94 THE HANDSOME MODEL. 



he ?" " Yes, yes ; I understand you now." " It's well you do. Show me 

 his room, then I want to see him in private." " Stay you see the hall 

 yonder ; turn to the left, the second staircase." " Good, good :" and Ros- 

 signol advanced, saying to himself, " what a fuss these blockheads make ! 

 one would think one was going to the Emperor of Morocco's." When he 

 reached the vestibule, in which were two staircases, Rossignol was puzzled, 

 as he had not paid much attention to the porter's directions ; but feeling no 

 desire for another interview with him, he trusted to chance, and ascending 

 that next at hand, he crossed several rooms, lost in admiration at the beauty 

 of the furniture and draperies. " Sacre clieu! my little man is got into 

 good quarters here ; he is an acquaintance worth cultivating, he will prove a 

 mine of gold to me." Some servants who were lounging listlessly about 

 whilst waiting their master's orders, asked Rossognol where he was going ; 

 and he without being in the least disconcerted, replied in a haughty tone, 

 " To see my particular friend." The lacqueys looked astonished ; but as a 

 confident man generally imposes particularly on underlings those who 

 would have repulsed a poor man of gentle manners, allowed M. Rossignol to 

 pass, who at length arrived before the room, where, according to custom, 

 M. de Francornard was in deep conference with his steward and cook. A 

 servant in waiting before the door, asked Rossignol his name. " What 

 for?" " In order to announce you." " Don't you think I can announce 

 myself?" " It is not the custom." " Confound your ceremonies ! here is 

 a fuss before one can speak to this little rogue ! Well, then announce Ros- 

 signol, the first man in Europe for a torso." 



The valet made him repeat it twice over, and at length carried the message 

 to M. le Comte, who in his turn required a repetition of the announcement, 

 and then looking at Champagne and his cook, he muttered " Rossignol the 

 first for a torso Do you understand, Champagne ?" " 'Egad, no, sir I 

 know no Rossignol torso! But may it not be some new sauce they have 

 invented ?"" What do you say, M. le Chef ?" " I should rather think, 

 M. le Comte, that it is a new way of dressing a calf's head." " Ah ! say 

 you so ? this is becoming interesting. This man has been drawn here by 

 the fame of my culinary knowledge, and the reputation of my dinners. Pray 

 show in M. Rossignol I shall be delighted to see him." 



During this colloquy, the fine model had become extremely impatient at 

 being left to cool his heels in the ante- room, and he beat time with his blud- 

 geon on the floor, whilst he warbled " Wake, dearest, wake." At length 

 the valet appeared, and said : " You may enter, M. Rossignol." " Not 

 without difficulty though," said he ; and he penetrated to M. le Comte's 

 closet, where his first act was to bestow with hearty good will a violent blow 

 on the head of Caesar, who jumped on him, and was driven away with : 

 " Down, down, rascal the villainous dog has put his filthy paws on my 

 clothes If you do it again, I will give you something that shall lay you on 

 your back for a fortnight to come." 



This entree did not particularly prepossess M. le Comte in favour of the 

 stranger ; and Champagne could scarcely restrain a smile, as he looked at 

 M. Rossignol's coat, and thought of the fear he had expressed lest the dog 

 should dirt him with his paws. However, as a man, who was master of a 

 new method of dressing calves'-heads, was not an every day character, his 

 little peculiarities were to be overlooked ; and M. le Comte motioned him to 

 be seated, which Rossignol obeyed, saying to himself: " It would seem the 

 little fellow is out, but, of course, he will soon return. I suppose these are 

 his protectors I must, therefore, be on my guard, and show that I am quite 

 at home in good company." And in order to evince his perfect knowledge 

 of the world, Rossignol continued twisting his stick and singing between his 

 teeth, then looking at M. le Comte, he said half aloud, " Here is one who 

 would never answer for an Apollo, but he would make a pretty little Cydops 



