precipitation; 'I hope there is nothing poisonous in the dye that you have about you—my dog is so delicate!'
So saying, she carefully wiped the pug-nose, spotted with yellow. Father Loriot, not at all satisfied with this speech, when he had expected to receive some apology from Mrs. Grivois on account of her dog's behavior, said to her, as with difficulty he restrained his anger: 'If you did not belong to the fair sex, which obliges me to respect you in the person of that wretched animal I would have the pleasure of taking him by the tail, and making him in one minute a dog of the brightest orange color, by plunging him into my cauldron, which is already on the fire.'
'Dye my pet yellow!' cried Mrs. Grivois, in great wrath, as she descended from the hackney-coach, clasping My Lord tenderly to her bosom, and surveying Father Loriot with a savage look.
'I told you, Mrs. Baudoin is not at home,' said the dyer, as he saw the pug-dog's mistress advance in the direction of the dark staircase.
'Never mind; I will wait for her,' said Mrs. Grivois tartly. 'On which story does she live?'
'Up four pair!' answered Father Loriot, returning abruptly to his shop. And he added to himself, with a chuckle at the anticipation: 'I hope Father Dagobert's big prowler will be in a bad humor, and give that villainous pug a shaking by the skin of his neck.'
Mrs. Grivois mounted the steep staircase with some difficulty, stopping at every landing-place to take breath, and looking about her with profound disgust. At length she reached the fourth story, and paused an instant at the door of the humble chamber, in which the two sisters and Mother Bunch then were.
The young sempstress was occupied in collecting the different articles that she was about to carry to the pawnbroker's. Rose and Blanche seemed happier, and somewhat less uneasy about the future; for they had learned from Mother Bunch, that, when they knew how to sew, they might between them earn eight francs a week, which would at least afford some assistance to the family.
The presence of Mrs. Grivois in Baudoin's dwelling was occasioned by a new resolution of Abbe d'Aigrigny and the Princess de Saint-Dizier; they had thought it more prudent to send Mrs. Grivois, on whom they could blindly depend, to fetch the young girls, and the confessor was charged to inform Frances that it was not to his housekeeper, but to a lady that would call on her with a note from him, that she was to deliver the orphans, to be taken to a religious establishment.
Having knocked at the door, the waiting-woman of the Princess de Saint Dizier entered the room, and asked for Frances Baudoin.
'She is not at home, madame,' said Mother Bunch timidly, not a little astonished at so unexpected a visit, and casting down her eyes before the gaze of this woman.
'Then I will wait for her, as I have important affairs to speak of,' answered Mrs. Grivois, examining with curiosity and attention the faces of the two orphans, who also cast down their eyes with an air of confusion.
So saying, Madame Grivois sat down, not without some repugnance, in the old arm-chair of Dagobert's wife, and believing that she might now leave her favorite at liberty, she laid him carefully on the floor. Immediately, a low growl, deep and hollow, sounding from behind the armchair, made Mrs. Grivois jump from her seat, and sent the pug-dog, yelping with affright, and trembling through his fat, to take refuge close to his mistress, with all the symptoms of angry alarm.
'What! is there a dog here?' cried Mrs. Grivois, stooping precipitately to catch up My Lord, whilst, as if he wished himself to answer the question, Spoil-sport rose leisurely from his place behind the arm-chair, and appeared suddenly, yawning and stretching himself.
At sight of this powerful animal, with his double row of formidable pointed fangs, which he seemed to take delight in displaying as he opened his large jaws, Mrs. Grivois could not help giving utterance to a cry of terror. The snappish pug had at first trembled in all his limbs at the Siberian's approach; but, finding himself in safety on the lap of his mistress, he began to growl insolently, and to throw the most provoking glances at Spoil-sport. These the worthy companion of the deceased Jovial answered disdainfully by gaping anew; after which he went smelling round Mrs. Grivois with a sort of uneasiness, turned his back upon My Lord, and stretched himself at the feet of Rose and Blanche, keeping his large, intelligent eyes fixed upon them, as if he foresaw that they were menaced with some danger.
