Other People's Money [167]
and a poor girl, very humble, and very modest, who rides in the omnibus, and who makes her dresses herself."
A contemptuous smile contracted Mlle. Cesarine's lips.
"Why not?" she interrupted. "Men have such funny tastes!"
And, turning around suddenly, she began another rondo, no less famous than the first, and borrowed, this time, from the third act of the Petites-Blanchisseuses:
What matters the quality? Beauty alone takes the prize Women before man must rise, And claim perfect equality."
Very attentively M. de Traggers was observing her. He had not been the dupe of the great surprise she had manifested when she found him in the little parlor.
"She knew I was here," he thought; "and it is her mother who has sent her to me. But why? and for what purpose?"
"With all that," she resumed, "I see the sweet Mme. Favoral and her modest daughter in a terribly tight place. What a 'bust,' marquis!"
"They have a great deal of courage, mademoiselle."
"Naturally. But, what is better, the daughter has a splendid voice: at least, so her professor told Costeclar. Why should she not go on the stage? Actresses make lots of money, you know. Papal help her, if she wishes. He has a great deal of influence in the theatres, papa has."
"Mme. and Mlle. Favoral have friends."
"Ah, yes! Costeclar."
"Others besides."
"I beg your pardon; but it seems to me that this one will do to begin with. He is gallant, Costeclar, extremely gallant, and, moreover, generous as a lord. Why should he not offer to that youthful and timid damsel a nice little position in mahogany and rosewood? That way, we should have the pleasure of meeting her around the lake."
And she began singing again, with a slight variation 'Macon, who, before the war,
Carried clothes for a living, Now for her gains is trusting To that insane Costeclar."
"Ah, that big red-headed girl is terribly provoking!" thought M. de Traggers.
But, as he did not as yet understand very clearly what she wished to come to, he kept on his guard, and remained cold as marble.
Already she had again turned towards him.
"What a face you are making!" she said. "Are you jealous of the fiery Costeclar, by chance?"
"No, mademoiselle, no!"
"Then, why don't you want him to succeed in his love? But he will, you'll see! Five hundred francs on Costeclar! Do you take it? No? I am sorry. It's twenty-five napoleons lost for me. I know very well that Mlle. - what's her name?"
"Gilberte."
"Hallo! a nice name for a cashier's daughter! I am aware that she once sent that poor Costeclar and his offer to - Called. But she had resources then; whilst now - It's stupid as it can be; but people have to eat!"
"There are still women, mademoiselle, capable of starving to death."
M. de Traggers now felt satisfied. It seemed evident to him that they had somehow got wind of his intentions; that Mlle. de Thaller had been sent to feel the ground; and that she only attacked Mlle. Gilberte in order to irritate him, and compel him, in a moment of anger, to declare himself.
"Bash!" she said, "Mlle. Favoral is like all the others. If she had to select between the amiable Costeclar and a charcoal furnace, it is not the furnace she would take."
At all times, Marius de Tregars disliked Mlle. Cesarine to a supreme degree; but at this moment, without the pressing desire he had to see the Baron and Baroness de Thaller, he would have withdrawn.
"Believe me, mademoiselle," he uttered coldly. "Spare a poor girl stricken by a most cruel misfortune. Worse might happen to you."
"To me! And what the mischief do you suppose can happen me?"
"Who knows?"
She started to her feet so violently, that she upset the piano-stool.
"Whatever It may be," she exclaimed, "I say in advance, I am glad!"
And as M. de Traggers turned his head in some surprise,
"Yes, I am glad!" she repeated, "because it would be a change; and I am sick of the life I lead. Yes, sick to be eternally
A contemptuous smile contracted Mlle. Cesarine's lips.
"Why not?" she interrupted. "Men have such funny tastes!"
And, turning around suddenly, she began another rondo, no less famous than the first, and borrowed, this time, from the third act of the Petites-Blanchisseuses:
What matters the quality? Beauty alone takes the prize Women before man must rise, And claim perfect equality."
Very attentively M. de Traggers was observing her. He had not been the dupe of the great surprise she had manifested when she found him in the little parlor.
"She knew I was here," he thought; "and it is her mother who has sent her to me. But why? and for what purpose?"
"With all that," she resumed, "I see the sweet Mme. Favoral and her modest daughter in a terribly tight place. What a 'bust,' marquis!"
"They have a great deal of courage, mademoiselle."
"Naturally. But, what is better, the daughter has a splendid voice: at least, so her professor told Costeclar. Why should she not go on the stage? Actresses make lots of money, you know. Papal help her, if she wishes. He has a great deal of influence in the theatres, papa has."
"Mme. and Mlle. Favoral have friends."
"Ah, yes! Costeclar."
"Others besides."
"I beg your pardon; but it seems to me that this one will do to begin with. He is gallant, Costeclar, extremely gallant, and, moreover, generous as a lord. Why should he not offer to that youthful and timid damsel a nice little position in mahogany and rosewood? That way, we should have the pleasure of meeting her around the lake."
And she began singing again, with a slight variation 'Macon, who, before the war,
Carried clothes for a living, Now for her gains is trusting To that insane Costeclar."
"Ah, that big red-headed girl is terribly provoking!" thought M. de Traggers.
But, as he did not as yet understand very clearly what she wished to come to, he kept on his guard, and remained cold as marble.
Already she had again turned towards him.
"What a face you are making!" she said. "Are you jealous of the fiery Costeclar, by chance?"
"No, mademoiselle, no!"
"Then, why don't you want him to succeed in his love? But he will, you'll see! Five hundred francs on Costeclar! Do you take it? No? I am sorry. It's twenty-five napoleons lost for me. I know very well that Mlle. - what's her name?"
"Gilberte."
"Hallo! a nice name for a cashier's daughter! I am aware that she once sent that poor Costeclar and his offer to - Called. But she had resources then; whilst now - It's stupid as it can be; but people have to eat!"
"There are still women, mademoiselle, capable of starving to death."
M. de Traggers now felt satisfied. It seemed evident to him that they had somehow got wind of his intentions; that Mlle. de Thaller had been sent to feel the ground; and that she only attacked Mlle. Gilberte in order to irritate him, and compel him, in a moment of anger, to declare himself.
"Bash!" she said, "Mlle. Favoral is like all the others. If she had to select between the amiable Costeclar and a charcoal furnace, it is not the furnace she would take."
At all times, Marius de Tregars disliked Mlle. Cesarine to a supreme degree; but at this moment, without the pressing desire he had to see the Baron and Baroness de Thaller, he would have withdrawn.
"Believe me, mademoiselle," he uttered coldly. "Spare a poor girl stricken by a most cruel misfortune. Worse might happen to you."
"To me! And what the mischief do you suppose can happen me?"
"Who knows?"
She started to her feet so violently, that she upset the piano-stool.
"Whatever It may be," she exclaimed, "I say in advance, I am glad!"
And as M. de Traggers turned his head in some surprise,
"Yes, I am glad!" she repeated, "because it would be a change; and I am sick of the life I lead. Yes, sick to be eternally