odious name； /Fenetre a la Guillotine/。 The vision had disappeared。 To
the young man the most radiant star of morning seemed to be hidden by
a cloud。
During these little incidents the heavy inside shutters that protected
the slight windows of the shop of the 〃Cat and Racket〃 had been
removed as if by magic。 The old door with its knocker was opened back
against the wall of the entry by a man…servant； apparently coeval with
the sign； who； with a shaking hand； hung upon it a square of cloth； on
which were embroidered in yellow silk the words： 〃Guillaume； successor
to Chevrel。〃 Many a passer…by would have found it difficult to guess
the class of trade carried on by Monsieur Guillaume。 Between the
strong iron bars which protected his shop windows on the outside；
certain packages； wrapped in brown linen； were hardly visible； though
as numerous as herrings swimming in a shoal。 Notwithstanding the
primitive aspect of the Gothic front； Monsieur Guillaume； of all the
merchant clothiers in Paris； was the one whose stores were always the
best provided； whose connections were the most extensive； and whose
commercial honesty never lay under the slightest suspicion。 If some of
his brethren in business made a contract with the Government； and had
not the required quantity of cloth； he was always ready to deliver it；
however large the number of pieces tendered for。 The wily dealer knew
a thousand ways of extracting the largest profits without being
obliged； like them； to court patrons； cringing to them； or making them
costly presents。 When his fellow…tradesmen could only pay in good
bills of long date； he would mention his notary as an accommodating
man； and managed to get a second profit out of the bargain； thanks to
this arrangement； which had made it a proverb among the traders of the
Rue Saint…Denis： 〃Heaven preserve you from Monsieur Guillaume's
notary！〃 to signify a heavy discount。
The old merchant was to be seen standing on the threshold of his shop；
as if by a miracle； the instant the servant withdrew。 Monsieur
Guillaume looked at the Rue Saint…Denis； at the neighboring shops； and
at the weather； like a man disembarking at Havre； and seeing France
once more after a long voyage。 Having convinced himself that nothing
had changed while he was asleep； he presently perceived the stranger
on guard； and he； on his part； gazed at the patriarchal draper as
Humboldt may have scrutinized the first electric eel he saw in
America。 Monsieur Guillaume wore loose black velvet breeches； pepper…
and…salt stockings； and square toed shoes with silver buckles。 His
coat； with square…cut fronts； square…cut tails； and square…cut collar
clothed his slightly bent figure in greenish cloth； finished with
white metal buttons； tawny from wear。 His gray hair was so accurately
combed and flattened over his yellow pate that it made it look like a
furrowed field。 His little green eyes； that might have been pierced
with a gimlet； flashed beneath arches faintly tinged with red in the
place of eyebrows。 Anxieties had wrinkled his forehead with as many
horizontal lines as there were creases in his coat。 This colorless
face expressed patience； commercial shrewdness； and the sort of wily
cupidity which is needful in business。 At that time these old families
were less rare than they are now； in which the characteristic habits
and costume of their calling； surviving in the midst of more recent
civilization； were preserved as cherished traditions； like the
antediluvian remains found by Cuvier in the quarries。
The head of the Guillaume family was a notable upholder of ancient
practices； he might be heard to regret the Provost of Merchants； and
never did he mention a decision of the Tribunal of Commerce without
calling it the /Sentence of the Consuls/。 Up and dressed the first of
the household； in obedience； no doubt； to these old customs； he stood
sternly awaiting the appearance of his three assistants； ready to
scold them in case they were late。 These young disciples of Mercury
knew nothing more terrible than the wordless assiduity with which the
master scrutinized their faces and their movements on Monday in search
of evidence or traces of their pranks。 But at this moment the old
clothier paid no heed to his apprentices； he was absorbed in trying to
divine the motive of the anxious looks which the young man in silk
stockings and a cloak cast alternately at his signboard and into the
depths of his shop。 The daylight was now brighter； and enabled the
stranger to discern the cashier's corner enclosed by a railing and
screened by old green silk curtains； where were kept the immense
ledgers； the silent oracles of the house。 The too inquisitive gazer
seemed to covet this little nook； and to be taking the plan of a
dining…room at one side； lighted by a skylight； whence the family at
meals could easily see the smallest incident that might occur at the
shop…door。 So much affection for his dwelling seemed suspicious to a
trader who had lived long enough to remember the law of maximum
prices； Monsieur Guillaume naturally thought that this sinister
