I never said a word to you about taking my measure!"
"But I supposed that was necessary, monsieur. When a tailor makes you a
coat, he takes your measure first."
"Enough! What did the girl say? She didn't refuse without giving any
reasons, did she?"
"She thought it was strange, monsieur, that you are not married. She
said: 'Oh! if your master was married, if he had a wife, that would make
a difference; I'd go and measure him right away; but I don't go to see
bachelors. If he chooses to come to my rooms, I will receive him.'"
"Aha! she wants me to go to her! You ought to have begun by telling me
that, you clown! I understand--that flatters my young lady's vanity!
These girls have so much self-esteem! She wants the whole house to know
that Monsieur de Mardeille is paying court to her! Well, I don't care,
after all; I will go; but I will go in the evening, because the
neighbors aren't at their windows after dark."
XI
DECLARATION AND OBSTINACY
That same evening, Monsieur de Mardeille left his apartment about eight
o'clock. It was quite dark, everything was quiet in the house, and he
stole noiselessly downstairs and passed the concierge's lodge on tiptoe,
unnoticed. Then he walked rapidly across the courtyard and went up to
the entresol, where he could see a light.
"No one will see me go to the little shirtmaker's," he said to himself,
"and perhaps she will be quite as well pleased to receive me after dark.
That saves appearances."
He stopped at Georgette's door and knocked softly. In a moment, a sweet
voice said:
"Who is there?"
"Open, if you please, Mademoiselle Georgette; it is someone who wishes
to speak to you."
"I don't receive visits at night. Come back to-morrow morning."
"I am your opposite neighbor, mademoiselle--Monsieur de Mardeille; I
sent my servant to you this morning. You know what it is that brings me;
so be kind enough to open the door, I beg."
"I am very sorry, monsieur; but I never let anybody in at night. Come
back to-morrow. It will be light then."
"What, mademoiselle! you leave me outside your door--me, Monsieur de
Mardeille! You are quite certain, I presume, that I am not a robber?"
"Perhaps you might be a more dangerous character! Good-night, monsieur!
Until to-morrow, by daylight!"
"It's because she considers me too dangerous that she won't let me in
now!" said Monsieur de Mardeille to himself, as he returned to his own
lodgings.
That idea, by flattering his self-esteem, consoled him a little for
having put himself out to no purpose.
"It's plain," he thought, "that she wants the whole house to know that I
am paying court to her.--Well! since it must be, mademoiselle, you shall
receive a visit from me at midday."
And the next day, after passing more than an hour at his toilet, because
he was determined to be irresistible, Monsieur de Mardeille decided to
defy the prying glances of the neighbors. He went downstairs as if he
were going out; but as he passed the concierge, who was standing at his
door, he said:
"By the way, that girl who lives on the entresol makes shirts, doesn't
she?"
"Yes, monsieur; she works for a linen draper; her sewing is perfect, so
they say."
"In that case, I am inclined to order some shirts of her. One ought
always to employ one's neighbors, as far as possible."
And our dandified friend turned on his heel, crossed the courtyard, and
in an instant stood before Georgette's door, which was always unlocked
during the day.
Monsieur de Mardeille tapped softly twice.
"Come in, the door is unlocked," replied the same voice that he had
heard the night before.
Monsieur de Mardeille entered with the ease of manner born of
familiarity with society, and the nonchalance which a rich man always
affects when he calls upon poor people--unless, that is to say, he is
possessed of intelligence or tact; in which case, far from seeking to
make his superiority felt, his endeavor will rather be to keep it out of
sight. But men of tact and intelligence are rare, and Georgette's caller
was deficient in both those qualities.
However, he abated something of his lordly manner when he saw how
unconcernedly the young woman received him. She seemed in no wise
perturbed by his visit, but gracefully motioned him to a chair and
coolly resumed her own, which was near the window, saying:
"May I know, monsieur, to what I am indebted for the honor of your
visit?"
Monsieur de Mardeille settled himself comfortably in his chair, and
replied:
"Mademoiselle, I sent my valet to you yesterday; I ventured to request
you to come to my apartment; it is not very far; I live just opposite."
"Oh! I know it, monsieur; I recognize you perfectly. But your servant
must have told you----"
"That you would not call upon unmarried men--yes, he told me that. But,
bless my soul! why do bachelors cause you such alarm? Have you had much
reason to complain of them? Ha! ha! ha! Do you know that that might give
rise to many conjectures?"
