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Submitting himself to the old tone of condescending authority, John Baptist, not at all steady on his legs as yet, advanced and put his hand in his patron's. Monsieur Lagnier laughed; and having given it a squeeze, tossed it up and let it go. 'Then you were faltered John Baptist. 'Not shaved? No. See here! cried Lagnier, giving his head a twirl; 'as tight on as your own.
How, at the house of entertainment called the Break of Day at Chalons on the Saone, he had been awakened in his bed at night by the same assassin, then assuming the name of Lagnier, though his name had formerly been Rigaud; how the assassin had proposed that they should join their fortunes together; how he held the assassin in such dread and aversion that he had fled from him at daylight, and how he had ever since been haunted by the fear of seeing the assassin again and being claimed by him as an acquaintance.
'Pray remember, Monsieur Lagnier, that I wish particularly to go out this morning. It is now past one o'clock, and if you continue endeavouring to do what is quite impossible, my hair will never be dressed. You had much better plait it as usual.
The little man nodded his head, and showed his teeth; and yet seemed not quite convinced that it was a surpassingly desirable arrangement. 'We'll go together, repeated Lagnier. 'You shall see how soon I will force myself to be recognised as a gentleman, and you shall profit by it. It is agreed? Are we one? 'Oh, surely, surely! said the little man.
'I cannot laugh upon so serious a subject. Adelaide laughed again more heartily than before, and M. Lagnier continued, indignantly: 'Mademoiselle does not care for the loss of her beauty, then? 'Oh, I did not know there was any question of that! and the young girl suddenly resumed an expression of gravity, which completely imposed upon the simple old man.
You would be. You don't imagine that they would set upon me, and let my prison chum go? Don't think it! There was an expression in his face as he released his grip of his friend's jaw, from which his friend inferred that if the course of events really came to any stoning and trampling, Monsieur Lagnier would so distinguish him with his notice as to ensure his having his full share of it.
He remembered what a cosmopolitan gentleman Monsieur Lagnier was, and how few weak distinctions he made. 'I am a man, said Monsieur Lagnier, 'whom society has deeply wronged since you last saw me. You know that I am sensitive and brave, and that it is my character to govern. How has society respected those qualities in me? I have been shrieked at through the streets.
'Then you shall hear before I sleep and in six words, for I want sleep how I appear before you, I, Lagnier. Remember that. Not the other. 'Altro, altro! Not Ri Before John Baptist could finish the name, his comrade had got his hand under his chin and fiercely shut up his mouth. 'Death! what are you doing? Do you want me to be trampled upon and stoned? Do YOU want to be trampled upon and stoned?
To all of which John Baptist, listening attentively to the suppressed hoarse voice, said from time to time, 'Surely, surely! tossing his head and shutting his eyes, as if there were the clearest case against society that perfect candour could make out. 'Put my shoes there, continued Lagnier. 'Hang my cloak to dry there by the door. Take my hat. He obeyed each instruction, as it was given.
Rigaud Lagnier Blandois, my amiable subject, you will get your money. You will enrich yourself. You have lived a gentleman; you will die a gentleman. You triumph, my little boy; but it is your character to triumph. Whoof! In the hour of his triumph, his moustache went up and his nose came down, as he ogled a great beam over his head with particular satisfaction. Closed
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