THE HANDSOME MODEL. 9? 



alone, and that his brother Andrew had disappeared, no one knew whither. 

 Rossignol was no sooner master of this pleasing intelligence than he flew to 

 the porte cochere, and was about to mount to Pierre, when a glance at his 

 dress arrested him. His coat could now boast of but two buttons, his pan- 

 taloons were worn at the knees, and torn down the leg. Pierre might have 

 servants, and his toilette wouldn't much prepossess them in his favour. 

 But Rossignol was never at a loss. He ran to a coach-stand, and hailing 

 a coachman with whom he had fought three times, and been reconciled a 

 fourth, clapt him on the shoulder, saying " Francois, lend me your box-coat 

 for two hours." " My box-coat ! are you mad ?" " I have a most par- 

 ticular occasion for it two hours only, and I'll will bring it back again." 

 " Why how can I ? I've only a light waistcoat underneath." " And is'nt 

 that enough for such a hot day as this ?" " How could I drive with bare 

 arms ?" " You have quite the look of a Phaeton." " Leave me'alone, will 

 you." " Besides you are the last on the stand, you are sure not to be called 

 for two hours, and long before that, I shall have brought back your wrap- 

 rascal. Francois, would you desert a friend in the hour of need, who has 

 often shared his bottle with you ? My fortune depends on it mine, do I 

 say, yours, perhaps ; for, once in funds, I will use no other jarvey, and I 

 will pay you three francs the course." " Psha, you are humbugging." 

 " No, on the word of the first torso stay, here are fifteen sous, go wait for 

 me at the Carpe travuilleuse, and treat yourself to oysters." " Oysters with 

 fifteen sous ? " " I will answer for all four dozen. Come Francois, you 

 feel for me slip off the sleeves." " But my carriage !" " Look at the 

 weather, blockhead no fetes, a working day you will have nothing to do 

 till the evening.' "" But " " Order some white wine you know and as 

 far as a pennyworth of Jerome come, off with the other sleeve." " Now 

 mind you promise faithfully, to return in less than two hours !" " By Her- 

 cules and Antonous I swear."-" I never heard of those gentlemen, but if 

 you fail me recollect it will be no laughing matter." " Make your mind 

 easy go drink till I return, and don't spare the wine." So saying, Rossignol 

 ensconced himself in the box-coat, and lounged away, humming " Gentle 

 maid believe, I never can deceive." 



Pierre stared for some moments at Rossignol without recognising him, for 

 half his face was lost in his moustaches, which curled up to his ears ; but 

 Rossignol had already thrown himself on Pierre's neck and pressed him 

 in his arms as he would a bear that he was trying to suffocate. " Ah leave 

 me, will you," cried Pierre, who knew his friend at once by his manner. 

 " No, let me embrace you once more, my dear Pierre ; I am so delighted to see 

 you again." " Can it be you Loiseau when I say Loiseau, my brother pre- 

 tends that your name is Rossignol." " He is in the right." " Why then do 

 you call yourself Loiseau ?" " My dear friend is not one as much a bird as 

 the other?" "True." "Well then, you see I did not change my name." 

 " That's true, certainly I never once thought of that." " Besides what 

 imports a name Rossignol or Loiseau, I am not the less your sincerest, 

 your best friend as well as your brother's although I did him a slight 

 injury once but it was the thoughtlesness of youth ' When young I was 

 thouyhlless and giddy.' I came to claim his friendship, of which I feel my- 

 self worthy, and throw myself in his arms where is my dear Andrew ? let 

 me see him I will not leave the house without seeing him, as well as M. 

 Dermilly, my old drawing master a man who always honoured me with his 

 friendship and advice. My bosom pants to embrace the worthy man, whom 

 I revere as a father. My friend, lead me to him, you will witness how de- 

 lighted he will be to see me." " If it was to see M. Dermilly and my bro- 

 ther that you called, you have just lost your time." " How ? what would 

 you say? speak explain yourself?" " M. Dermilly is dead along time 

 since." " Dead my master, father oh ! my friend what a blow let me 



M.M. No. 91. O 



