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pound of cinnamon; and thenfire! fire!〃 shouted the religious writer;
with the most vociferous exclamations。
〃Yes; yes! fire!〃 repeated the chorus!
The proposition of Ninny Moulin gave a new impetus to the general gayety;
the most extravagant remarks were mingled with the sound of kisses; taken
or given under the pretext that perhaps there would be no to…morrow; that
one must make the most of the present; etc。; etc。 Suddenly; in one of
the moments of silence which sometimes occur in the midst of the greatest
tumult; a succession of slow and measured taps sounded above the ceiling
of the banqueting…room。 All remained silent; and listened。
CHAPTER XXI。
BRANDY TO THE RESCUE。
After the lapse of some seconds; the singular rapping which had so much
surprised the guests; was again heard; but this time louder and longer。
〃Waiter!〃 cried one of the party; 〃what in the devil's name is knocking?〃
The waiter; exchanging with his comrades a look of uneasiness and alarm;
stammered Out in reply: 〃Sirit isit is〃
〃Well! I suppose it is some crabbed; cross…grained lodger; some animal;
the enemy of joy; who is pounding on the floor of his room to warn us to
sing less loud;〃 said Ninny Moulin。
〃Then; by a general rule;〃 answered sententiously the pupil of the great
painter; 〃if lodger or landlord ask for silence; tradition bids us reply
by an infernal uproar; destined to drown all his remonstrances。 Such; at
least;〃 added the scapegrace; modestly; are the foreign relations that I
have always seen observed between neighboring powers。〃
This remark was received with general laughter and applause。 During the
tumult; Morok questioned one of the waiters; and then exclaimed in a
shrill tone; which rose above the clamor: 〃I demand a hearing!〃
〃Granted!〃 cried the others; gayly。 During the silence which followed
the exclamation of Morok; the noise was again heard; it was this time
quicker than before。
〃The lodger is innocent;〃 said Morok; with a strange smile; 〃and would be
quite incapable of interfering with your enjoyment。〃
〃Then why does he keep up that knocking?〃 said Ninny Moulin; emptying his
glass。
〃Like a deaf man who has lost his ear…horn?〃 added the young artist。
〃It is not the lodger who is knocking〃 said Morok; in a sharp; quick
tone; 〃for they are nailing him down in his coffin。〃 A sudden and
mournful silence followed these words。
〃His coffin no; I am wrong;〃 resumed Morok; 〃her coffin; I should say; or
more properly their coffin; for; in these pressing times; they put mother
and child together。〃
〃A woman!〃 cried PLEASURE; addressing the writer; 〃is it a woman that is
dead?〃
〃Yes; ma'am; a poor young woman about twenty years of age;〃 answered the
waiter in a sorrowful tone。 〃Her little girl; that she was nursing; died
soon afterall in less than two hours。 My master is very sorry that you
ladies and gents should be disturbed in this way; but he could not
foresee this misfortune; as yesterday morning the young woman was quite
well; and singing with all her mightno one could have been gayer than
she was。〃
Upon these words; it was as if a funeral pall had been suddenly thrown
over a scene lately so full of joy; all the rubicund and jovial faces
took an expression of sadness; no one had the hardihood to make a jest of
mother and child; nailed down together in the same coffin。 The silence
became so profound; that one could hear each breath oppressed by terror:
the last blows of the hammer seemed to strike painfully on every heart;
it appeared as if each sad feeling; until now repressed; was about to
replace that animation and gayety; which had been more factitious than
sincere。 The moment was decisive。 It was necessary to strike an
immediate blow; and to raise the spirits of the guests; for many pretty
rosy faces began to grow pale; many scarlet ears became suddenly white;
Ninny Moulin's were of the number。
On the contrary; Sleepinbuff exhibited an increase of audacity; he drew
up his figure; bent down from the effects of exhaustion; and; with a
cheek slightly flushed; he exclaimed: 〃Well; waiter? are those bottles of
brandy coming? And the punch? Devil and all! are the dead to frighten
the living?〃
〃He's right! Down with sorrow; and let's have the punch!〃 cried several
of the guests; who felt the necessity of reviving their courage。
〃Forward; punch!〃
〃Begone; dull care!〃
〃Jollity forever!〃
〃Gentlemen; here is the punch;〃 said a waiter; opening the door。 At
sight of the flaming beverage; which was to reanimate their enfeebled
