do but that? Don't I have to work?"

"Ah! you work, do you?"

"Indeed I do; I have reformed now, I never go out."

"Do you still live in the same place?"

"No, I have moved."

"Why, you do nothing but move."

"Really, my dear, I have sold my furniture."

"Sold your furniture? What a pity!"

"Listen to me; I couldn't live on nut sh.e.l.ls, could I?"

"No, they wouldn't be good for the stomach; but as you are working----"

"Oh, yes! it's very amusing; work a whole day to earn fifteen sous! Mon Dieu! how I wish I were a man!"

"What for?"

"So as not to be a woman. I know that there are some women who are happy, who swim in pleasure, who have feathers and velvet caps! Ah! a velvet cap's becoming to me; I tried one on at a friend's. I propose to have one this winter, all velvet, with gold ta.s.sels."

"With your fifteen sous a day?"