26Tantaine took a cab, and, promising the cabman a handsome gratuity ifhe would drive fast, stopped at the spot where the Rue Blancheintersects the Rue de Douai, and told the coachman to wait for him,and entered the house where the younger Gandelu had installed the fairMadame de Chantemille. It was some time before his ring at the doorwas answered, but at last the door was opened by a stout, red-facedgirl, with an untidy cap. Upon seeing Tantaine, she uttered anexclamation of delight, for it was the cook that had been placed inZora's employment by M. Mascarin's agency.
"Ah, Daddy Tantaine," said she, "you are as welcome as the sun inwinter.""Hush, hush," returned the old man, gazing cautiously round him.
"Don't be frightened," returned the girl. "Madame has gone to a placefrom when there is no return ticket, at least, for some time. You knowthe greater the value of an article the closer we keep it under lockand key."Tantaine gathered from this that Rose had been arrested, and hisastonishment appeared to be unmeasured.
"Surely you don't mean that she has gone to quod?" said he.
"It is as I tell you," answered she; "but come in, and have a glass ofwine, while you hear all about it."She led the old man into the dining-room, round the table in which ahalf dozen guests were seated, just concluding a late breakfast.
Tantaine at once recognized four of the several guests as servantswhom he knew from their having applied for situations at the office,and there were two men of a very unprepossessing exterior.
"We are having a regular spree to-day," observed the cook, handing abottle to Tantaine; "but yesterday there was not much of ajollification here, for just as I was setting about getting the dinnertwo fellows came in and asked for my mistress, and as soon as they sawher they clapped their hands on her and said that she must come to thestone jug. When madame heard this she shrieked so loud as to have beenheard in the next street. She would not go a foot with them, clung tothe furniture and banisters, so they just took her up by the head andfeet, and carried her down to a cab that was standing at the door. Iseem to bring ill luck wherever I go, for this is the fourth mistressI have seen taken off in this way; but come, you are taking nothing atall."But Tantaine had had enough, and making an excuse, retired from adebauch which he saw would continue as long as the wine held out.
"All is going well," muttered he, as he climbed into the cab; "and nowfor the next one."He drove straight to the house that the elder Gandelu was building inthe Champs Elysees, and putting his head out of the window, heaccosted a light, active young fellow who was warning the footpassengers not to pass under the scaffolding.
"Anything new, La Cordille?" enquired the old man.
"No, nothing; but tell the master I am keeping a good watch."From there Tantaine visited a footman in De Breulh's employment, and awoman in the service of Madame de Bois Arden. Then, paying his fare,he started on foot for Father Canon's wine shop, in the Rue St.
Honore, where he met Florestan, who was as saucy and supercilious toTantaine as he was obsequious to Mascarin. But although he paid forFlorestan's dinner, all that he could extort from him was, that Sabinewas terribly depressed. It was fully eight o'clock before Tantaine hadgot rid of Florestan, and hailing another cab, he ordered the driverto take him to the Grand Turk, in the Rue des Poissonniers.
The magnificent sign of the Grand Turk dances in the breeze, andinvites such youths as Toto Chupin and his companions. The wholeaspect of the exterior seemed to invite the passers-by to step in andtry the good cheer provided within,--a good /table d'hote/ at sixp.m., coffee, tea, liquors, and a grand ball to complete the work ofdigestion. A long corridor leads to this earthly Eden, and the twodoors at the end of it open, the one into the dining, and the otherinto the ball-room. A motley crew collected there for the eveningmeal, and on Sundays it is next to impossible to procure a seat. Butthe dining-room is the Grand Turk's greatest attraction, for as soonas the dessert is over the head waiter makes a sign, and dishes andtablecloths are cleared away in a moment. The dining-room becomes a/café/, and the click of dominoes gives way to the rattle of forks,while beer flows freely. This, however, is nothing, for, at a secondsignal, huge folding doors are thrown open, and the strains of anorchestra ring out as an invitation to the ball, to which all dinersare allowed free entrance. Nothing is danced but round dances, polkas,mazurkas, and waltzes.
The German element was very strong at the Grand Turk, and if agentleman wished to make himself agreeable to his fair partners, itwas necessary for him, at any rate, to be well up in the Alsatiandialect. The master of the ceremonies had already called upon thevotaries of Terpsichore to take their places for the waltz as DaddyTantaine entered the hall. The scene was a most animated one, and theair heavy with the scent of beer and tobacco, and would haveasphyxiated any one not used to venture into such places.
It was the first time that he had ever visited the Grand Turk, and yetany one observing would have sworn that he was one of the regularfrequenters as he marched idly through the rooms, making constantpauses at the bar. But glance around him as he might, he could seeneither Toto Chupin nor Caroline Schimmel.
"Have I come here for nothing," muttered he, "or is the hour tooearly?"It was hard to waste time thus, but at last he sat down and orderedsome beer. His eyes wandered to a large picture on the wall,representing a fat, eastern-looking man, with a white turban andloose, blue garments, seated in a crimson chair, with his feet restingupon a yellow carpet. One hand was caressing his protuberant paunch,while the other was extended toward a glass of beer. Evidently this isthe Grand Turk. And finally by an odalisque, who fills his goblet withthe foaming infusion of malt and hops. This odalisque is very fair andstout, and some fair Alsatian damsel has evidently sat as the model.
