Henriette and Jules, behind her, also bowed, delighted with the game and splitting their sides with laughing, as though being tickled.
She was quite rosy at seeing them so heartily amused and even found some pleasure in it on her own account, which generally only happened to her on the thirty-sixth day of each month.
“Good day, Monsieur Hardy.
How do you do, Monsieur Hardy?”
But a rough hand pushed open the door, and Bijard entered.
Then the scene changed. Henriette and Jules fell down flat against the wall; whilst Lalie, terrified, remained standing in the very middle of the curtsey.
The locksmith held in his hand a big waggoner’s whip, quite new, with a long white wooden handle, and a leather thong, terminating with a bit of whip-cord.
He placed the whip in the corner against the bed and did not give the usual kick to the child who was already preparing herself by presenting her back.
A chuckle exposed his blackened teeth and he was very lively, very drunk, his red face lighted up by some idea that amused him immensely.
“What’s that?” said he. “You’re playing the deuce, eh, you confounded young hussy!
I could hear you dancing about from downstairs. Now then, come here!
Nearer and full face.
I don’t want to sniff you from behind.
Am I touching you that you tremble like a mass of giblets?
Take my shoes off.”
Lalie turned quite pale again and, amazed at not receiving her usual drubbing, took his shoes off.
He had seated himself on the edge of the bed. He lay down with his clothes on and remained with his eyes open, watching the child move about the room.
She busied herself with one thing and another, gradually becoming bewildered beneath his glance, her limbs overcome by such a fright that she ended by breaking a cup.
Then, without getting off the bed, he took hold of the whip and showed it to her.
“See, little chickie, look at this. It’s a present for you.
Yes, it’s another fifty sous you’ve cost me.
With this plaything I shall no longer be obliged to run after you, and it’ll be no use you getting into the corners.
Will you have a try?
Ah! you broke a cup!
Now then, gee up!
Dance away, make your curtsies to Monsieur Hardy!”
He did not even raise himself but lay sprawling on his back, his head buried in his pillow, making the big whip crack about the room with the noise of a postillion starting his horses.
Then, lowering his arm he lashed Lalie in the middle of the body, encircling her with the whip and unwinding it again as though she were a top.
She fell and tried to escape on her hands and knees; but lashing her again he jerked her to her feet.
“Gee up, gee up!” yelled he.
“It’s the donkey race!
Eh, it’ll be fine of a cold morning in winter.
I can lie snug without getting cold or hurting my chilblains and catch the calves from a distance.
In that corner there, a hit, you hussy!
And in that other corner, a hit again! And in that one, another hit.
Ah! if you crawl under the bed I’ll whack you with the handle.
Gee up, you jade!
Gee up! Gee up!”
A slight foam came to his lips, his yellow eyes were starting from their black orbits.
Lalie, maddened, howling, jumped to the four corners of the room, curled herself up on the floor and clung to the walls; but the lash at the end of the big whip caught her everywhere, cracking against her ears with the noise of fireworks, streaking her flesh with burning weals.
A regular dance of the animal being taught its tricks.
This poor kitten waltzed. It was a sight! Her heels in the air like little girls playing at skipping, and crying “Father!”
She was all out of breath, rebounding like an india-rubber ball, letting herself be beaten, unable to see or any longer to seek a refuge.
And her wolf of a father triumphed, calling her a virago, asking her if she had had enough and whether she understood sufficiently that she was in future to give up all hope of escaping from him.
But Gervaise suddenly entered the room, attracted by the child’s howls.
On beholding such a scene she was seized with a furious indignation.
“Ah! you brute of a man!” cried she.
“Leave her alone, you brigand!
I’ll put the police on to you.”
Bijard growled like an animal being disturbed, and stuttered: