THE FOUR STORIES.
The damp, dark staircase looked still more gloomy through the fog of a
November day. The entrance to each separate set of apartments in this
house bore its own peculiar and distinctive character to the observant
eye. Thus, the door conducting to those of the commandant bore evidences
of having been recently painted in close imitation of ebony, being
further set off with a brass knob rubbed up to a most dazzling
brightness, while a gay-coloured bell-rope, finished by an enormous
tassel of scarlet silk, contrasted strongly with the mean and shabby
wall against which it hung.
The door of the flight above, where dwelt the female money-lender and
dealer in divination, was singularly characterised by the appearance of
that mystical symbol of deep wisdom and oracular knowledge, an owl,
which, stuffed to resemble life as closely as the artist could contrive
it, was nailed on a small bracket just above the doorway; while a sort
of small wicket, latticed with wire-work, enabled all visitors to be
duly scrutinised ere they were admitted.
The dwelling of the Italian charlatan, who was said to pursue such
fearful avocations, had, likewise, its whimsical mode of designating the
pursuits of its occupant, whose name, traced in large letters formed of
horses' teeth upon a square black board, was nailed to the
entrance-door; while, instead of adopting the classical agency of a
deer's foot or a hare's pad for the handle of his bell, there hung
dangling from the cord the hand and arm of a dried ape,--the withered
limb, the shrivelled hand, with its five fingers, each so distinctly
preserved, and the articulation of every joint so clearly defined, the
tiny tips bearing the nails long and taper as those of a human creature,
presented a close and hideous resemblance to the hand and arm of a
child.
As Rodolph passed before a door so singularly indicative of all his
worst suspicions, he fancied he could detect the sound of smothered sobs
from within. Then rose up a cry so full of agony, of convulsive,
irrepressible misery,--a cry as if wrung from a breaking heart or the
last wail of expiring nature, that the whole house seemed to reëcho it.
Rodolph started; then, by a movement more rapid than thought itself, he
rushed to the door and violently pulled the bell.
"What is the matter, sir?" inquired the astonished porter.
"That cry!" said Rodolph; "did you not hear it?"
"Yes, yes, I heard it; I dare say it is some person whose teeth M.
Bradamanti is taking out; perhaps he may be taking out several,--and it
is painful!"
This explanation, though a probable one, did not satisfy Rodolph as to
the horrid scream which still resounded in his ears. Though he had rung
the bell with considerable violence, no person had as yet replied to his
summons; he could distinctly hear the shutting of several doors, and
then, behind a small oval glass let in beside the door, and on which
Rodolph had mechanically kept his eyes fixed, he saw the haggard,
cadaverous countenance of a human being; a mass of reddish hair strongly
mixed with gray, and a long beard of the same hue, completed the hideous
ensemble; the face was seen but for an instant, and vanished as quickly
as though it had been a mere creation of fancy, leaving Rodolph in a
state of perturbation impossible to describe.
Short as had been the period of this apparition's visit, he had yet in
those brief instants recalled features precisely similar and for ever
engraved on his memory,--the eyes shining with the colour and brilliancy
of the _aqua marina_ beneath their bushy sandy eyebrows, the livid
complexion, the nose thin, projecting, and curving like an eagle's beak,
with its nostrils so curiously expanded and carved out till they exposed
a portion of the nasal cartilage, resembled closely a certain Polidori,
whose name had been so unceremoniously committed by Murphy, in his
conversation with Graün, to regions not mentionable to polite ears.
