THE HANDSOME MODEL. 87 



French metropolis, the little boys lose each other. Andrew luckily 

 obtains the commisseration and protection of Bernard, a water- 

 carrier, who has a nice little daughter, named Manette papa's 

 housekeeper, aged eight, or thereabouts. 



One day, while looking out for employment in his capacity of a 

 chimney-sweep, Andrew sees the Count in a cab; anxious to re- 

 store the portrait, he hurries up, but is pushed off as an importunate 

 beggar ; and, such is his pertinacity, that the wheels of the cab pass 

 over him. Bruised and bleeding, he is seen by a young artist, who 

 takes him to his (the artist's) house. This is Dermilly. Perceiving 

 the miniature which he himself had painted, he acquaints the 

 original his lovely patroness, after having heard Andrew's state- 

 ment, that he is in possession of a son of that honest mountaineer 

 who had saved her darling Adolphine from destruction. The grateful 

 Countess insists on taking him under her own downy wing ; but 

 before his removal from Dermilly 's, he becomes acquainted with the 

 handsome model, Monsieur Rossignol, in a manner that can be much 

 better explained by Master Andrew himself, than by any other per- 

 son in the world. We therefore give way to him, as in duty bound.* 

 The boy, it must be premised, has wandered into the atelier, or 

 painting-room of his benefactor, Dermilly. 



I WAS about to withdraw, when a door opened opposite to that at which 

 I had entered, and a gentleman entirely naked from the head to the waist, 

 jumped into the atelier, singing and gnawing the leg of a fowl. The new- 

 comer did not perceive me at first. I heard him laugh and mutter to himself 

 " Come this is a good one ! when old Therese misses her leg, and can 

 neither see nor hear any thing about it, it will all be laid to the cat Ah ! had 

 she known that M. Dermilly was gone out ! how would the modest stews 

 and bashful pastry, have shrunk from my gaze ! Bring what you want to 

 eat with you,' said she I did bring all that I could lay my hands on at 

 home a clove of garlick and two onions a light repast to dispel the 

 bad air. 



'Why did 1 leave my father's hall, my mothers fostering care ?' 



A thousand pities her soup was not simmering on the fire ! We feel equal to 

 the black broth of the Spartans M. Dermiliy to leave me thus for hours,! 

 Fortunately, like the hackney coaches, I am hired by the hour." 



Just then, the gentleman made a caper, which brought him to my side, 

 and he cried " Who the devil have we got here ? Who is this little scamp ? 

 Are you engaged to sit for a model to sit for the Innocents, my little tit ? 

 You must eat a little panada for some time first you are as white as an egg 

 you must get a little fat in your cheeks " 



" I am called Andrew, sir ? " said I to the gentleman, who, whilst I was 

 speaking, waltzed about, and placed himself in attitudes. " I was knocked 

 down by a cabriolet, and M. Dermilly had tbe goodness to take me in " 



" Ah ! excuse me, interesting victim! I have a feeling heart I have been 

 knocked down three or four times myself, but no one picked me up true it 

 was that Bacchus had somewhat enfeebled my legs. Stay, my little fellow, 

 what do you think of this entrechat?" 



I could not comprehend how this gentleman could dance and sing so close 

 to the other, who never stirred, and always held his sabre uplifted. I pointed 



* Andrew the Savoyard, from C. Paul de Kock. 2 Vols. London. E. 

 Marston and Co., 3, New Broad-street Court, New Broad-street. 



