The Mysteries Of Paris Volume Iii Part 52

"What a deep one you are! But never mind, there's a pair of us! I say, M. Rodolph, is it not odd you and I should understand each other so well? Ah, we two should have suited one another to a hair! Gracious, M.

Rodolph, when I think what might have happened, if we had chanced to have met when I was such a tender-hearted, susceptible young creature, and so fond of handsome young men,--don't you fancy we should have seemed like made for one another,--eh, M. Rodolph?"

"Hus.h.!.+ Suppose M. Pipelet--"

"I forgot him, poor old duck! His brain is half turned since this last abominable prank of Cabrion's; but I'll tell you about that another time. As for your young relation, make yourself quite easy; I will undertake to play my part so well that old Seraphin shall come to me, and beg to have her as a servant."

"And if you succeed, Madame Pipelet, I have one hundred francs quite at your service. I am not rich, but--"

"Are you making fun of me, M. Rodolph, or do you imagine I am doing what I do for the sake of gain? I declare to G.o.d it's out of nothing but pure friends.h.i.+p! One hundred francs! That's handsome, however!"

"Why, I consider it but an act of justice, as well as grat.i.tude, to offer you a sum which, if left several months on my hands, the girl must soon have cost me."

"Ah, well, then, since I can serve you by accepting your hundred francs, of course I have no further objection, M. Rodolph; but we drew a famous prize in the lottery when you came into the house, and I don't care who hears me say it, for I'd as lief cry it on the housetops. You are the very prince and king of good lodgers! Halloa, there is a hackney-coach!

No doubt, the lady M. Bradamanti expects; I could not manage to see her well when she came yesterday, but I'll have a precious good stare at her this time; added to which, I've got a capital plan for finding out her name. Come, you shall see me go to work; it will be a famous lark for us!"

"No, I thank you, Madame Pipelet; I have not the slightest curiosity respecting either the name or features of this lady," returned Rodolph, withdrawing to the very end of the lodge.

"Where do you wish to go, madame?" cried Anastasie, rus.h.i.+ng towards the female, who was entering.

"I am going to M. Bradamanti's," returned the person addressed, visibly annoyed at having her progress thus arrested.

"He is not at home."

"You are mistaken."

"Oh, no, I am not!" said the porteress, skilfully contriving so to place herself as to command a perfect view of the stranger's features. "M.

Bradamanti has gone out, positively, absolutely gone out; that is to say, he is not at home, except to one lady."

"'Tis I, he expects me; and pray, my good woman, allow me to pa.s.s; you are really troublesome!"

"Your name, madame, if you please? I shall soon see if it is the name of the person M. Bradamanti desired me to admit. Should yours not be the right name, you don't go up-stairs, unless you first trample on my body!"

"Is it possible he could be so imprudent as to tell you my name?" cried the female, with as much surprise as uneasiness.

"Certainly he did, madame, or how should I know it?"

"How very thoughtless!" murmured the stranger. Then, after a momentary hesitation, she said, impatiently, in a low voice, and as if fearful of being overheard, "My name is D'Orbigny."

Rodolph started at the word, as it reached his ear, for it was the name of Madame d'Harville's mother-in-law. Advancing, therefore, from the dark corner in which he stood, he managed, by the light of the lamp, to obtain a clear view of the stranger, in whose features he easily traced the portrait so skilfully drawn by Clemence of the author of all her sufferings.

"Madame d'Orbigny!" repeated Madame Pipelet, in a loud tone. "Ah, then you may go up-stairs; that is the name M. Bradamanti gave me."

Madame d'Harville's mother-in-law waited for no second bidding, but rapidly pa.s.sed by the lodge.

"Well done us!" shouted the porteress, with a triumphant air; "I have caught my fish, done the great lady! Now, then, I know her name,--she is Madame d'Orbigny. That wasn't a bad scheme of mine, was it, M. Rodolph?

But what the plague is the matter with you? How sad and thoughtful you have grown all of a minute!"

"This lady has been to see M. Bradamanti before, has she not?"

"Yes, she was here yesterday evening; and, directly she was gone, M.

Bradamanti went out, most probably, to take his place in the diligence for to-day, because, when he came back, he asked me to take his trunk to the coach office, as he could not trust that little rascal, Tortillard."

"And do you know where M. Bradamanti is going?"

"To Normandy, by way of Alencon."

Rodolph called to his remembrance that Aubiers, the seat of M.

d'Orbigny, was situated in Normandy. There was no longer a doubt that the charlatan was proceeding to the paternal home of Clemence, and, as a matter of course, to aid and a.s.sist in some scheme of wickedness.

"The departure of M. Bradamanti will put old Seraphin out preciously!"

resumed Madame Pipelet. "I can't make out what she wants with him; but she seems as much bent upon seeing him as he is on avoiding her; for he charged me particularly not to tell her that he leaves Paris to-night at six o'clock. So, when she calls again, she will find n.o.body at home; that will give me an opportunity of talking to her about your young person. Let's see, what is her name? Cissy--"

"Cecily!"

"Ah, I see! Just clap two more letters to the word I said,--that'll do.

I must tie a knot in the corner of my handkerchief, that I may be able to recollect this bother of a name. Ciss--Cissy--Cecily--I've got it!"

"Well, now, I think it is time for me to visit Mlle. Rigolette," said Rodolph to Madame Pipelet, as he quitted the lodge.

"And when you come down-stairs, M. Rodolph, I hope you will just speak a word or two to my dear old darling of a husband. He has had a deal of trouble lately, and I know it will be a great relief to him to tell you all about it. That beast of a Cabrion has been at his old tricks again!"

"Be a.s.sured, Madame Pipelet, I shall always be ready to sympathise with your worthy husband in all his troubles."

And with these words Rodolph, strangely preoccupied with the recent visit of Madame d'Orbigny to Polidori, slowly pursued his way to the apartment of Mlle. Rigolette.

END OF VOLUME III.