Though Rodolph had not seen Polidori during the last sixteen or
seventeen years, he had a thousand reasons for keeping every feature
well in his remembrance. The only thing that told against the identity
of the individual he believed existed under the disguised name of this
quack dentist was the circumstance of his having red hair, while the
Polidori of Rodolph's acquaintance had almost black. That Rodolph
experienced no wonder (always supposing his conjectures as to the
identity correct) at finding a man whose profound learning, rare talent,
and vast intelligence he well knew, sunk to such a degradation,--it
might even be infamy,--was because he knew equally well that all these
high attainments and noble gifts were allied to such entire perversity,
such wild and irregular passions, inclinations so corrupt, and, above
all, an affected scorn and contempt for the opinion of the world, which
might lead this man, when want and misery overtook him, to seek, from
choice, the lowest and least honourable paths of subsistence, and to
enjoy a sort of malevolent satisfaction in the idea of him, the
talented, the learned, burying all these precious treasures beneath the
ignoble calling to which he had devoted his vast powers of mind and
body. Still, be it remembered that, spite of the close resemblance
between the charlatan surgeon-dentist and the Polidori of bygone years,
there still existed discrepancies so great that Rodolph balanced, in
deep uncertainty, respecting their proving to be one and the same
person.
At length, turning to Pipelet, he inquired:
"How long has this M. Bradamanti been an inmate of this house?"
"About a year, sir, as nearly as I can remember,--yes, it is a year; I
recollect he took the lodgings in the January quarter. Oh, he is a very
regular and exact lodger; he cured me of a desperate attack of
rheumatism."
"Madame Pipelet was telling me of the reports which are circulated of
him."
"How could she be so foolish?"
"Nay, pray do not fear me! I assure you I may safely be trusted."
"But, really, sir," rejoined Pipelet, "I do not think there is the least
dependence to be placed in such reports. I do not believe them, for one.
I never can believe them; my modesty would not let me," added M.
Pipelet, turning very red, and preceding his new lodger to the floor
above.
The more resolved upon clearing up his doubts in proportion to the very
great annoyance he felt that the residence of Polidori in the same house
would prove to him, and becoming momentarily more disposed to affix a
painful solution to the enigma of the piercing cry he had heard from the
apartments of the Italian, Rodolph bound himself by a rigid promise to
investigate the matter, so as to place it beyond the power of a doubt,
and followed the porter to the upper floor, where was situated the
chamber he was desirous of engaging.
It was easy to ascertain the abode of his next-door neighbour Mlle.
Rigolette. Thanks to the charming gallantry of the painter, Pipelet's
mortal foe, the door of her chamber was ornamented after the manner of
Watteau, with a panel design representing about half a dozen fat little
chubby Loves, grouped round a space painted sky blue, and on which was
traced, in pink letters, "_Mademoiselle Rigolette, Dressmaker_." These
plump little Cupids had all a task to perform besides encircling this
important announcement. One held the thimble of Mlle. Rigolette upon his
tiny finger; another held her scissors; a third was provided with a
smoothing-iron for her use; whilst a fourth held up a mirror, as if to
tempt the young sempstress to forsake her work for the more gratifying
view of her own pretty countenance. The whole was surrounded with a
well-chosen wreath of flowers, whose gay colours contrasted agreeably
with the sea-green colour of the door; the whole offering a very
unfavourable contrast to the mean and shabby-looking staircase. At the
risk of opening anew the bleeding wounds of Alfred, Rodolph ventured to
observe, while pointing to the door of Mlle. Rigolette:
"This, I suppose, is the work of M. Cabrion?"
"It is; he destroyed the painting of the door by daubing it over with a
parcel of fat, indecent children he called his _loves_. Had it not been
for the entreaties of Mlle. Rigolette, and the weakness of M. Bras
Rouge, I would have scratched it all off, as well as this palette filled
with horrid monsters, with their equally abominable master, whom you can
see drawn amongst them. You may know him by his steeple-crowned hat."
