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Savarus' retirement to a Carthusian monastery and fate's punishment of Philomene, who is mutilated and disfigured in a railway accident, form the denouement, which is strained to the improbable. The background of the story, with its glimpses of the manners and foibles of provincial society, is the most valuable portion of the book.
Madame Desjardins, mortally offended with M. Dorinet on the score of Rosalie's legs, also prepared to be gone; while M. Philomène, convicted of hair-dye and brouillé for ever with "the most disagreeable girl in Paris," hastened to make his adieux as brief as possible. "A word in your ear, mon cher Dorinet," whispered he, catching the little dancing-master by the button-hole.
"Pray don't hesitate about repeating my words, M'sieur Philomène. I am not ashamed of them." It rests with Madame to carry on the game, and to betray the confidence of Monsieur Dorinet. Madame de Montparnasse, what have I done that you should so pervert my words? Mam'selle Rosalie ma chère elève, believe me, I never.... "Silence in the circle!" shouted Müller again.
Having despatched the venerable Coligny much to her own satisfaction and apparently to the satisfaction of her hearers, Mdlle. Honoria returned to private life; Messieurs Philomène and Dorinet removed the footlights; the audience once more dispersed itself about the room; and Madame Marotte welcomed the new-comer as Monsieur Lenoir.
Monsieur Philomène is quite right; and I am not at all angry with him." "But but, indeed, Mesdemoiselles, I I am incapable...." stammered the luckless tenor, wiping the perspiration from his brow. "I am incapable...." "Silence in the circle!" cried Müller, authoritatively. "Private civilities are forbidden by the rules of the game.
"Comment!" exclaimed one or two voices. "Is everything to be repeated?" "Everything, Messieurs et Mesdames," replied Müller "everything without reservation. I call upon Mdlle. Rosalie to reveal the secret of Monsieur Philomène." Your opinion, I assure you, is not of the least moment to either of us. Is it, Marie? But the fair Marie only smiled good-naturedly, and said: "I know I am not clever.
I call Monsieur Philomène to order, and I demand from him the secret of Madame de Montparnasse." M. Philomène looked even more miserable than before. "I I ... but it is an odious position! To betray the confidence of a lady ... Heavens! I cannot." "The secret! the secret!" shouted the others, impatiently. Madame de Montparnasse pursed up her parchment lips, glared upon us defiantly, and said:
"Ciel!" she cried, "and I have been paying three francs a lesson for you, Mademoiselle, twice a week for the last six years!" "Mais, maman".... "Fi done, Mademoiselle! I am ashamed of you. Make a curtsey to Monsieur Philomène this moment, and beg his pardon; for you have spoiled his beautiful song!"
At eleven the doorbell tinkled and the fat little waitress-maid-scrubwoman-second cook, a Lombard wench by the name, the sweet ineffable name of Philomène, waddled over and opened the door a tiny space. Pigalle occasionally sold liquor without a license; hence his caution as to visitors. She let in an odd apparition; with doubts, I thought; certainly with mutterings and rolling of her black eyes.
There was also Philomene Simonneau, the young Vendeenne, whose left leg was perforated by three horrible sores in the depths of which her carious bones were visible, and whose bones, whose flesh, and whose skin were all formed afresh.
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