had fallen on the house of the Cat and Racket； and Augustine quaked in
every limb as she heard her mother say that she should go to the Salon
to see her house there。 The young girl again declared herself
suffering； and obtained leave to go to bed。
〃That is what comes of sight…seeing；〃 exclaimed Monsieur Guillaume〃a
headache。 And is it so very amusing to see in a picture what you can
see any day in your own street？ Don't talk to me of your artists！ Like
writers； they are a starveling crew。 Why the devil need they choose my
house to flout it in their pictures？〃
〃It may help to sell a few ells more of cloth；〃 said Joseph Lebas。
This remark did not protect art and thought from being condemned once
again before the judgment…seat of trade。 As may be supposed； these
speeches did not infuse much hope into Augustine； who； during the
night； gave herself up to the first meditations of love。 The events of
the day were like a dream； which it was a joy to recall to her mind。
She was initiated into the fears； the hopes； the remorse； all the ebb
and flow of feeling which could not fail to toss a heart so simple and
timid as hers。 What a void she perceived in this gloomy house！ What a
treasure she found in her soul！ To be the wife of a genius； to share
his glory！ What ravages must such a vision make in the heart of a girl
brought up among such a family！ What hopes must it raise in a young
creature who； in the midst of sordid elements； had pined for a life of
elegance！ A sunbeam had fallen into the prison。 Augustine was suddenly
in love。 So many of her feelings were soothed that she succumbed
without reflection。 At eighteen does not love hold a prism between the
world and the eyes of a young girl？ She was incapable of suspecting
the hard facts which result from the union of a loving woman with a
man of imagination； and she believed herself called to make him happy；
not seeing any disparity between herself and him。 To her the future
would be as the present。 When； next day； her father and mother
returned from the Salon； their dejected faces proclaimed some
disappointment。 In the first place； the painter had removed the two
pictures； and then Madame Guillaume had lost her cashmere shawl。 But
the news that the pictures had disappeared from the walls since her
visit revealed to Augustine a delicacy of sentiment which a woman can
always appreciate； even by instinct。
On the morning when； on his way home from a ball； Theodore de
Sommervieuxfor this was the name which fame had stamped on
Augustine's hearthad been squirted on by the apprentices while
awaiting the appearance of his artless little friend； who certainly
did not know that he was there； the lovers had seen each other for the
fourth time only since their meeting at the Salon。 The difficulties
which the rule of the house placed in the way of the painter's ardent
nature gave added violence to his passion for Augustine。
How could he get near to a young girl seated in a counting…house
between two such women as Mademoiselle Virginie and Madame Guillaume？
How could he correspond with her when her mother never left her side？
Ingenious； as lovers are； to imagine woes； Theodore saw a rival in one
of the assistants； to whose interests he supposed the others to be
devoted。 If he should evade these sons of Argus； he would yet be
wrecked under the stern eye of the old draper or of Madame Guillaume。
The very vehemence of his passion hindered the young painter from
hitting on the ingenious expedients which； in prisoners and in lovers；
seem to be the last effort of intelligence spurred by a wild craving
for liberty； or by the fire of love。 Theodore wandered about the
neighborhood with the restlessness of a madman； as though movement
might inspire him with some device。 After racking his imagination； it
occurred to him to bribe the blowsy waiting…maid with gold。 Thus a few
notes were exchanged at long intervals during the fortnight following
the ill…starred morning when Monsieur Guillaume and Theodore had so
scrutinized one another。 At the present moment the young couple had
agreed to see each other at a certain hour of the day； and on Sunday；
at Saint…Leu； during Mass and vespers。 Augustine had sent her dear
Theodore a list of the relations and friends of the family； to whom
the young painter tried to get access； in the hope of interesting； if
it were possible； in his love affairs； one of these souls absorbed in
money and trade； to whom a genuine passion must appear a quite
monstrous speculation； a thing unheard…of。 Nothing meanwhile； was
altered at the sign of the Cat and Racket。 If Augustine was absent…
minded； if； against all obedience to the domestic code； she stole up
to her room to make signals by means of a jar of flowers； if she
sighed； if she were lost in thought； no one observed it； not even her
mother。 This will cause some surprise to those who have entered into
the spirit of the household； where an idea tainted with poetry would
be in startling contrast to persons and things； where no one could
venture on a gesture or a look which would not be seen and analyzed。
