M. I^EVASSBUR BEGINS TO ENCEOACH. 273 



business is wasted in bringing things about; I am in debt, 

 both for the lawsuit and indispensable repairs. So, you see, 

 I cannot offer you any money at present; you shall be 

 lodged as I am, fed as I am; and as soon as our united 

 efforts shall be successful, you shall share my prosperity as you 

 wiU have shared my poverty. Will that do?" 



The moment was admirably chosen, everything went wrong 

 with me; besides, I took these falsehoods for frankness and 

 honesty: I accepted his offer, reproaching myself for stiU 

 fancying so good a fellow had a false and vulgar air about 

 him. The next day I took up my abode with him. 



I was not long in finding out that he did not treat me 

 exactly like a brother; if he did it was like a younger brother, 

 and kept up in the most rigorous manner the most obliterated 

 traditions even of the rights of the elder born. 



My chamber was next to the sky, and furnished with 

 a flock-bed and one chair; of four squares which formed the 

 window of my domicile, and admitted more cold than light, 

 one was of paper. With respect to my food, I dined with 

 him and his wife, a vulgar fat woman. After dinner the first 

 day, they invited me to take some coffee with them, which 

 I at that time did not much like, and some liqueur which 

 I did not like at aU, and which I determined to decline in 

 future. On the second day, at coffee-time, Levasseur pre- 

 tended to listen, and said: — "Monsieur Stephen, I think 

 there is too much noise in school." I arose and went to re- 

 establish order; which, by-the-bye, I found had not been 

 disturbed. 



The day after, exactly at the moment for the introduction 

 of coffee, M. Levasseur again believed he heard a noise in 

 school. This appeared to me to be rather singular. I, how- 

 ever, got up, but found all perfectly quiet. 



On the following day, the same noise assailed his ears, just 

 at the same instant. 



I then perceived that they were not willing to give me any 

 coffee. This discovery relieved me fi:om an annoyance, — that 

 of remaining at table with them; and I adopted ihe plan 

 of rising from table as soon as I had finished my meal, 

 and going into the school-room, where I could read, or think, 

 or write a letter, which I hoped to be able to slip into 



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