portress； who thus； all unconsciously； represented the bourgeoisie。 As
he went to bed in the horrible room； floored with bricks that were not
even colored； and hung with a paper at seven sous a roll； Godefroid
not only regretted his little rooms in the rue Chanoinesse； but also
the society of Madame de la Chanterie。 He felt a void in his soul。 He
had already acquired habits of mind； and could not remember to have so
keenly regretted anything in all his former life as this break in his
new existence。 These thoughts； as they pressed upon him； had a great
effect upon his soul； he felt that no life could compare in value with
the one he sought to embrace； and his resolution to emulate the good
old Alain became unshakable。 Without having any vocation for the work；
he had the will to do it。
The next day Godefroid； already habituated by his new life to rising
early； saw from his window a young man about seventeen years of age；
dressed in a blouse； who was coming back； no doubt from the public
fountain； bringing a crock full of water in each hand。 The face of
this lad； who was not aware that he was seen； revealed his feelings；
and never had Godefroid observed one so artless and so melancholy。 The
graces of youth were all repressed by poverty； by study； by great
physical fatigue。 Monsieur Bernard's grandson was remarkable for a
complexion of extreme whiteness； which the contrast with his dark hair
seemed to make still whiter。 He made three trips； when he returned
from the last he saw some men unloading a cord of wood which Godefroid
had ordered the night before； for the long…delayed winter of 1838 was
beginning to be felt； snow had fallen slightly during the night。
Nepomucene； who had begun his day by going for the wood （on which
Madame Vauthier levied a handsome tribute）； spoke to the young lad
while waiting until the woodman had sawed enough for him to carry
upstairs。 It was easy to see that the sudden cold was causing anxiety
to Monsieur Bernard's grandson； and that the sight of the wood； as
well as that of the threatening sky； warned him that they ought to be
making their own provision for wintry weather。 Suddenly； however； as
if reproaching himself for lost time； he seized his crocks and hastily
entered the house。 It was； in fact； half…past seven o'clock； the hour
was just ringing from the belfry of the convent of the Visitation； and
he was due at the college of Louis…le…Grand by half…past eight。
As the young lad entered the house； Godefroid went to his door to
admit Madame Vauthier who brought her new lodger the wherewithal to
make a fire； and he thus became the witness of a scene which took
place on the landing。
A neighboring gardener； who had rung several times at Monsieur
Bernard's door without making any one hear （for the bell was wrapped
in paper）； had a rather rough dispute with the young lad who now came
up with the water； demanding to be paid for the flowers he had
supplied。 As the man raised his voice angrily Monsieur Bernard
appeared。 〃Auguste；〃 he said to his grandson； 〃dress yourself； it is
time for school。〃
He himself took the two crocks of water； carried them into the first
of his rooms； in which were many pots of flowers； and returned to
speak to the gardener； carefully closing the door behind him。
Godefroid's door was open； for Nepomucene had begun his trips； and was
stacking the wood in the front room。 The gardener was silent in
presence of Monsieur Bernard； whose tall figure； robed in a violet
silk dressing…gown； buttoned to the throat； gave him an imposing air。
〃You might ask for what is owing to you without such noise；〃 said
Monsieur Bernard。
〃Be fair； my dear monsieur；〃 said the gardener。 〃You agreed to pay me
every week； and it now three months； ten weeks； since I have had a
penny； you owe me a hundred and twenty francs。 We let out our plants
to rich people who pay us when we ask for the money； but this is the
fifth time I have come to you for it。 I have my rent to pay and the
wages of my men； I am not a bit richer than you。 My wife； who supplied
you with eggs and milk； will not come here any more； you owe her
thirty francs。 She does not like to dun you； for she is kind…hearted；
that she is！ If I listened to her； I couldn't do business at all。 And
so I； who am not so softyou understand？〃
Just then Auguste came out dressed in a shabby little green coat with
cloth trousers of the same color； a black cravat； and worn…out boots。
These clothes； though carefully brushed； showed the lowest degree of
poverty； they were all too short and too narrow； so that the lad
seemed likely to crack them at every motion。 The seams were white； the
edges curled； the buttonholes torn in spite of many mendings； the
whole presenting to the most unobservant eyes the heart…breaking
stigmas of honest penury。 This livery contrasted sadly with the youth
of the lad； who now disappeared munching a crust of stale bread with
his strong and handsome teeth。 He breakfasted thus on his way to the
rue Saint…Jacques； carrying his books and papers under his arm； and