Nothing； however； could be more natural： the quiet barque that
navigated the stormy waters of the Paris Exchange； under the flag of
the Cat and Racket； was just now in the toils of one of these tempests
which； returning periodically； might be termed equinoctial。 For the
last fortnight the five men forming the crew； with Madame Guillaume
and Mademoiselle Virginie； had been devoting themselves to the hard
labor； known as stock…taking。
Every bale was turned over； and the length verified to ascertain the
exact value of the remnant。 The ticket attached to each parcel was
carefully examined to see at what time the piece had been bought。 The
retail price was fixed。 Monsieur Guillaume； always on his feet； his
pen behind his ear； was like a captain commanding the working of the
ship。 His sharp tones； spoken through a trap…door； to inquire into the
depths of the hold in the cellar…store； gave utterance to the
barbarous formulas of trade…jargon； which find expression only in
cipher。 〃How much H。 N。 Z。？〃〃All sold。〃〃What is left of Q。 X。？〃
Two ells。〃〃At what price？〃〃Fifty…five three。〃〃Set down A。 at
three； with all of J。 J。； all of M。 P。； and what is left of V。 D。 O。〃
A hundred other injunctions equally intelligible were spouted over
the counters like verses of modern poetry； quoted by romantic spirits；
to excite each other's enthusiasm for one of their poets。 In the
evening Guillaume； shut up with his assistant and his wife； balanced
his accounts； carried on the balance； wrote to debtors in arrears； and
made out bills。 All three were busy over this enormous labor； of which
the result could be stated on a sheet of foolscap； proving to the head
of the house that there was so much to the good in hard cash； so much
in goods； so much in bills and notes； that he did not owe a sou； that
a hundred or two hundred thousand francs were owing to him； that the
capital had been increased； that the farmlands； the houses； or the
investments were extended； or repaired； or doubled。 Whence it became
necessary to begin again with increased ardor； to accumulate more
crown…pieces； without its ever entering the brain of these laborious
ants to ask〃To what end？〃
Favored by this annual turmoil； the happy Augustine escaped the
investigations of her Argus…eyed relations。 At last； one Saturday
evening； the stock…taking was finished。 The figures of the sum…total
showed a row of 0's long enough to allow Guillaume for once to relax
the stern rule as to dessert which reigned throughout the year。 The
shrewd old draper rubbed his hands； and allowed his assistants to
remain at table。 The members of the crew had hardly swallowed their
thimbleful of some home…made liqueur； when the rumble of a carriage
was heard。 The family party were going to see /Cendrillon/ at the
Varietes； while the two younger apprentices each received a crown of
six francs； with permission to go wherever they chose； provided they
were in by midnight。
Notwithstanding this debauch； the old cloth…merchant was shaving
himself at six next morning； put on his maroon…colored coat； of which
the glowing lights afforded him perennial enjoyment； fastened a pair
of gold buckles on the knee…straps of his ample satin breeches； and
then； at about seven o'clock； while all were still sleeping in the
house； he made his way to the little office adjoining the shop on the
first floor。 Daylight came in through a window； fortified by iron
bars； and looking out on a small yard surrounded by such black walls
that it was very like a well。 The old merchant opened the iron…lined
shutters； which were so familiar to him； and threw up the lower half
of the sash window。 The icy air of the courtyard came in to cool the
hot atmosphere of the little room； full of the odor peculiar to
offices。
The merchant remained standing； his hand resting on the greasy arm of
a large cane chair lined with morocco； of which the original hue had
disappeared； he seemed to hesitate as to seating himself。 He looked
with affection at the double desk； where his wife's seat； opposite his
own； was fitted into a little niche in the wall。 He contemplated the
numbered boxes； the files； the implements； the cash boxobjects all
of immemorial origin； and fancied himself in the room with the shade
of Master Chevrel。 He even pulled out the high stool on which he had
once sat in the presence of his departed master。 This stool； covered
with black leather； the horse…hair showing at every corneras it had
long done； without； however； coming outhe placed with a shaking hand
on the very spot where his predecessor had put it； and then； with an
emotion difficult to describe； he pulled a bell； which rang at the
head of Joseph Lebas' bed。 When this decisive blow had been struck；
the old man； for whom； no doubt； these reminiscences were too much；
took up three or four bills of exchange； and looked at them without
seeing them。
Suddenly Joseph Lebas stood before him。
〃Sit down there；〃 said Guillaume； pointing to the stool。
As the old master draper had never yet bid his assistant be seated in
his presence； Joseph Lebas was startled。
〃W