spirits; the room rang with the loudest applause。
The sun had just set。 The room was large; being capable of dining a
hundred guests; and the windows were few; narrow; and half veiled by red
cotton curtains。 Though it was not yet night; some portions of this vast
saloon were almost entirely dark。 Two waiters brought the monster…punch;
in an immense brass kettle; brilliant as gold; suspended from an iron
bar; and crowned with flames of changing color。 The burning beverage was
then placed upon the table; to the great joy of the guests; who began to
forget their past alarms。
〃Now;〃 said Jacques to Morok; in a taunting tone; 〃while the punch is
burning; we will have our duel。 The company shall judge。〃 Then; pointing
to the two bottles of brandy; which the waiter had brought; Jacques
added: 〃Choose your weapon!〃
〃Do you choose;〃 answered Morok。
〃Well! here's your bottleand here's your glass。 Ninny Moulin shall be
umpire。〃
〃I do not refuse to be judge of the field;〃 answered the religious
writer; 〃only I must warn you; comrade; that you are playing a desperate
game; and that just now; as one of these gentlemen has said; the neck of
a bottle of brandy in one's mouth; is perhaps more dangerous than the
barrel of a loaded pistol。〃
〃Give the word; old fellow!〃 said Jacques; interrupting Ninny Moulin; 〃or
I will give it myself。〃
〃Since you will have it soso be it!〃
〃The first who gives in is conquered;〃 said Jacques。
〃Agreed!〃 answered Morok。
〃Come; gentlemen; attention! we must follow every movement;〃 resumed
Ninny Moulin。 〃Let us first see if the bottles are of the same size
equality of weapons being the foremost condition。〃
During these preparations; profound silence reigned in the room。 The
courage of the majority of those present; animated for a moment by the
arrival of the punch; was soon again depressed by gloomy thoughts; as
they vaguely foresaw the danger of the contest between Morok and Jacques。
This impression joined to the sad thoughts occasioned by the incident of
the coffin; darkened by degrees many a countenance。 Some of the guests;
indeed; continued to make a show of rejoicing; but their gayety appeared
forced。 Under certain circumstances; the smallest things will have the
most powerful effect。 We have said that; after sunset; a portion of this
large room was plunged in obscurity; therefore; the guests who sat in the
remote corners of the apartment; had no other light than the reflection
of the flaming punch。 Now it is well known; that the flame of burning
spirit throws a livid; bluish tint over the countenance; it was therefore
a strange; almost frightful spectacle; to see a number of the guests; who
happened to be at a distance from the windows; in this ghastly and
fantastic light。
The painter; more struck than all the rest by this effect of color;
exclaimed: 〃Look! at this end of the table; we might fancy ourselves
feasting with cholera…patients; we are such fine blues and greens。
This jest was not much relished。 Fortunately; the loud voice of Ninny
Moulin demanded attention; and for a moment turned the thoughts of the
company。
〃The lists are open;〃 cried the religious writer; really more frightened
than he chose to appear。 〃Are you ready; brave champions?〃 he added。
〃We are ready;〃 said Morok and Jacques。
〃Present! fire!〃 cried Ninny Moulin; clapping his hands。 And the two
drinkers each emptied a tumbler full of brandy at a draught。
Morok did not even knit his brow; his marble face remained impassible;
with a steady hand he replaced his glass upon the table。 But Jacques; as
he put down his glass; could not conceal a slight convulsive trembling;
caused by internal suffering。
〃Bravely done!〃 cried Ninny Moulin。 〃The quarter of a bottle of brandy
at a draughtit is glorious! No one else here would be capable of such
prowess。 And now; worthy champions; if you believe me; you will stop
where you are。〃
〃Give the word!〃 answered Jacques; intrepidly。 And; with feverish and
shaking hand; he seized the bottle; then suddenly; instead of filling his
glass; he said to Morok: 〃Bah! we want no glasses。 It is braver to drink
from the bottle。 I dare you to it!〃
Morok's only answer was to shrug his shoulders; and raise the neck of the
bottle to his lips。 Jacques hastened to imitate him。 The thin;
yellowish; transparent glass gave a perfect view of the progressive
diminution of the liquor。 The stony countenance of Morok; and the pale
thin face of Jacques; on which already stood large drops of cold sweat;
were now; as well as the features of the other guests; illuminated by t