wearing a little cap much too small for his head； from which stuck out
a mass of magnificent black hair。
In passing before his grandfather the lad had given him rapidly a look
of deep distress； for he knew him to be in an almost hopeless
difficulty； the consequences of which might be terrible。 To leave room
for the boy to pass； the gardener had stepped back to the sill of
Godefroid's door； and as at that moment Nepomucene arrived with a
quantity of wood； the creditor was forced to retreat into the room。
〃Monsieur Bernard！〃 cried the widow Vauthier； 〃do you think Monsieur
Godefroid hired his rooms to have you hold your meetings in them？〃
〃Excuse me； madame；〃 said the gardener； 〃but there was no room on the
landing。〃
〃I didn't say that for you； Monsieur Cartier；〃 said the widow。
〃Remain where you are！〃 cried Godefroid； addressing the gardener； 〃and
you； my dear neighbor；〃 he added； looking at Monsieur Bernard； who
seemed insensible to the cruel insult； 〃if it is convenient to you to
have an explanation with your gardener in my room； come in。〃
The old man； half stupefied with his troubles； cast a look of
gratitude on Godefroid。
〃As for you； my dear Madame Vauthier；〃 continued Godefroid； 〃don't be
so rough with monsieur； who is in the first place an old man； and one
to whom you owe the obligation of my lodging here。〃
〃Oh； pooh！〃 said the widow。
〃Besides； if poor people do not help each other； who will help them？
Leave us； Madame Vauthier； I'll blow the fire myself。 Have the rest of
my wood put in your cellar； I am sure you will take good care of it。〃
Madame Vauthier disappeared； for Godefroid in telling her to take care
of his wood had given an opportunity to her greed。
〃Come in this way；〃 said Godefroid； offering chairs to both debtor and
creditor。
The old man conversed standing； but the gardener sat down。
〃My good Monsieur Cartier；〃 went on Godefroid； 〃rich people do not pay
as regularly as you say they do； and you ought not to dun a worthy man
for a few louis。 Monsieur draws his pension every six months； and he
could not make you an assignment of it for such a paltry sum。 I am
willing to advance the money； if you absolutely insist on having it。〃
〃Monsieur Bernard drew his pension two weeks ago； and has not paid me。
I am sorry to trouble him； of course。〃
〃Have you furnished him with plants all along？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； for six years； and he has always paid me。〃
Monsieur Bernard； who was listening to some sound in his own rooms and
paying no attention to what was being said； now heard a cry through
the partitions and hurried away without a word。
〃Come； come； my good man；〃 said Godefroid； taking advantage of the old
man's absence； 〃bring some nice flowers； your best flowers； this very
morning； and tell your wife to send the eggs and milk as usual； I will
pay you this evening。〃
Cartier looked oddly at Godefroid。
〃Then you must know more than Madame Vauthier does； she sent me word
to hurry if I hoped to be paid；〃 he said。 〃Neither she nor I can make
out why folks who eat nothing but bread and the odds and ends of
vegetables； bits of carrots； turnips； and such things； which they get
at the back…doors of restaurants；yes； monsieur； I assure you I came
one day on the little fellow filling an old handbag；well； I want to
know why such persons spend nearly forty francs a month on flowers。
They say the old man's pension is only three thousand francs。〃
〃At any rate；〃 said Godefroid； 〃it is not your business to complain if
they ruin themselves in flowers。〃
〃That's true； monsieur；provided they pay me。〃
〃Bring your bill to me。〃
〃Very good； monsieur；〃 said the gardener； with a tinge of respect。
〃Monsieur no doubt wants to see the mysterious lady。〃
〃My good friend；〃 said Godefroid； stiffly； 〃you forget yourself。 Go
home now and bring fresh plants for those you are to take away。 If you
can also supply me with good cream and fresh eggs I will take them；
and I will go this morning and take a look at your establishment。〃
〃It is one of the finest in Paris； monsieur。 I exhibit at the
Luxembourg。 My garden； which covers three acres； is on the boulevard；
behind the garden of La Grande…Chaumiere。〃
〃Very good； Monsieur Cartier。 You are； I see； much richer than I。 Have
some consideration for us； therefore。 Who knows how soon we may have
mutual need of each other？〃
The gardener went away； much puzzled as to who and what Godefroid
might be。
〃And yet I was once just like that；〃 thought Godefroid； blowing his
fire。 〃What a fine specimen of the bourgeois of to…day！gossiping；
inquisitive； crazy for equality； jealous of his customers； furious at
not knowing why a poor sick woman stays in her room without being
seen； concealing his wealth； and yet vain enough to betray it when he
thinks it will put him above his neighbor。 That man ought to be the
lieutenant of his company。 I dare say he is。 With what ease he plays
the scene of Monsieur Dimanche！ A little more and I should have made a
friend of Monsieur Cartier。〃
The old man broke into this soliloquy； which proves how Godefroid's
ideas had changed in four months