And he laughed again, because he had fine teeth which he was very glad
to exhibit, and because, moreover, he thought it quite clever to laugh
like that. But Georgette remained unmoved, and replied:
"I don't know what conjectures one might form, monsieur; but I act thus
because it suits me, and I worry very little about what people may
think."
Monsieur de Mardeille, surprised at the girl's serious tone, smiled
rather sheepishly and decided not to laugh any more. He moved uneasily
in his chair as he rejoined:
"I had no intention to offend you. The deuce! mademoiselle, it seems
that one cannot safely jest with you."
"I beg your pardon, monsieur; I am very ready to jest, when I know my
man."
"Ah! to be sure, and you know me only by sight as yet. I consider myself
fortunate, mademoiselle, to have so charming a person as you are for my
opposite neighbor; and it made me anxious at once to--to--to become
better acquainted with you."
"I thank you, monsieur; but there is too great a difference of rank
between us."
"Differences may be lessened; in fact, they very soon disappear between
a lovely woman and a man who is fascinated by her charms."
Georgette smiled and murmured:
"Was it to tell me that that you came here, monsieur?"
"Faith, yes! Look you! I won't beat about the bush; I prefer to go
straight to the point. Indeed, why should I conceal the impression that
your charms, your beauty, have made on my heart? Is it a crime to love
you? especially as I am a bachelor, which certainly is no reason for
spurning my homage. Yes, my lovely neighbor, you turned my head the very
first time I saw you--in this charming négligé which is so becoming to
you! I have not had a moment's repose since, I think of nothing but you!
I used the pretext of wanting shirts made to try to lure you to my
apartment; but what I wanted, what I want now, before everything, is to
tell you that I adore you, and to beg you not to be insensible to my
love!"
It was Georgette's turn to laugh; and she did it so frankly, so
unreservedly, that the old beau, who had leaned over toward her,
straightened himself up and seemed completely taken back. As the pretty
shirtmaker continued to laugh, he decided to say:
"Mon Dieu! mademoiselle, I am delighted to have afforded you so much
amusement; but may I not know what it is that makes you laugh so
heartily? It cannot be my avowal of my sentiments? You must be
accustomed to receive such declarations, are you not? So far as I have
been able to see, almost all the men in the house have told you or would
like to tell you the same thing."
"Ah! you know that, do you, monsieur?"
"Did I not see the concierge pass the whole of yesterday bringing you
bouquets, photographs, and heaven knows what? I even heard something of
a box of candied fruit.--Ha! ha! ha! that was too absurd!"
"It is quite true that all the gentlemen in the house have been most
polite to me."
"Faith! mademoiselle, I don't send bouquets myself; I consider it so
commonplace, so vulgar, that I am not tempted to imitate these gentry. I
speak out, I say frankly what I feel. Don't you consider that the
better way?"
"Why, it seems to me that it is very pleasant to receive bouquets and
other presents."
Monsieur de Mardeille bit his lips and said to himself:
"She likes her little presents; she's selfish; that's a pity!"
But that did not prevent him from moving his chair nearer to
Georgette's, and trying to assume a very affectionate, touching tone, as
he murmured:
"You have made no reply to my declaration, charming girl."
"I beg your pardon; didn't you hear me laugh?"
"What! is that the way you reply? What am I to conclude from that?"
"That I took your declaration of love for what it was worth--that is to
say, for a joke."
"A joke! Oh! don't think it! I spoke most seriously. I love you! I adore
you!"
"On the instant, just from seeing me at my window?"
"Does it take weeks or months to fall in love? We see a woman; she
attracts us, fascinates us at once, or never. Love--what is it but
electricity?"
"Oh! I didn't know!"
"Why, it is nothing else; a pretty woman's eyes contain the fluid that
electrifies us. The moment that we feel the shock, it's all up with us;
we are electrified."
"Really! and the women, what electrifies them?"
"Why, that is done by the same process; our glances do the business!"
As he spoke, he tried to electrify the girl by fixing his eyes upon her,
full of fire, and attempted to move his chair still nearer. But
Georgette moved hers away, saying in a very sharp tone:
"Don't sit so near me, monsieur, I beg you! it makes it hard for me to
work, and, besides, it isn't proper."
The old beau was speechless with surprise; he concluded that his eyes
had not emitted enough of the magnetic fluid, and tried to make them
still more inflammable as he exclaimed:
"May not one venture to approach you, pray, in order to admire that
divine figure at closer quarters?"
