rcase where she couldn't see me. She
was laughing with a satisfaction that certainly wasn't motherly, so
I slipped after her to the peristyle where I heard her say to the
coachman, 'To Leroy's.' I ran round quickly to Leroy's, and there, sure
enough, was the poor mother. I got there in time to see her order and
pay for a fifteen-hundred-franc dress; you understand that in those
days people were made to pay when they bought. The next day but one she
appeared at an ambassador's ball, dressed to please all the world and
some one in particular. That day I said to myself: 'I've got a career!
When I'm no longer young I'll lend money to great ladies on their
finery; for passion never calculates, it pays blindly.' If you want
subjects for a vaudeville I can sell you plenty."

She departed after delivering this tirade, in which all the phases of
her past life were outlined, leaving Gazonal as much horrified by her
revelations as by the five yellow teeth she showed when she tried to
smile.

"What shall we do now?" he asked presently.

"Make notes," replied Bixiou, whistling for his porter; "for I want some
money, and I'll show you the use of porters. You think they only pull
the gate-cord; whereas they really pull poor devils like me and artists
whom they take under their protection out of difficulties. Mine will get
the Montyon prize one of these days."

Gazonal opened his eyes to their utmost roundness.

A man between two ages, partly a graybeard, partly an office-boy, but
more oily within and without, hair greasy, stomach puffy, skin dull and
moist, like that of the prior of a convent, always wearing list shoes, a
blue coat, and grayish trousers, made his appearance.

"What is it, monsieur?" he said with an air which combined that of a
protector and a subordinate.

"Ravenouillet--His name is Ravenouillet," said Bixiou turning to
Gazonal. "Have you our notebook of bills due with you?"

Ravenouillet pulled out of his pocket the greasiest and stickiest book
that Gazonal's eyes had ever beheld.

"Write down at three months' sight two notes of five hundred francs
each, which you will proceed to sign."

And Bixiou handed over two notes already drawn to his order by
Ravenouillet, which Ravenouillet immediately signed and inscribed on
the greasy book, in which his wife also kept account of the debts of the
other lodgers.

"Thanks, Ravenouillet," said Bixiou. "And here's a box at the Vaudeville
for you."

"Oh! my daught