And there, sure enough, on the door of the room Rodolph was about to
hire, might be seen a palette surrounded by all kinds of odd and
whimsical creatures, the witty conceit of which might have done honour
to Callot. Rodolph followed the porter into a tolerably good-sized room,
accessible by a small entrance-closet, or antechamber, having two
windows opening into the Rue du Temple. Some fantastic sketches from the
pencil of M. Cabrion, on the second door, had been scrupulously
respected by M. Germain. Rodolph saw too many reasons for desiring to
obtain this lodging to hesitate further; therefore, modestly placing a
couple of francs in the hand of the porter, he said:
[Illustration: "'_This, I Suppose, Is the Work of M. Cabrion_'"
Etching by Mercier, after the drawing by Frank T. Merrill]
"This chamber will exactly suit me. Here is a deposit to complete the
bargain. To-morrow I will send in my furniture; but let me beg of you
not to destroy the merry creatures painted on the palette at the
entrance. It is really very droll! Don't you think so?"
"Droll!" groaned poor Pipelet; "not I! Ah, sir, how would you like to
dream night after night that you were being hunted by a legion of little
ugly devils like these on the door, with Cabrion at their head urging
them on, and then fancying you are trying to get away, and cannot? Oh, I
have woke all in a perspiration from such dreams hundreds of times since
that infamous Cabrion began persecuting me."
"Why, honestly speaking, I cannot say the chase would be a very
agreeable one, even though but a dream. However, tell me, have I any
need to see M. Bras Rouge--your great man here--about renting this
apartment?"
"None whatever, sir. He rarely comes near the place, except when he has
any private matters to arrange with Mother Burette. I am the only person
to treat with about hiring apartments. I must beg the favour of your
name."
"Rodolph."
"Rodolph what?"
"Plain Rodolph, M. Pipelet,--nothing more, if you please."
"Just as you please, sir. I did not ask from curiosity. Every man has a
right to his own free will, as well as to decide upon the name he
chooses to be called."
"What do you think, M. Pipelet, as to the propriety of my going
to-morrow, as a new neighbour of Morel's, to inquire whether I can be of
any service to them? Since my predecessor, M. Germain, was permitted to
assist them according to _his_ means, why should they not accept of what
trifling help I can afford?"
"Why, sir, I see no harm in your going to call on the Morels, because it
may please the poor things; but I hardly see much good it can do, as
they are so shortly to be turned out of the house." Then, as if suddenly
struck with a new idea, M. Pipelet exclaimed, winking at Rodolph with
what he intended should be a very facetious and penetrating look, "I
see, I see,--you mean to begin making acquaintance with the lodgers at
the top of the house, that you may be able to work your way down to
Mlle. Rigolette. Ah, I've found you out, you see,--pretty girl--"
"Well, I think you have discovered my intentions, so I will confess at
once that I mean to try and be on friendly terms with my agreeable
neighbour."
"There is no harm in that, sir,--it is customary; only all correct, all
right and honourable,--you understand. Between you and me, I strongly
suspect Mlle. Rigolette heard us coming up-stairs, and that she is
watching to have a look as we go down. I will make a noise purposely in
locking the door; if you look sharp, you will see her as we pass the
landing." And, true to the porter's suspicions, the door so tastefully
enlivened by the fat Cupids, _à la Watteau_, was seen to open gently,
and Rodolph had a brief view of a little, turned-up nose, and a pair of
large, staring black eyes, peeping through the narrow space; but, as he
slacked his steps, the door was hastily shut. "I told you she was
watching us," said the porter. Then added, "Excuse me one instant, sir;
I want to step up to my warehouse."
"Where is that?"
"At the top of this ladder is the landing-place, on which the door of
Morel's garret opens, and in the wainscoting of this landing is a small
dark cupboard, where I keep my leather, and the wall is so full of
cracks, that when I am in this hole I can see and hear everything, the
same as if I was in Morel's room. Not that I wish to spy what the poor
creatures are about, God knows,--quite the contrary. But please to
excuse me for a few minutes, sir, whilst I fetch my bit of leather. If
you will have the goodness to go down-stairs, I will rejoin you."
And, so saying, Pipelet commenced ascending the steep ladder
communicating with his warehouse, as he styled it,--a somewhat perilous
feat for a person of his age.
