The Flower Girl of The Chateau d'Eau Volume I Part 16

"That isn't what I meant. Look you, Violette, I admit that I did wrong yesterday; I spoke to you as if I were certain that you loved me, and you hadn't given me any right to do it."

"Just as soon as you admit that you did wrong, that's the end of it, it's all forgotten. Let's talk about something else."

"It isn't that my feeling for you has changed; on the contrary, I adore you more than ever!"

"I say--it seems to me you're beginning yesterday's song again!"

"No; yesterday I made certain propositions that displeased you."

"Pardi! they were very pretty, your propositions! to dine with monsieur at a restaurant! to offer to furnish lodgings for me! Why on earth don't you marry me and be done with it?"

"That might have come in time!"

"Yes, in the thirteenth arrondiss.e.m.e.nt! But I prefer the other twelve.

As for furniture, I have some, monsieur, and it's my very own; Mere Gazon left it to me; it ain't violet wood, to be sure, but it's good enough for me; and besides, I think a great deal of it, in memory of the one who gave it to me."

"All that is very praiseworthy, no doubt; but I don't think that there's anything wrong in trying to improve one's position, to make a fortune; that's the object of all who haven't money, and no one has ever blamed them."

"Make a fortune! To be sure, that ain't unpleasant, that is, if you do it by honest means! If not, one had better stay in one's little corner."

"Oh! bless my soul! who said anything about ceasing to be honest? What extraordinary creatures these girls are--always thinking that somebody means to lead them astray!"

"That's because we know you, my fine gentlemen; and, if I remember right, you didn't propose to me yesterday that I should become a _rosiere_."[A]

[A] The maiden who wins the rose offered as a prize for virtue in certain villages.

"Listen, Violette; I will come straight to the point."

"Well! let us hear what your point is."

"You have been to the play sometimes, of course?"

"Why, yes, several times."

"And you like it?"

"I should say that I do like it! I think it's beautiful, and if I was rich, I'd go often."

"And what do you think of the actresses? Don't you think it must be delightful to appear in public, to be applauded, to wear hundreds of different costumes, and to be stared at and admired by a whole theatre full of people?"

"Oh! how fast you go! That must be fine when one has talent. I have seen some women who acted so well that you couldn't get tired listening to them; but I've seen others who acted so poorly that everybody grumbled, and laughed when they were trying to make you cry. I have seen some pretty ones; but there are some terribly ugly ones; and it's no use for them to wear handsome costumes and a lot of paint on their faces; it don't make them any better-looking.--But what makes you say all this to me?"

"Because, Violette, if you choose to go on the stage, it rests with you to do it; a glorious career is open to you, and I am sure that you will succeed, that you will obtain glory and wealth at once!"

"I an actress!--Are you making fun of me again, monsieur?"

"No, indeed, I am speaking in all seriousness. Listen to me: I am a dramatic author, so that the stage is my livelihood, or rather my constant study; therefore you must admit that I ought to know something about it. You have all that is needed for success on the stage: your figure is well set up, you are tall but not too tall; your face is lovely.--Oh! I am not paying compliments; indeed, you must know that you are pretty, you have been told so often enough! Your voice is clear and well modulated; with all these advantages and the lessons I will give you in declamation and in carrying yourself on the stage, it is impossible that you should not make a grand success. As for your getting a chance to make your debut, that is my concern; I will undertake that and I shall have no difficulty. Better still, I will give you a part, a splendid part, in my next play; and as a reward of my zeal, of my lessons, of all that I will do for you, I will not ask you for anything,--except a little grat.i.tude when you are a popular actress.--Well! what do you say? isn't that better than being a flower girl?"

"Is that all you're buying this morning, monsieur?"

"But you don't answer my proposition, Violette. Don't you understand that I am offering you a brilliant future--all the enjoyments, all the pleasures of life? And that won't interfere with your remaining virtuous."

"It's too risky in that business! No, thank you, monsieur, all this don't tempt me; it amuses me to see other people act, but it don't make me want to act myself. Everyone to his taste, and I prefer my flowers to your stage."

"Nonsense! it isn't possible that you refuse, when I undertake to remove all obstacles."

"Buy this bouquet;--just see what a pretty one it is, and what a sweet smell! I'll bet that it don't smell so good in your wings."

"Surely, this isn't your last word, Violette? You will think it over, and you will accept."

"Oh! my reflecting's all done, monsieur; it don't take long with me; I know right off what suits me. I don't feel any calling for the stage."

"But I tell you----"

"Don't take the trouble to say any more, monsieur; you'll just waste your words, and that would be a pity, as you make your business out of them, and you sell wit on paper."

Jericourt was so vexed by the rejection of his proposition, when he expected a complete triumph, that he was tongue-tied, and could not think of a single word to answer the flower girl.

At that moment he felt a hand on his arm, and someone said to him:

"Good-day, Monsieur Jericourt; I recognized you from behind by your cane; I said: 'That's my neighbor's cane.'--How are you?"

Jericourt turned and found himself face to face with the little young man who squinted so horribly and whom we have already met at the Chateau d'Eau flower market, with his mother and sister--Monsieur Astianax Glumeau, whose room was on the floor above his parents, on the same landing as Jericourt's apartment.

"Ah! is it you, young man?" said the author, as, with a patronizing air, he offered a finger to little Astianax, who deemed himself highly honored by that favor; because, in his eyes, a man who wrote plays which were actually performed was a demiG.o.d. "What are you here for, my little rake? to buy a bouquet for some fair one whom you are courting, I suppose?"

"Oh! upon my word, Monsieur Jericourt! I should not dare--I am too young as yet. However, it isn't the inclination that is lacking."

"How old are you, pray?"

"Nineteen."

"At that age I had already had fifty love-affairs!"

"Oh! but you--an author--that's a very different matter; you weren't shy."

"I never was that; there is nothing more disastrous for a man. If you take my advice, you will cure yourself of that failing."

"Papa and mamma don't say so; they want to keep me in leading strings like a poodle. Let them keep my sister so if they choose; that's all right--she's a girl! But me! Yes, you're right; there's nothing more foolish than a bashful man. But I don't propose to be bashful any more; I feel inclined to make people talk about me.--Were you buying flowers, Monsieur Jericourt?"

"Yes--that is to say, I was looking over them; I haven't decided yet."

Little Astianax put his mouth to his neighbor's ear and whispered:

"The flower girl's mighty pretty!"

"Do you think so? That's a matter of taste."

"Hum! nonsense! Anybody can see that; I noticed her yesterday; I came with mamma and my sister to buy some flowers, because it was papa's birthday. I didn't buy any; I gave him some nougat."