danger； and probably lead to active measures under which Monsieur
Bernard would before long be arrested； whereas； if he left the trio of
harpies to suppose that their scheme ran no risk of defeat； they would
keep quiet。
But Godefroid did not yet know Parisian human nature when embodied in
a Vauthier。 That woman resolved to have Godefroid's money and Barbet's
too。 She instantly ran off to her proprietor； while Godefroid changed
his clothes in order to present himself properly before the daughter
of Monsieur Bernard。
XV
AN EVENING WITH VANDA
Eight o'clock was striking from the convent of the Visitation； the
clock of the quarter； when the inquisitive Godefroid tapped gently at
his neighbor's door。 Auguste opened it。 As it happened to be a
Saturday； the young lad had his evening to himself。 Godefroid beheld
him in a little sack…coat of black velvet； a blue silk cravat； and
black trousers。 But his surprise at the youth's appearance； so
different from that of this outside life； ceased as soon as he had
entered the invalid's chamber。 He then understood the reason why both
father and son were well dressed。
For a moment the contrast between the squalor of the other rooms； as
he had seen them that morning； and the luxury of this chamber； was so
great that Godefroid was dazzled； though habituated for years to the
luxury and elegance procured by wealth。
The walls of the room were hung with yellow silk； relieved by twisted
fringes of a bright green； giving a gay and cheerful aspect to the
chamber； the cold tiled floor of which was hidden by a moquette carpet
with a white ground strewn with flowers。 The windows； draped by
handsome curtains lined with white silk； were like conservatories； so
full were they of plants in flower。 The blinds were lowered； which
prevented this luxury； so rare in that quarter of the town； from being
seen from the street。 The woodwork was painted in white enamel；
touched up； here and there； by a few gold lines。
At the door was a heavy portiere； embroidered by hand with fantastic
foliage on a yellow ground； so thick that all sounds from without were
stifled。 This magnificent curtain was made by the sick woman herself；
who could work； when she had the use of her hands； like a fairy。
At the farther end of the room； and opposite to the door； was the
fireplace； with a green velvet mantel…shelf； on which a few extremely
elegant ornaments； the last relics of the opulence of two families；
were arranged。 These consisted of a curious clock； in the shape of an
elephant supporting on its back a porcelain tower which was filled
with the choicest flowers； two candelabra in the same style； and
several precious Chinese treasures。 The fender； andirons； tongs； and
shovel were all of the handsomest description。
The largest of the flower…stands was placed in the middle of the room；
and above it hung a porcelain chandelier designed with wreaths of
flowers。
The bed on which the old man's daughter lay was one of those beautiful
white and gold carved bedsteads such as were made in the Louis XV。
period。 By the sick woman's pillow was a very pretty marquetry table；
on which were the various articles necessary to this bedridden life。
Against the wall was a bracket lamp with two branches； either of which
could be moved forward or back by a mere touch of the hand。 A small
table； adapted to the use of the invalid； extended in front of her。
The bed； covered with a beautiful counterpane； and draped with
curtains held back by cords； was heaped with books； a work…basket； and
articles of embroidery； beneath which Godefroid would scarcely have
distinguished the sick woman herself had it not been for the light of
the bracket lamps。
There was nothing of her to be seen but a face of extreme whiteness；
browned around the eyes by suffering； in which shone eyes of fire； its
principal adornment being a magnificent mass of black hair； the
numerous heavy curls of which； carefully arranged； showed that the
dressing of those beautiful locks occupied a good part of the
invalid's morning。 This supposition was further strengthened by the
portable mirror which lay on the bed。
No modern arrangement for comfort was lacking。 Even a few knick…
knacks； which amused poor Vanda； proved that the father's love was
almost fanatical。
The old man rose from an elegant Louis XV。 sofa in white and cold；
covered with tapestry； and advanced to Godefroid； who would certainly
not have recognized him elsewhere； for that cold； stern face now wore
the gay expression peculiar to old men of the world； who retain the
manners and apparent frivolity of the nobility about a court。 His
wadded violet gown was in keeping with this luxury； and he took snuff
from a gold box studded with diamonds。
〃Here； my dear daughter；〃 said Monsieur Bernard； taking Godefroid by
the hand； 〃is the neighbor of whom I told you。〃
He signed to his grandson to draw up one of two armchairs； similar in
style to the sofa； which stood beside the fireplace。
〃Monsieur's name is Godefroid； and he is full of friendly kindness for
us。〃
Vanda made a motion with her head in answer to Godefroid's low bow； by
