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Updated: June 5, 2025
He checked himself, for the door opened, and the Count made his appearance, calm and dignified, but very pale. Tantaine made a low bow, pressing his greasy hat against his breast. "Your humble servant to command," said he. The Count had come to a sudden halt. "Excuse me," said he, "but did you send up a card asking for an interview?"
"But," went on Mascarin, "you did not leave Poitiers alone; you carried off with you a young girl named Rose Pigoreau." "Pray, let me explain." "It would be useless. The fact speaks for itself. In six months your little store had disappeared; then came poverty and starvation, and at last, in the Hotel de Perou, your thoughts turned to suicide, and you were only saved by my old friend Tantaine."
Repressing further manifestations of rage, Perpignan took Tantaine by the arm and led him into a little side-room, which he dignified by the name of his office. There was nothing in it but three chairs, a common deal table, and a few shelves containing ledgers. "You have come on business, I presume," remarked Perpignan.
The only thing against my success is my age, for I am getting to be an old man. Why, even now I have a matter in my hands that is simply splendid. I have had half the money down, but I want a smart young fellow to pull it through." "Why couldn't I be the smart young fellow?" asked Toto. Tantaine shook his head. "You are as much too young as I am too old," answered he.
"If a man has a clear conscience," said he aloud, "he is all right. I have nothing to conceal, and therefore nothing to fear. You have now seen my establishment; what do you think of it?" "It seems to me a very well-conducted one." "It may have occurred to you that a factory at Roubaix might have been a better investment, but I had not the capital to begin with." Tantaine nodded.
"Who do you want here?" growled she. "Your master." "He has not yet arrived, and may not come at all, for it is not his day; but you can see Poluche." "And who may he be?" "He is the professor," answered the hag contemptuously. "And where is he?" "In the music-room." Tantaine went to the stairs, which were so dingy and dilapidated as to make an ascent a work of danger and difficulty.
"Tantaine was here this morning," observed Verminet, "and told me that his master wanted to see me at four this afternoon. Van Klopen will be there also. Shall I say a word to him about your fine friend?" "'Pon my soul," remarked the Marquis, shrugging his shoulders, "I had nearly forgotten her. There will be a tremendous fuss made, for she will be wanting all sorts of things.
Tantaine had resumed all his airs of humility, and took off his hat to the footmen as he descended the steps. "Yes," muttered he, as he walked along, "the idea was a happy one. Andre knows that he is watched, and will be careful; and now that M. de Mussidan is aware that his sweet, pure daughter has had a lover, he will be only too happy to accept the Marquis de Croisenois as his son-in-law."
The ex-cook uttered an oath. "Then you too are watching Caroline," said he. "I knew well that there was some one else in the field, but that was no matter of mine." "Well, tell me why you are watching her?" "How can you ask me? You know that my motto is silence and discretion, and that this is a secret intrusted to my honor." Tantaine shrugged his shoulders.
With a sickening feeling of terror, Tantaine saw that the lad was half drunk. What could he be going to say? and how much did he know? Toto's guests evidently saw that he had taken too much; but as he seemed ready to let them into a secret, they paid great attention, and exchanged a look of intelligence.
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