Volume I Part 17 (1/2)
When he heard the name Miretta, the foreigner could not restrain a gesture of surprise; but he recovered himself instantly, walked back to the easy-chair he had just left, and resumed his seat, saying:
”Really, monsieur le chevalier, you make me very curious; and if I were not afraid of being indiscreet in asking you how you made the acquaintance of this girl, who, you say, is so pretty, I should take great pleasure in hearing of it.”
”There is no indiscretion in your request, count; indeed, the affair took place in the presence of numerous witnesses and made quite a sensation this morning. I will stake my head that it will be the talk of the court and the whole city this evening. I will tell you all about it.--Go on, Popelinette; it needn't prevent you from sewing on my b.u.t.tons.”
Thereupon the Gascon chevalier described what had taken place that morning in front of Master Hugonnet's house; and in his narrative, carried away doubtless by his interest in the pretty Milanese, Pa.s.sedix embellished the truth with a number of episodes which he deemed likely to heighten the effect. For instance, he did not fail to say that on several occasions he had saved Cedrille from certain death by throwing himself in front of the swords that threatened him; in a word, it was due to his courage that the two travellers succeeded in escaping from the fury of those who surrounded them.
The foreigner listened to the Gascon with the closest attention. When the latter had finished, the other looked fixedly at him and said:
”Now, what do you expect to do, chevalier?”
”What! By Venus! follow up the adventure, watch for the little one to come out, join her, declare my pa.s.sion, soften her heart--a mere trifle!
The rest will go of itself.”
”No doubt!” muttered Dame Cadichard; ”if the girl is a good-for-nothing who listens to the first comer!”
”Whom do you call a first comer, madame? do you dare to apply those words to Castor Pyrrhus de Pa.s.sedix?--Sandioux! you are p.r.i.c.king me, Popelinette! do be careful!”
”I mean to say, monsieur, that this girl does not know you; and if she is virtuous----”
”Cadedis! all women are virtuous before they have sinned; and since the days of Eve, who allowed herself to be tempted by a serpent, how many women have stumbled---- Oh! this old woman is determined to spit me like a roasted hare!”
”But in order to watch for this Italian,” observed the Spaniard, ”it is necessary first of all that you should know where she lives in Paris.”
”Oh! I know that; I know where Miretta is at this moment; I even know why she has come to Paris. I am perfectly informed--but upon this matter you will allow me to keep silent. The little one is too dainty a morsel for me to show her nest to other men, and I am sure that you will consider that I am right to act thus.”
The foreigner rose and bowed to the Gascon.
”Good luck in your love affairs, Chevalier Pa.s.sedix!”
”Infinitely obliged! Much pleasure in your nocturnal walks, monsieur le comte!”
The foreigner took his leave. The landlady renewed her humble reverences, and Pa.s.sedix muttered:
”A singular man, this Monsieur de Carvajal!”
”You are all sewed up, monsieur,” said Popelinette; ”but, bless me! I won't swear it will hold long, the stuff is so rotten!”
”Very good! all right! I didn't ask you about that!--He buys paint, _mouches_, perfumes!--he's an effeminate creature!”
”I don't think,” said the little hostess, ”that it is so unpleasant to perfume one's self, and to leave an agreeable odor behind one as one pa.s.ses!”
”I have never needed that to please the fair! And when I eat wild duck, I don't like to have it smell of musk!”
The Gascon hurried from the room and went up to his fifth floor, while Dame Cadichard exclaimed:
”Ah! if I only had a loft over his room!”