"No, monsieur, one may not. What would the neighbors think if they
should see you sitting so near me?"
"The neighbors! the neighbors! Why do you leave your window wide open?
It makes it very inconvenient to talk with you. I will close it, with
your permission."
"No, monsieur, no; I wish it to remain open; it does not interfere at
all with my talking; and if the neighbors know that you are calling on
me,--which they probably do, for everything that goes on in this house
is seen,--why, they will see that nothing has happened that I need to
conceal."
Monsieur de Mardeille frowned slightly; he shifted about in his chair,
and said, after a brief pause:
"What a strange idea it is, to subject yourself like this to the
inspection of other people, to whose opinion you ought to be
indifferent, in any event!"
"Ah! so you think that one can afford to be indifferent to other
people's opinion?"
"I think--I think that you treat me very cruelly!"
"And I, monsieur, think that I have conferred a great favor on you by
consenting to receive you in my room--where I never receive any man. It
seems that you are not at all grateful."
"Oh! pardon me, my lovely neighbor; certainly I am very grateful; but I
thought--I hoped---- By the way, you have not told me yet whether my
sentiments are offensive to you?"
"Why, monsieur, I hardly know you! And I don't allow myself to be
electrified as easily as you do, I presume."
"Cruel girl! you make sport of my torments."
"You say that you love me, do you, monsieur? But why should I believe in
your love? What proofs of it have you given me?"
"What proofs? Do you mean to say, mademoiselle, that you must have
proofs before you believe in it?"
"Most certainly! Oh! I am very incredulous, monsieur, and I don't
believe in anything until I have had proofs of it."
"But it seems to me, mademoiselle, that the step I am taking at this
moment ought to satisfy you that I am telling you the truth. When a man
of my rank, a man accustomed to frequent only the best society, pays a
visit to a--a simple working girl, he must be impelled thereto by a very
powerful sentiment!"
"That is to say, monsieur, that you think you do me great honor by
calling on me?"
"Why, no, I don't say that! You are cruel, and no mistake! you put a bad
construction on everything I say!"
Georgette made no reply, but continued to sew. Monsieur de Mardeille,
sorely annoyed because he had failed to make such rapid progress as he
hoped, said to himself:
"Let us try changing the subject. The little one must like pleasure. All
women want to be amused. Let us see if we can't dazzle her."
After a moment, he added, aloud:
"Have you been working long at this trade--for a linen draper?"
"No, monsieur. Indeed, I have not been long in Paris."
"Ah! then you are not a Parisienne? You surprise me! You have all the
grace of one. May I, without being impertinent, ask you from what
province you come?"
Georgette hesitated a moment before she replied:
"I come from a small village near Rouen."
"Ah! you are a Norman! That is strange, for you haven't the Norman
accent. How long have you been in Paris?"
"Nearly five months."
"Did you come alone?"
"Yes, all alone. I said to my parents: 'I want to go to Paris; I will
work hard there, and perhaps I may make my fortune--who knows?'"
Monsieur de Mardeille scratched his head as he repeated:
"Fortune! hum! that's not so easy. Women don't often make their fortunes
in Paris, when they have no other means of earning money than their
needle. But, when you came to Paris, you probably knew that you would
find a friend here, a wealthy protector, who could start you at once on
the road to the fortune to which you aspire?"
"No, monsieur," Georgette replied coldly; "I did not come to Paris to
meet anyone, and I shall find a way myself to reach the end I have in
view."
Once more the old beau bit his lips and glanced about the room.
"It's impossible to tell how to take the girl; she's always on her
guard!" he said to himself. "I shall not succeed with her so quickly as
I thought. But, it doesn't make much difference, I have plenty of time.
I must find her sensitive spot.--Are you fond of the play,
mademoiselle?" he asked.
"Oh! yes, monsieur, very!"
"Do you go often?"
"Most rarely, monsieur. In the first place, I have no acquaintances in
Paris; and for a young girl to go to the theatre alone is hardly
proper."
"I have found the weak point in the shield," thought Mardeille; and he
rejoined:
"Well, my charming neighbor, I will escort you to the theatre, with your
permission. We will have a little screened box; it will be very
comfortable, like being at home."
"I don't know what your little screened boxes are, monsieur; but when I
go to the play, I don't go to hide myself; I want to see and be seen."
"Ah! you want to be seen! What a coquette!"
"It is not from coquetry. But, monsieur, you cannot think that I would
go to the play with such an elegant person as you, in the modest costume
that I wear."
