THE HANDSOME MODEL. 99 



b ot ly and I flatter myself that is striking." "On that side is the kitchen." 

 " Oh, as for the kitchen, I know it well : I always passed that way when I 

 came to work with the good, the respectable Dermilly. A propos and old 

 Therese?" "And who is Therese pray ?" "The patron's cook?" Oh, I 

 think I have heard that she died." " She did right ; she could not even make 

 a soup." " Since Andrew left, I have taken no servant at first, I felt 

 ashamed to ask any one to wait on me." " Mark me Pierre, servants are a 

 set of scoundrels that always rob us : it is much better to wait on one's self. 

 It is I that will give you lessons of economy. As for dinner, we will get it 

 at a traiteur's it is much pleasanter and if you wish to dine at home, send 

 for it from the nearest wine-shop that is more healthy. No kitchen in your 

 house, the smell is bad. As for the rooms and beds, a little shoe black will 

 settle them every day, when he comes to clean your boots ; and in a twinkling 

 of a bed-post all is over. Instead of which, a housekeeper would pass a 

 morning in making your bed ; and then she must meddle wite every thing 

 know all that is said and done in the house we will have none of her 

 second economy." 



" This devil of a Rossignol, how economical he is become!" " Oh, I have 

 not told you half yet. Ah ! this, doubtless, is your brother's bed-room." 

 " Alas ! yes it is now useless." " It will be my care to make it useful, 

 and we will settle the rent between us -third economy." " But stay---if 

 you go on in this way, instead of spending my money, you will only make 

 me the richer." " Don't let that make you the least uneasy--- as to the 

 money, that is my affair. But you must admit, that a lodging like this for 

 you alone is quite out of the question."---" I only stay here in hopes of my 

 brother's return." " We will wait for him together- that will be much 

 pleasanter. But I think you mentioned a certain chest well filled with 

 liquors -suppose we just take a look at it." 



Pierre ushered his friend to the room where were all the liquors. He 

 laid on the table the remains of a. pate, which he had left at his breakfast, 

 " Have you nothing else?" said Rossignol. " Is not that enough r" " No, 

 niggard when one welcomes an old friend, one gives him something better 

 than the fragments of a pate." " But what can we get? There is nothing 

 else here." "Ah! how very simple you are! And the traiteurs, what do 

 you think they are for ? Come be quick call your porter desire him to 

 go the first cook's shop tell him to order some cutlets, eels, pigs' feet, a 

 good omelette ; and whilst they are getting ready, we will pay a visit to'the 

 cellar, with which I shan't be at all sorry to make acquaintance.' 



Rossignol's liveliness, and the facility with which he made his arrange- 

 ments, roused Pierre from his habitual indolence. His bosom friend had 

 already gained the casement, from which he cried at the pitch of his voice, 

 *' Hollo, porter ! here, my man ; leave your magpie for a moment, and mount 

 subitb." " It is not a porter ; it is a porteress," said Pierre to his friend ; 

 " and, egad! she gives herself the airs of a mistress." " Because you are a 

 novice, and don't know how, when time and place suit, to stop her mouth 

 with a fifteen-sous piece. One must be generous at times it brings all the 

 world to your feet, and one can do without servants fourth economy." 



The porteress came up ; she was a little woman about fifty years old, of a 

 sharp vinegar visage, and who spoke with great pretension. " She had for 

 some time cast an evil eye on Pierre, as she was no longer employed 

 about his rooms. "What do you want?" said she, in a sharp tone of 

 voice ; " and why scream in a way to annoy the whole house ?" /' Madame 



Roch," said Pierre, " I beg pardon ; but I I would " " Hush!" said 



Rossignol, passing before Pierre, and rolling himself in his box-coat as if he 

 was playing Catiline ; " you cannot clothe your thoughts in words : leave 

 me to speak for you. My dear Madam Roch, my friend and I are desirous 

 of a capital breakfast. We wish to celebrate the day which has re-united 