the very way in which her neck bent and then recovered itself；
Godefroid saw that the whole physical life of the invalid was in her
head。 The thin arms and flaccid hands lay on the fine； white linen of
the sheets； like things not connected with the body； which； indeed；
seemed to fill no place at all in the bed。 The articles necessary for
a sick person were on shelves standing behind the bedstead； and were
concealed by a drawn curtain。
〃You are the first person； monsieur；except my doctors； who are not
men to me；whom I have seen for six years； therefore you cannot doubt
the interest you have excited in my mind； since my father told me this
morning that you were to pay me a visitinterest！ no； it was an
unconquerable curiosity； like that of our mother Eve。 My father； who
is so good to me； and my son； whom I love so much； do certainly
suffice to fill the desert of a soul which is almost without a body；
but after all； that soul is still a woman's； I feel it in the childish
joy the thought of your visit has brought me。 You will do me the
pleasure to take a cup of tea with us； I hope？〃
〃Monsieur has promised to pass the evening here；〃 said the old man；
with the air of a millionnaire receiving a guest。
Auguste； sitting on a tapestried chair at a marquetry table with brass
trimmings； was reading a book by the light of the candelabra on the
chimney piece。
〃Auguste； my dear；〃 said his mother； 〃tell Jean to serve tea in an
hour。 Would you believe it monsieur；〃 she added； 〃that for six years I
have been waited upon wholly by my father and son； and now； I really
think； I could bear no other attendance。 If they were to fail me I
should die。 My father will not even allow Jean； a poor Norman who has
served us for thirty years； to come into my room。〃
〃I should think not！〃 said the old man； quickly； 〃monsieur knows him；
he chops wood and brings it in； and cooks； he wears dirty aprons； and
would soon spoil all this elegance in which you take such pleasure
this room is really the whole of life to my poor daughter； monsieur。〃
〃Ah！ madame； your father is quite right。〃
〃But why？〃 she said； 〃if Jean did any damage to my room my father
would restore it。〃
〃Yes； my child； but remember you could not leave it； you don't know
what Parisian tradesmen are； they would take three months to renovate
your room。 Let Jean take care of it？ no； indeed！ how can you think of
it？ Auguste and I take such precautions that we allow no dust； and so
avoid all sweeping。〃
〃It is a matter of health； not economy；〃 said Godefroid； 〃your father
is right。〃
〃I am not complaining；〃 said Vanda； in a caressing voice。
That voice was a concert of delightful sounds。 Soul； motion； life
itself were concentrated in the glance and in the voice of this woman；
for Vanda had succeeded by study； for which time was certainly not
lacking to her； in conquering the difficulty produced by the loss of
her teeth。
〃I have much to make me happy in the midst of my sufferings；
monsieur；〃 she said； 〃and certainly ample means are a great help in
bearing trouble。 If we had been poor I should have died eighteen years
ago； but I still live。 Oh； yes； I have many enjoyments； and they are
all the greater because they are perpetually won from death。 I am
afraid you will think me quite garrulous；〃 she added； smiling。
〃Madame； I should like to listen to you forever；〃 replied Godefroid；
〃I have never heard a voice that was comparable to yours； it is music；
Rubini is not more enchanting。〃
〃Don't speak of Rubini or the opera；〃 said the old man； sadly。 〃That
is a pleasure that； rich as I am； I cannot give to my daughter。 She
was once a great musician； and the opera was her greatest pleasure。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 said Godefroid。
〃You will soon get accustomed to us；〃 said the old man。
〃Yes； and this is the process；〃 said the sick woman； laughing； 〃when
they've cried 'puss； puss； puss；' often enough you'll learn the puss…
in…the…corner of our conversations。〃
Godefroid gave a rapid glance at Monsieur Bernard； who； seeing the
tears in the eyes of his new neighbor； seemed to be making him a sign
not to undo the results of the self…command he and his grandson had
practised for so many years。
This sublime and perpetual imposture； proved by the complete illusion
of the sick woman； produced on Godefroid's mind the impression of an
Alpine precipice down which two chamois hunters picked their way。 The
magnificent gold snuff…box enriched with diamonds with which the old
man carelessly toyed as he sat by his daughter's bedside was like the
stroke of genius which in the work of a great man elicits a cry of
admiration。 Godefroid looked at that snuff…box； wondering it had not
been sold or found its way to the mont…de…piete。
〃This evening； Monsieur Godefroid； my daughter received the
announcement of your visit with such excitement that all the curious
symptoms of her malady which have troubled us very much for the last
twelve days have entirely disappeared。 You can fancy how grateful I am
to you。〃
〃And I； too；〃 said the