"I presume that you would not go in this jacket and this short skirt,
although the costume is divinely becoming to you! On my word, you are
bewitching so!"
"No, of course, I would not go out in a jacket; but my best costume is
very modest: a cotton gown, a little cap, a knitted fichu--that's my
attire!"
"What! haven't you a bonnet--a tiny bonnet?"
"No, monsieur, I haven't."
The elderly dandy moved about in his chair, seemed to reflect, and said,
at last:
"After all, you must be fascinating in a cap. Besides, we can take a
cab. Is it settled? I will take you to-night, if you agree."
"What, monsieur! do you mean to say that you would take to the theatre a
woman in a cotton dress, cap, and a fichu instead of a shawl?"
"I do; I am entirely free from prejudices. I would like to take you in
the costume you have on, if it were possible."
"Well, upon my word! I wouldn't have believed that!"
"That proves how dearly I love you, I hope."
Georgette shook her head as she replied:
"Why, no, it doesn't prove it at all. However, monsieur, I have more
self-esteem than you. I have enough respect for your exalted rank to
avoid compromising it. Fie, monsieur! what would people think of you if
they saw you with a woman in a cap on your arm?"
"But we shall take a cab."
"We shall not go into the theatre in a cab! Ha! ha! And as I don't
propose to hide myself in a screened box, when I am once in the theatre
everyone will have plenty of time to admire my costume."
Monsieur de Mardeille rose and paced the floor, and for some time he did
not speak; at last he said:
"What do you need to go to the theatre with me, my lovely child?"
"Why, almost everything: a silk dress; they have such nice things
ready-made now, that it will be easy enough to find one that will fit
me. And a pretty bonnet, and a fine shawl--cashmere, or something like
it,--and gloves--nice kid gloves."
Monsieur de Mardeille began to pace the floor again, dissembling with
difficulty the grimace that had replaced his amiable air. Suddenly he
looked into the courtyard and exclaimed:
"Ah! I believe I have visitors! Yes, they have come to see me. Au
revoir, my charming neighbor; a thousand pardons for leaving you so
abruptly!"
"Oh! pray don't mind me, monsieur!"
Our dandy was already at the door; he returned hurriedly to his own
apartment, with an exceedingly ill-humored expression; and when Frontin
inquired:
"Did the shirtmaker take monsieur's measure?" he angrily replied:
"Hold your tongue, you imbecile! I forbid you ever to mention that
grisette to me."
XII
LOVE! LOVE! WHEN THOU HAST TAKEN US CAPTIVE!
A week passed. Monsieur de Mardeille had not called again upon
Georgette; he had not stationed himself at his rear windows; but he had
stolen many a glance through the glass, by raising a corner of the
curtain. He had seen his young neighbor, as alert and alluring and
graceful as ever, going to and fro in her modest apartment; then sitting
down to work at her window; then rising and sitting down again; and
every movement of the pretty shirtmaker made his heart beat fast. He had
given Frontin a kick in the hind quarters, when that worthy ventured to
laugh inanely because his master raised the curtain.
He was somewhat flattered by the fact that, although Georgette responded
affably enough to the salutations of her other neighbors, he had never
seen one of them in her room; so that she had really done him a favor
by consenting to receive him.
At the end of a week, he said to himself:
"After all, it was on my account, it was in my interest, to avoid
compromising me, that the girl insisted upon being well dressed before
she would go out on my arm. I can't be angry with her for that: it was a
very excusable motive. But then I must send her all that she lacks.
Pardieu! I am well able to do it! That is not the question--no--but it
isn't my custom; I have never spent money on women. I know that once
doesn't make a custom; but, for all that, I don't like it. But that girl
is obstinate and strong-willed; if I don't send her what she wants, I
shall have to abandon the pursuit. And I don't want to abandon it! I
dream of her every night. I see her slender figure, her rounded hips,
which her little black skirt hugs so closely. Well! I must buy her this
finery. I won't go so far as the cashmere--no, indeed, I'm not such a
fool! But when a man goes so far as to play the gallant, he must do
things properly. At my age, it's very unpleasant to change one's habits.
Why in the devil did that provoking grisette take up her abode in my
house? right opposite me? under my nose? It's a fatality!"
Love, and self-esteem, which is quite as strong as its brother, carried
the day at last. One morning Georgette received the shawl, the bonnet,
the dress, and even the kid gloves, with this brief note written by her
stylish neighbor:
* * * * *
"Now will you go to the theatre with me to-night?"