As Tantaine was gazing upon this wondrous work of art he heard asqueaking voice just behind him.
"That is certainly that young rogue Chupin," muttered he.
He turned sharply round, and two tables off, in a dark corner, hediscovered the young gentleman that he had been looking for. As hegazed on the lad, he was not surprised that he had not recognized himat first, for Toto had been strangely transmogrified, and in no degreeresembled the boy who had shivered in a tattered blouse in the archwaynear the Servants' Registry Office. He was now gorgeous to behold.
From the moment that he had got his hundred francs he had chalked outa new line of life for himself, and was busy pursuing it. He had foundthat he could make all his friends merry, and he had succeeded. He hadmade a selection from the most astounding wares that the Parisiantailor keeps on hand. He had sneered at young Gaston de Gandelu, andcalled him an ape; but he had aped the ape. He wore a very short,light coat, a waistcoat that was hideous from its cut and brilliancy,and trousers strapped tightly under his feet. His collar was so talland stiff, that he had the greatest difficulty in turning his head. Hehad gone to a barber, and his lank hair had been artistically curled.
The table in front of him was covered with glasses and bottles. Twoshocking looking scamps of the true barrier bully type, with loosecravats and shiny-peaked caps, were seated by him, and were evidentlyhis guests. Tantaine's first impulse was to catch the debauched youthby the ear, but he hesitated for an instant and reflection conqueredthe impulse. With the utmost caution so that he might not attractToto's attention, he crept down to him, concealing himself as best hecould behind one of the pillars that supported the gallery, and bythis manoeuvre found himself so close to the lad that he could catchevery word he said.
Chupin was talking volubly.
"Don't you call me a swell, nor yet say that I brag," said he. "Ishall always make this kind of appearance, for to work in the manner Ipropose, a man must pay some attention to dress."At this his companions roared with laughter.
"All right," returned Toto. "I'm precious sharp, though you may notthink so, and shall go in for all kinds of elegant accomplishments,and come out a regular masher.""Wonders will never cease," answered one of the men. "When you go onyour trip for action in the Bois among the toffs, will you take mewith you?""Any one can go to the Bois who has money: and just tell me who arethose who make money. Why, those who have plenty of cheek and a goodsound business. Well, I have learned my business from some real downycards, who made it pay well. Why should I not do the same?"With a sickening feeling of terror, Tantaine saw that the lad was halfdrunk. What could he be going to say? and how much did he know? Toto'sguests evidently saw that he had taken too much; but as he seemedready to let them into a secret, they paid great attention, andexchanged a look of intelligence. The young rogue's new clothes andhis liberality all proved that he had found a means of gaining money;the only questions was what the plan could be. To induce him to talkthey passed the bottle rapidly and flattered him up. The younger manof the two shook his head with a smile.
"I don't believe you have any business at all," said he.
"Nor have I, if by business you mean some low handicraft. It is brainwork I mean, my boy; and that's what I do.""I don't doubt that a bit," answered the elder guest coaxingly.
"Come on! Tell us what it is," broke in the other. "You don't expectus to take your word.""It is as easy as lying," replied Toto. "Listen a bit, and you shallhave the whole bag of tricks. Suppose I saw Polyte steal a couple ofpairs of boots from a trotter-case seller's stall----"Polyte interrupted the narrator, protesting so strongly that he wouldnot commit such an act, that Tantaine perceived at once that some suchtrifling act of larceny weighed heavily on his conscience.
"You needn't kick up such a row," returned Toto. "I am only justputting it as a thing that might happen. We will say you had done thetrick, and that I had twigged you. Do you know what I should go? Well,I would hunt up Polyte, and say quietly, 'Halves, old man, or I willsplit.' ""And I should give you a crack in the jaw," returned Polyte angrily.
Forgetting his fine dress, Toto playfully put his thumb to his noseand extended his fingers.
"You would not be such an ass," said he. "You would say to yourself,'If I punch this chap, he will kick up no end of a row, and I shall betaken up, and perhaps sent to the mill.' No; you would be beastlycivil, and would end by doing just as I wished.""And this is what you call your business, is it?""Isn't it a good one--the mugs stand the racket, and the downy cardsprofit by it?"But there is no novelty in this; it is only blackmail after all.""I never said it wasn't; but it is blackmailing perfected into asystem."As Toto made this reply he hammered on the table, calling for moredrink.
"But," remarked Polyte, with an air of disappointment, "you don't getchances every day, and the business is often a precious poor one. Youcan't always be seeing chaps prigging boots.""Pooh! pooh!" answered Toto, "if you want to make money in thisbusiness, you must keep your eyes about you. Our customers don't cometo you, but there is nothing to prevent you going to them. You canhunt until you find them.""And where are you to hunt, if you please?""Ah, that's tellings."A long silence ensued, during which Tantaine was half tempted to comeforward. By doing so he would assuredly nip all explanations in thebud; but, on the other hand, he wanted to hear all the yo............