“The good woman is given to gambling, it would seem,” the valet went on. “And, moreover, she is under the thumb of a third-rate actor in a suburban theatre, whom, for decency’s sake, she calls her godson.
She is a first-rate cook, it would seem, and wants a place.”
“Dose teufel of geniuses of de common people hafe alvays ten vays of making money, and ein dozen vays of spending it,” said the Baron to himself, quite unconscious that Panurge had thought the same thing.
He sent his servant off in quest of Madame de Saint–Esteve, who did not come till the next day.
Being questioned by Asie, the servant revealed to this female spy the terrible effects of the notes written to Monsieur le Baron by his mistress.
“Monsieur must be desperately in love with the woman,” said he in conclusion, “for he was very near dying.
For my part, I advised him never to go back to her, for he will be wheedled over at once.
A woman who has already cost Monsieur le Baron five hundred thousand francs, they say, without counting what he has spent on the house in the Rue Saint–Georges!
But the woman cares for money, and for money only.
— As madame came out of monsieur’s room, she said with a laugh:
‘If this goes on, that slut will make a widow of me!’”
“The devil!” cried Asie; “it will never do to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
“Monsieur le Baron has no hope now but in you,” said the valet.
“Ay!
The fact is, I do know how to make a woman go.”
“Well, walk in,” said the man, bowing to such occult powers.
“Well,” said the false Saint–Esteve, going into the sufferer’s room with an abject air, “Monsieur le Baron has met with some difficulties?
What can you expect!
Everybody is open to attack on his weak side.
Dear me, I have had my troubles too.
Within two months the wheel of Fortune has turned upside down for me.
Here I am looking out for a place!
— We have neither of us been very wise.
If Monsieur le Baron would take me as cook to Madame Esther, I would be the most devoted of slaves. I should be useful to you, monsieur, to keep an eye on Eugenie and madame.”
“Dere is no hope of dat,” said the Baron. “I cannot succeet in being de master, I am let such a tance as ——”
“As a top,” Asie put in. “Well, you have made others dance, daddy, and the little slut has got you, and is making a fool of you.
— Heaven is just!”
“Just?” said the Baron. “I hafe not sent for you to preach to me ——”
“Pooh, my boy! A little moralizing breaks no bones.
It is the salt of life to the like of us, as vice is to your bigots.
— Come, have you been generous?
You have paid her debts?”
“Ja,” said the Baron lamentably.
“That is well; and you have taken her things out of pawn, and that is better.
But you must see that it is not enough.
All this gives her no occupation, and these creatures love to cut a dash ——”
“I shall hafe a surprise for her, Rue Saint–Georches — she knows dat,” said the Baron. “But I shall not be made a fool of.”
“Very well then, let her go.”
“I am only afrait dat she shall let me go!” cried the Baron.
“And we want our money’s worth, my boy,” replied Asie. “Listen to me.
We have fleeced the public of some millions, my little friend?
Twenty-five millions I am told you possess.” The Baron could not suppress a smile. “Well, you must let one go.”
“I shall let one go, but as soon as I shall let one go, I shall hafe to give still another.”
“Yes, I understand,” replied Asie. “You will not say B for fear of having to go on to Z.
Still, Esther is a good girl ——”
“A ver’ honest girl,” cried the banker. “An’ she is ready to submit; but only as in payment of a debt.”
“In short, she does not want to be your mistress; she feels an aversion.
— Well, and I understand it; the child has always done just what she pleased.
When a girl has never known any but charming young men, she cannot take to an old one. You are not handsome; you are as big as Louis XVIII., and rather dull company, as all men are who try to cajole fortune instead of devoting themselves to women.
— Well, if you don’t think six hundred thousand francs too much,” said Asie, “I pledge myself to make her whatever you can wish.”