90 THE HANDSOME MODEL. 



the cat is blamed. I entreat you will forbid his putting his foot in my 

 kitchen, or close up the door of communication. Besides, it is extremely dis- 

 agreeable that the neighbours should see men without shirts about me 1 

 tell them it is only a model they laugh in my face and think things and 

 get ideas in their heads it quite compromises me, sir." Therese had 

 reached the end of the room, and found herself before the large picture, and 

 near the chest and brown mantle. She lifted her head and looked about her. 



" Stay, is my master out? and Rossignol gone too ? they must have finished 

 very early to-day. In the midst of this canvass and these lay figures, one 

 almost fancies one sees people. Are you here, sir ? No, there is no one 

 here. I'll be off then, for I don't like being alone in this large room there 

 are so many figures and this poor young man whom they are flogging with 

 serpents ! what a pity ! so handsome a lad ! It is Monsieur Ixion, I think 

 they call him and all because he looked softly at Madame Jupiter Ah ! if 

 every one was flogged in this way that ogled a married woman " 



Just then a deep groan issued from the bottom of the chest Therese 

 changed colour, and looked timidly round her. " How very odd ! I thought 

 I heard something sir sir is it you ?" There was no reply ; but a second 

 and more prolonged groan than the first, redoubled Therese's fright. She 

 trembled violently, and dared neither stir nor look about her. " Good 

 heavens ! what can that be ?" said the old servant, who could scarce speak ; 

 " I cannot stir a step my legs sink under me." Rossignol disguising his 

 voice, and assuming a mournful and wailing tone, called Therese slowly 

 three times by name. " Who calls me ?" said the old woman, putting her 

 hand before eyes. " Your grandfather." " He has been dead these fifty 

 years ? " " No matter you will be so good as to listen to him, and swear 

 faithfully to do what he orders you." " Yes yes I swe swear." " Listen 

 attentively. Rossignol is a most excellent fellow, whom I love and watch 

 over he has the very finest chest nature ever formed. We desire that you 

 allow him to enter your kitchen whenever he pleases ; that you will never 

 remove the keys of the closet or pantry ; that you will allow him to taste 

 your soup ; and even to soak a crust of bread in it whenever he shall have a 

 fancy for so doing ; that you put aside for him sundry and divers jars of pre- 

 serves ; and that you never mention a syllable of all this to your master ; in 

 a word, that you pay the aforesaid Rossignol all the attentions so deservedly 

 merited by the finest model in the capital. Should you fail in any tittle o'f 

 this, we will launch our vengeance on you. Raise your eyes to wish us good 

 day." 



It was with no small difficulty that Therese brought herself to take her 

 her hands from her eyes. At length, after a few minutes' hesitation, she 

 slowly raised her head. At this moment Rossignol, watching his opportu- 

 nity, pulled the corner of the brown mantle, which, falling on the ground, 

 discovered the skeleton to the old servant, who screamed with fright. Not 

 knowing what she was doing, Therese threw herself on the chest, invoking 

 every saint in Paradise. But Rossignol, who thus found himself deprived of 

 fresh air, struggled violently, arid sent forth the most hideous cries from 

 within his hiding place. The old woman thought she was seated on a nest 

 of demons, for she felt the most violent kicks and blows on what served her 

 as a resting-place, and from which she quickly started up ; when, wishing 

 to relieve her from her fright, I advanced suddenly with the intention of ac- 

 quainting her with the truth ; but I had forgotten to take off the helmet, or 

 raise the vizor. At the sight of a knight advancing towards her in this way, 

 Therese could no longer doubt but that all the forms in the workshop had be- 

 come animated, and sinking under the most profound terror, she fell with all 

 her weight on Rossignol, who had just raised the cover for a little fresh air ; 

 not being able to support his burden, he fell back with her to the bottom of 

 the chest. 