'Turn out that beast,' said Mrs. Grivois, imperiously; 'he frightens my dog, and may do him some harm.'
'Do not be afraid, madame,' replied Rose, with a smile; 'Spoil-sport will do no harm, if he is not attacked.'
'Never mind!' cried Mrs. Grivois; 'an accident soon happens. The very sight of that enormous dog, with his wolf's head and terrible teeth, is enough to make one tremble at the injuries he might do one. I tell you to turn him out.'
Mrs. Grivois had pronounced these last words in a tone of irritation, which did not sound at all satisfactory in Spoil-sport's ears; so he growled and showed his teeth, turning his head in the direction of the stranger.
'Be quiet, Spoil-sport!' said Blanche sternly.
A new personage here entered the room, and put an end to this situation, which was embarrassing enough for the two young girls. It was a commissionaire, with a letter in his hand.
'What is it, sir?' asked Mother Bunch.
'A very pressing letter from the good man of the house; the dyer below stairs told me to bring it up here.'
'A letter from Dagobert!' cried Rose and Blanche, with a lively expression of pleasure. 'He is returned then? where is he?'
'I do not know whether the good man is called Dagobert or not,' said the porter; 'but he is an old trooper, with a gray moustache, and may be found close by, at the office of the Chartres coaches.'
'That is he!' cried Blanche. 'Give me the letter.'
The porter handed it to the young girl, who opened it in all haste.
Mrs. Grivois was struck dumb with dismay; she knew that Dagobert had been decoyed from Paris, that the Abbe Dubois might have an opportunity to act with safety upon Frances. Hitherto, all had succeeded; the good woman had consented to place the young girls in the hands of a religious community—and now arrives this soldier, who was thought to be absent from Paris for two or three days at least, and whose sudden return might easily ruin this laborious machination, at the moment when it seemed to promise success.
'Oh!' said Blanche, when she had read the letter. 'What a misfortune!'
'What is it, then, sister?' cried Rose.
'Yesterday, half way to Chartres, Dagobert perceived that he had lost his purse. He was unable to continue his journey; he took a place upon credit, to return, and he asks his wife to send him some money to the office, to pay what he owes.'
'That's it,' said the porter; 'for the good man told me to make haste, because he was there in pledge.'
'And nothing in the house!' cried Blanche. 'Dear me! what is to be done?'
At these words, Mrs. Grivois felt her hopes revive for a moment, they were soon, however, dispelled by Mother Bunch, who exclaimed, as she pointed to the parcel she had just made up: 'Be satisfied, dear young ladies! here is a resource. The pawnbroker's, to which I am going, is not far off, and I will take the money direct to M. Dagobert: in half an hour, at latest, he will be here.'
'Oh, my dear friend! you are right,' said Rose. 'How good you are! you think of everything.'
'And here,' said Blanche, 'is the letter, with the address upon it. Take that with you.'
'Thank you,' answered Mother Bunch: then, addressing the porter, she added: 'Return to the person who sent you, and tell him I shall be at the coach-office very shortly.'
'Infernal hunchback!' thought Mrs. Grivois, with suppressed rage, 'she thinks of everything. Without her, we should have escaped the plague of this man's return. What is to be done now? The girls would not go with me, before the arrival of the soldier's wife; to propose it to them would expose me to a refusal, and might compromise all. Once more, what is to be done?'
'Do not be uneasy, ladies,' said the porter as he went out; 'I will go and assure the good man, that he will not have to remain long in pledge.'
Whilst Mother Bunch was occupied in tying her parcel, in which she had placed the silver cup, fork, and spoon, Mrs. Grivois seemed to reflect deeply. Suddenly she started. Her countenance, which had been for some moments expressive of anxiety and rage, brightened up on the instant. She rose, still holding My Lord in her arms, and said to the young girls: 'As Mrs. Baudoin does not come in, I am going to pay a visit in the neighborhood, and will return immediately. Pray tell her so!'
