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coaches。
〃Hein？〃 said the portress； without laying down the stocking she was
knitting。
In Paris the various component parts which make up the physiognomy of
any given portion of the monstrous city； are admirably in keeping with
its general character。 Thus porter； concierge； or Suisse； whatever
name may be given to that essential muscle of the Parisian monster； is
always in conformity with the neighborhood of which he is a part； in
fact； he is often an epitome of it。 The lazy porter of the faubourg
Saint…Germain； with lace on every seam of his coat； dabbles in stocks；
he of the Chaussee d'Antin takes his ease； reads the money…articles in
the newspapers； and has a business of his own in the faubourg
Montmartre。 The portress in the quarter of prostitution was formerly a
prostitute； in the Marais； she has morals； is cross…grained； and full
of crotchets。
On seeing Monsieur Jules this particular portress； holding her
knitting in one hand； took a knife and stirred the half…extinguished
peat in her foot…warmer； then she said：
〃You want Madame Etienne； do you mean Madame Etienne Gruget？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jules； assuming a vexed air。
〃Who makes trimmings？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； then； monsieur；〃 she said； issuing from her cage； and laying
her hand on Jules' arm and leading him to the end of a long passage…
way； vaulted like a cellar； 〃go up the second staircase at the end of
the court…yardwhere you will see the windows with the pots of pinks；
that's where Madame Etienne lives。〃
〃Thank you； madame。 Do you think she is alone？〃
〃Why shouldn't she be alone？ she's a widow。〃
Jules hastened up a dark stairway； the steps of which were knobby with
hardened mud left by the feet of those who came and went。 On the
second floor he saw three doors but no signs of pinks。 Fortunately； on
one of the doors； the oiliest and darkest of the three； he read these
words； chalked on a panel： 〃Ida will come to…night at nine o'clock。〃
〃This is the place；〃 thought Jules。
He pulled an old bellrope； black with age； and heard the smothered
sound of a cracked bell and the barking of an asthmatic little dog。 By
the way the sounds echoed from the interior he knew that the rooms
were encumbered with articles which left no space for reverberation；
a characteristic feature of the homes of workmen and humble
households； where space and air are always lacking。
Jules looked out mechanically for the pinks； and found them on the
outer sill of a sash window between two filthy drain…pipes。 So here
were flowers； here； a garden； two yards long and six inches wide；
here； a wheat…ear； here； a whole life epitomized； but here； too； all
the miseries of that life。 A ray of light falling from heaven as if by
special favor on those puny flowers and the vigorous wheat…ear brought
out in full relief the dust； the grease； and that nameless color；
peculiar to Parisian squalor； made of dirt； which crusted and spotted
the damp walls； the worm…eaten balusters； the disjointed window…
casings； and the door originally red。 Presently the cough of an old
woman； and a heavy female step； shuffling painfully in list slippers；
announced the coming of the mother of Ida Gruget。 The creature opened
the door and came out upon the landing； looked up； and said：
〃Ah！ is this Monsieur Bocquillon？ Why； no？ But perhaps you're his
brother。 What can I do for you？ Come in； monsieur。〃
Jules followed her into the first room； where he saw； huddled
together； cages； household utensils； ovens； furniture； little
earthenware dishes full of food or water for the dog and the cats； a
wooden clock； bed…quilts； engravings of Eisen； heaps of old iron； all
these things mingled and massed together in a way that produced a most
grotesque effect；a true Parisian dusthole； in which were not lacking
a few old numbers of the 〃Constitutionel。〃
Jules； impelled by a sense of prudence； paid no attention to the
widow's invitation when she said civilly； showing him an inner room：
〃Come in here； monsieur； and warm yourself。〃
Fearing to be overheard by Ferragus； Jules asked himself whether it
were not wisest to conclude the arrangement he had come to make with
the old woman in the crowded antechamber。 A hen； which descended
cackling from a loft； roused him from this inward meditation。 He came
to a resolution； and followed Ida's mother into the inner room；
whither they were accompanied by the wheezy pug； a personage otherwise
mute； who jumped upon a stool。 Madame Gruget showed the assumption of
semi…pauperism when she invited her visitor to warm himself。 Her fire…