* * * * *
And Georgette replied, to the messenger:
"Yes, I will go."
For Monsieur de Mardeille, who did not wish that anyone should know that
he was spending money to gratify the shirtmaker, had not sent his gifts
by Frontin.
That evening, about seven o'clock, the dandy presented himself at
Georgette's door. She was all dressed and ready, and probably less
seductive in that guise than in her jacket and short skirt; but she was
still very comely, because a young and pretty woman never becomes ugly
in a stylish bonnet. Indeed, Monsieur de Mardeille was surprised at the
ease with which his little neighbor wore her new costume.
"On my honor!" he cried; "you are charming thus! You wear these clothes
with such grace!"
"Does that surprise you, monsieur?"
"Nothing surprises me in you; I believe you to be adapted for any
station."
"I am ready; let us go."
"Oh! we have plenty of time. Pray let me admire you a moment."
"You may admire me all you please at the theatre; but as I don't often
go, I want to see everything. Let us be off!"
Georgette was already on the landing. Monsieur de Mardeille followed
her, saying to himself:
"She has a little will of her own that can't be resisted! But to-night,
when we return from the theatre, I flatter myself that she won't dismiss
me so quickly."
It was still broad daylight when Georgette left her room, handsomely
dressed and on Monsieur de Mardeille's arm. All the neighbors were at
their windows; it is unnecessary to say that their tongues were in
motion.
"The ex-beau carries the day!" said the photographer; "he is rich and
fashionable, and such advantages seduce these little girls, who are
immensely flattered by hanging on a dandy's arm."
"And then, he's very good-looking still," said the miniature painter. "I
can understand that he may have taken the little one's fancy. These
girls have a surprising taste for mature men."
"The Lovelace of the first floor must have put out some money," said the
two men of letters; "he's dressed the little neighbor from top to toe.
Women can always be caught by flattering their coquetry."
"And we couldn't offer her all that!"
"It's very strange! this Mardeille has the reputation of being a stingy
curmudgeon with women."
"That's a report that he spreads himself, so as to get all the more
credit."
The young doctor said nothing; he simply sighed, as he thought:
"She hasn't even had a cold!"
Monsieur Bistelle was furious, for she had received his bouquets and had
not received him, and had met all his propositions with a refusal,
although they were most alluring. And so, when he saw Georgette pass in
her new attire, he cried:
"Bah! cheap stuff! Why, that shawl isn't a cashmere, nor even a Lyon;
that dress isn't silk; that bonnet didn't come from one of our leading
milliners! It's all trumpery; anyone can see that at a glance. I'd have
dressed the girl a hundred times better; she's a fool to prefer that
Mardeille, who never knew what it was to be generous to a woman!"
This gentleman did not reflect that he himself was very ugly, whereas
his rival was still very comely; but that is one of the things that one
never considers. Moreover, we are so accustomed to our own faces that
we never deem ourselves unattractive.
Even Monsieur Renardin, the old bachelor, made a very pronounced grimace
when he saw Georgette pass; especially as Mademoiselle Arthémise, his
maid-servant, did not fail to say, with a sneer:
"See, there goes your flame on the arm of the Joconde of the first
floor! I advise you to send boxes of candied fruits to such hussies! The
shirtmaker snaps her fingers at you."
"In the first place, Arthémise, you're talking nonsense; that young
woman didn't receive any candied fruit from me, as you ate it all."
"Thank God! I was on hand to stop it as it passed--or else she would
have got it. It's very lucky that I ate it, you see. I suppose you think
that mincing thing would have put the box on her head to go out with
you, don't you? Oh! she's a sly one! She's bleeding the ex-young man of
the first floor; she's quite right, for he's a skinflint with women,
they say; he's getting what he deserves."
Monsieur de Mardeille escorted Georgette to the Ambigu-Comique. He tried
to take her to a small, dark box, but she refused to enter it, and he
was obliged to take a seat in the balcony with her. There it was
impossible to take the slightest liberty! As some consolation, our
gallant kept trying to whisper words of love in the girl's ear, but she
soon said to him impatiently:
"Please be kind enough not to keep talking to me! You prevent me from
hearing the play, and I suppose that is what people go to the theatre
for."
Monsieur de Mardeille bit his lip and said to himself:
"There's nothing so idiotic as these girls who have never been to the
theatre! I won't bring you very often, I can tell you!"