personage had an eye to the till of the Cat and Racket。 After quietly
observing the mute duel which was going on between his master and the
stranger； the eldest of the apprentices； having seen that the young
man was stealthily watching the windows of the third floor； ventured
to place himself on the stone flag where Monsieur Guillaume was
standing。 He took two steps out into the street； raised his head； and
fancied that he caught sight of Mademoiselle Augustine Guillaume in
hasty retreat。 The draper； annoyed by his assistant's perspicacity；
shot a side glance at him； but the draper and his amorous apprentice
were suddenly relieved from the fears which the young man's presence
had excited in their minds。 He hailed a hackney cab on its way to a
neighboring stand； and jumped into it with an air of affected
indifference。 This departure was a balm to the hearts of the other two
lads； who had been somewhat uneasy as to meeting the victim of their
practical joke。
〃Well； gentlemen； what ails you that you are standing there with your
arms folded？〃 said Monsieur Guillaume to his three neophytes。 〃In
former days； bless you； when I was in Master Chevrel's service； I
should have overhauled more than two pieces of cloth by this time。〃
〃Then it was daylight earlier；〃 said the second assistant； whose duty
this was。
The old shopkeeper could not help smiling。 Though two of these young
fellows； who were confided to his care by their fathers； rich
manufacturers at Louviers and at Sedan； had only to ask and to have a
hundred thousand francs the day when they were old enough to settle in
life； Guillaume regarded it as his duty to keep them under the rod of
an old…world despotism； unknown nowadays in the showy modern shops；
where the apprentices expect to be rich men at thirty。 He made them
work like Negroes。 These three assistants were equal to a business
which would harry ten such clerks as those whose sybaritical tastes
now swell the columns of the budget。 Not a sound disturbed the peace
of this solemn house； where the hinges were always oiled； and where
the meanest article of furniture showed the respectable cleanliness
which reveals strict order and economy。 The most waggish of the three
youths often amused himself by writing the date of its first
appearance on the Gruyere cheese which was left to their tender
mercies at breakfast； and which it was their pleasure to leave
untouched。 This bit of mischief； and a few others of the same stamp；
would sometimes bring a smile on the face of the younger of
Guillaume's daughters； the pretty maiden who has just now appeared to
the bewitched man in the street。
Though each of these apprentices； even the eldest； paid a round sum
for his board； not one of them would have been bold enough to remain
at the master's table when dessert was served。 When Madame Guillaume
talked of dressing the salad； the hapless youths trembled as they
thought of the thrift with which her prudent hand dispensed the oil。
They could never think of spending a night away from the house without
having given； long before； a plausible reason for such an
irregularity。 Every Sunday； each in his turn； two of them accompanied
the Guillaume family to Mass at Saint…Leu； and to vespers。
Mesdemoiselles Virginie and Augustine； simply attired in cotton print；
each took the arm of an apprentice and walked in front； under the
piercing eye of their mother； who closed the little family procession
with her husband； accustomed by her to carry two large prayer…books；
bound in black morocco。 The second apprentice received no salary。 As
for the eldest； whose twelve years of perseverance and discretion had
initiated him into the secrets of the house； he was paid eight hundred
francs a year as the reward of his labors。 On certain family festivals
he received as a gratuity some little gift； to which Madame
Guillaume's dry and wrinkled hand alone gave valuenetted purses；
which she took care to stuff with cotton wool； to show off the fancy
stitches； braces of the strongest make； or heavy silk stockings。
Sometimes； but rarely； this prime minister was admitted to share the
pleasures of the family when they went into the country； or when；
after waiting for months； they made up their mind to exert the right
acquired by taking a box at the theatre to command a piece which Paris
had already forgotten。
As to the other assistants； the barrier of respect which formerly
divided a master draper from his apprentices was that they would have
been more likely to steal a piece of cloth than to infringe this
time…honored etiquette。 Such reserve may now appear ridiculous； but
these old houses were a school of honesty and sound morals。 The
masters adopted their apprentices。 The young man's linen was cared
for； mended； and often replaced by the mistress of the house。 If an
apprentice fell ill； he was the object of truly maternal attention。 In
a case of danger the master lavished his money in calling in the most
celebrated physicians； for he was not answerable to their parents
merely for the good conduct and training of the lads。 If one of them；
w