pot contained； or rather concealed two bits of sticks； which lay
apart： the grating was on the ground； its handle in the ashes。 The
mantel…shelf； adorned with a little wax Jesus under a shade of squares
of glass held together with blue paper； was piled with wools； bobbins；
and tools used in the making of gimps and trimmings。 Jules examined
everything in the room with a curiosity that was full of interest； and
showed； in spite of himself； an inward satisfaction。
〃Well； monsieur； tell me； do you want to buy any of my things？〃 said
the old woman； seating herself in a cane arm…chair； which appeared to
be her headquarters。 In it she kept her handkerchief； snuffbox；
knitting； half…peeled vegetables； spectacles； calendar； a bit of
livery gold lace just begun； a greasy pack of cards； and two volumes
of novels； all stuck into the hollow of the back。 This article of
furniture； in which the old creature was floating down the river of
life； was not unlike the encyclopedic bag which a woman carries with
her when she travels； in which may be found a compendium of her
household belongings； from the portrait of her husband to /eau de
Melisse/ for faintness； sugarplums for the children； and English
court…plaster in case of cuts。
Jules studied all。 He looked attentively at Madame Gruget's yellow
visage； at her gray eyes without either brows or lashes； her toothless
mouth； her wrinkles marked in black； her rusty cap； her still more
rusty ruffles； her cotton petticoat full of holes； her worn…out
slippers； her disabled fire…pot； her table heaped with dishes and
silks and work begun or finished； in wool or cotton； in the midst of
which stood a bottle of wine。 Then he said to himself： 〃This old woman
has some passion； some strong liking or vice； I can make her do my
will。〃
〃Madame；〃 he said aloud； with a private sign of intelligence； 〃I have
come to order some livery trimmings。〃 Then he lowered his voice。 〃I
know；〃 he continued； 〃that you have a lodger who has taken the name of
Camuset。〃 The old woman looked at him suddenly； but without any sign
of astonishment。 〃Now； tell me； can we come to an understanding？ This
is a question which means fortune for you。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃speak out； and don't be afraid。 There's no
one here。 But if I had any one above； it would be impossible for him
to hear you。〃
〃Ha！ the sly old creature； she answers like a Norman；〃 thought Jules；
〃We shall agree。 Do not give yourself the trouble to tell falsehoods；
madame；〃 he resumed； 〃In the first place； let me tell you that I mean
no harm either to you or to your lodger who is suffering from cautery；
or to your daughter Ida； a stay…maker； the friend of Ferragus。 You
see； I know all your affairs。 Do not be uneasy； I am not a detective
policeman； nor do I desire anything that can hurt your conscience。 A
young lady will come here to…morrow…morning at half…past nine o'clock；
to talk with this lover of your daughter。 I want to be where I can see
all and hear all； without being seen or heard by them。 If you will
furnish me with the means of doing so； I will reward that service with
the gift of two thousand francs and a yearly stipend of six hundred。
My notary shall prepare a deed before you this evening； and I will
give him the money to hold； he will pay the two thousand to you
to…morrow after the conference at which I desire to be present； as you
will then have given proofs of your good faith。〃
〃Will it injure my daughter； my good monsieur？〃 she asked； casting a
cat…like glance of doubt and uneasiness upon him。
〃In no way； madame。 But； in any case； it seems to me that your
daughter does not treat you well。 A girl who is loved by so rich a man
as Ferragus ought to make you more comfortable than you seem to be。〃
〃Ah； my dear monsieur； just think； not so much as one poor ticket to
the Ambigu； or the Gaiete； where she can go as much as she likes。 It's
shameful！ A girl for whom I sold my silver forks and spoons！ and now I
eat； at my age； with German metal；and all to pay for her
apprenticeship； and give her a trade； where she could coin money if
she chose。 As for that； she's like me； clever as a witch； I must do
her that justice。 But； I will say； she might give me her old silk
gowns；I； who am so fond of wearing silk。 But no！ Monsieur； she dines
at the Cadran…Bleu at fifty francs a head； and rolls in her carriage
as if she were a princess； and despises her mother for a Colin…Lampon。
Heavens and earth！ what heedless young ones we've brought into the
world； we have nothing to boast of there。 A mother； monsieur； can't be
anything else but a good mother； and I've concealed tha