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smile。
“A thousand thanks； mademoiselle； all has gone very
smoothly。”
She looked more than doubtful。
“Et les trois demoiselles du premier banc？” said she。
“Ah！ tout va au mieux！” was my answer； and Mdlle Reuter
ceased to question me； but her eye—not large； not brilliant； not
melting； or kindling； but astute； penetrating； practical； showed she
was even with me； it let out a momentary gleam； which said
plainly； “Be as close as you like； I am not dependent on your
candour； what you would conceal I already know。”
By a transition so quiet as to be scarcely perceptible； the
directress’s manner changed； the anxious business…air passed
from her face； and she began chatting about the weather and the
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town； and asking in neighbourly wise after M。 and Madame Pelet。
I answered all her little questions； she prolonged her talk； I went
on following its many little windings； she sat so long； said so much；
varied so often the topics of discourse； that it was not difficult to
perceive she had a particular aim in thus detaining me。 Her mere
words could have afforded no clue to this aim； but her
countenance aided； while her lips uttered only affable
commonplaces； her eyes reverted continually to my face。 Her
glances were not given in full； but out of the corners； so quietly； so
stealthily； yet I think I lost not one。 I watched her as keenly as she
watched me； I perceived soon that she was feeling after my real
character； she was searching for salient points； and weak； points；
and eccentric points； she was applying now this test； now that；
hoping in the end to find some chink； some niche； where she could
put in her little firm foot and stand upon my neck—mistress of my
nature； Do not mistake me； reader； it was no amorous influence
she wished to gain—at that time it was only the power of the
politician to which she aspired； I was now installed as a professor
in her establishment； and she wanted to know where her mind
was superior to mine—by what feeling or opinion she could lead
me。
I enjoyed the game much； and did not hasten its conclusion；
sometimes I gave her hopes； beginning a sentence rather weakly；
when her shrewd eye would light up—she thought she had me；
having led her a little way； I delighted to turn round and finish
with sound； hard sense； whereat her countenance would fall。 At
last a servant entered to announce dinner； the conflict being thus
necessarily terminated； we parted without having gained any
advantage on either side： Mdlle Reuter had not even given me an
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opportunity of attacking her with feeling； and I had managed to
baffle her little schemes of craft。 It was a regular drawn battle。 I
again held out my hand when I left the room； she gave me hers； it
was a small and white hand； but how cool！ I met her eye too in
full—obliging her to give me a straightforward look； this last test
went against me： it left her as it found her —moderate； temperate；
tranquil； me it disappointed。
“I am growing wiser；” thought I； as I walked back to M。 Pelet’s。
“Look at this little woman； is she like the women of novelists and
romancers？ To read of female character as depicted in Poetry and
Fiction； one would think it was made up of sentiment； either for
good or bad—here is a specimen； and a most sensible and
respectable specimen； too； whose staple ingredient is abstract
reason。 No Talleyrand was ever more passionless than Zoraide
Reuter！” So I thought then； I found afterwards that blunt
susceptibilities are very consistent with strong propensities。
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Chapter XI
had indeed had a very long talk with the crafty little
politician； and on regaining my quarters； I found that dinner
I
was half over。 To be late at meals was against a standing rule
of the establishment； and had it been one of the Flemish ushers
who thus entered after the removal of the soup and the
commencement of the first course； M。 Pelet would probably have
greeted him with a public rebuke； and would certainly have
mulcted him both of soup and fish； as it was； that polite though
partial gentleman only shook his head； and as I took my place；
unrolled my napkin； and said my heretical grace to myself； he
civilly despatched a servant to the kitchen； to bring me a plate of
“purée aux carottes” （for this was a maigre…day）； and before
sending away the first course； reserved for me a portion of the
stock…fish of which it consisted。 Dinner being over； the boys
rushed out for their evening play； Kint and Vandam （the two
ushers） of course followed them。 Poor fellows！ if they had not
looked so very heavy； so very soulless； so very indifferent to all
things in heaven above or in the earth beneath； I could have pitied
them greatly for the obligation they were under to trail after those
rough lads everywhere and at all times； even as it was； I felt
disposed to scout myself as a privileged prig when I turned to
ascend to my chamber； sure to find there； if not enjoyment； at least
liberty； but this evening （as had often happened before） I was to be
still farther distinguished。
“Eh bien； mauvais sujet！” said the voice of M。 Pelet behind me；
as I set my foot on the first step of the stair； “où allez…vous？ Venez
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à la salle…à…manger； que je vous gronde un peu。”
“I beg pardon； monsieur；” said I； as I followed him to his private
sitting…room； “for having returned so late—it was not my fault。”
“That is just what I want to know；” rejoined M。 Pelet； as he
ushered me into the comfortable parlour with a good wood…fire—
for the stove had now been removed for the season。 Having rung
the bell he ordered “Coffee for two；” and presently he and I were
seated； almost in English comfort； one on each side of the hearth； a
little round table between us； with a coffee…pot； a sugar…basin； and
two large white china cups。 While M。 Pelet employed himself in
choosing a cigar from a box； my thoughts reverted to the two
outcast ushers； whose voices I could hear even now crying
hoarsely for order in the playground。
“C’est une grande responsabilite； que la surveillance；” observed
I。
“Plait…il？” dit M。 Pelet。
I remarked that I thought Messieurs Vandam and Kint must
sometimes be a little fatigued with their labours。
“Des bêtes de somme；—des bêtes de somme；” murmured
scornfully the director。 Meantime I offered him his cup of coffee。
“Servez…vous mon garcon；” said he blandly； when I had put a
couple of huge lumps of continental sugar into his cup。 “And now
tell me why you stayed so long at Mdlle Reuter’s。 I know that
lessons conclude； in her establishment as in mine； at four o’clock；
and when you returned it was past five。”
“Mdlle wished to speak with me； monsieur。”
“Indeed！ on what subject？ if one may ask。”