Rodolph, thus left alone, cast another glance towards the chambers of
Mlle. Rigolette, remembering with deep interest all he had heard of her
being the favourite companion of the poor Goualeuse, and recalling also
the information she was said to possess touching the residence of the
Schoolmaster's son, when the sound of some person quitting the
apartments of the quack doctor below attracted his attention, and he
could distinctly hear the light step of a female, with the rustling of a
silk dress. Rodolph paused till the sounds had died away, and then
descended the stairs. Something white had fallen about half-way down; it
had evidently been dropped by the person who had just quitted Polidori.
Rodolph picked it up, and carried it to one of the narrow windows which
lighted the staircase. It was a pocket-handkerchief, of the finest
cambric, trimmed with costly lace, and bearing in one corner the
initials "L. N." beautifully embroidered, and surmounted with a ducal
coronet. The handkerchief was literally soaked in tears.
Rodolph's first impulse was to follow the person from whose hand this
mute evidence of deep woe had fallen, with the view of restoring it,
but, reflecting that such a step might be mistaken for impertinent
curiosity, he determined to preserve it carefully, as the first link in
an adventure he found himself almost involuntarily engaged in, and from
which he augured a painful and melancholy termination. As he returned to
the porteress, he inquired whether a female had not just come
down-stairs.
"A female! No indeed, sir,--it was a fine, tall, slender-looking lady,
not a female, and covered over with a thick black veil. She has come
from M. Bradamanti. Little Tortillard fetched a coach for her, and she
has just driven away in it. What struck me was the impudence of that
little beggar to seat himself behind the coach. I dare say, though, it
was to see where the lady went to, for he is as mischievous as a magpie,
and as prying as a ferret, for all his club-foot."
"So, then," thought Rodolph, "the name and address of this unhappy lady
will soon be known to this imposter, since it is, doubtless, by his
directions she is followed and watched by this imp of an emissary."
"Well, sir, and what do you think of the apartment? Will it suit you?"
inquired Madame Pipelet.
"Nothing could have suited me better. I have taken it, and to-morrow I
shall send in my furniture."
"Well, then, thank God for a good lodger! I am sure it was a lucky
chance for us sent you here."
"I hope you will find it so, madame. I think it is well understood
between us that you undertake to manage all my little domestic matters
for me. I shall come and superintend the removal of my goods. Adieu!"
So saying, Rodolph left the lodge. The results of his visit to the house
in the Rue du Temple were highly important, both as regarded the
solution of the deep mystery he so ardently desired to unravel, and also
as affording a wide field for the exercise of his earnest endeavours to
do good and to prevent evil. After mature calculation, he considered
himself to have achieved the following results:
First, he had ascertained that Mlle. Rigolette was in possession of the
address of Germain, the Schoolmaster's son. Secondly, a young female,
who, from appearances, might unhappily be the Marquise d'Harville, had
made an appointment with the commandant for the morrow,--perhaps to her
own utter ruin and disgrace; and Rodolph had (as we have before
mentioned) numerous reasons for wishing to preserve the honour and peace
of one for whom he felt so lively an interest as he took in all
concerning M. d'Harville. An honest and industrious artisan, crushed by
the deepest misery, was, with his whole family, about to be turned into
the streets through the means of Bras Rouge. Further, Rodolph had
undesignedly caught a glimpse of an adventure in which the charlatan
César Bradamanti (possibly Polidori) and a female, evidently of rank and
fashion, were the principal actors. And, finally, La Chouette, having
lately quitted the hospital, where she had been since the affair in the
Allée des Veuves, had reappeared on the stage, and was evidently engaged
in some underhand proceedings with the fortune-teller and female
money-lender who occupied the second floor of the house.
Having carefully noted down all these particulars, Rodolph returned to
his house, Rue Plumet, deferring till the following day his visit to the
notary, Jacques Ferrand.
It will be no doubt fresh in the memory of our readers, that on this
same evening Rodolph was engaged to be present at a grand ball given by
the ambassador of ----. Before following our hero in this new excursion,
let us cast a retrospective glance on Tom and Sarah,--personages of the
greatest importance in the development of this history.