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Ah! to be confident of always producing masterpieces! He complimented Mahoudeau on his 'Vintaging Girl'; showed himself paternal to all of them, with that broad-minded good-nature of his, the free and easy manner of an old Bohemian of the romantic school, who had settled down and was decorated. Then, turning to Claude: 'Well, what did I tell you? Did you see upstairs?
He could distinguish his friend's place from afar on account of the colossal plaster statue of the 'Vintaging Girl, the once successful exhibit of the Salon, for which there had not been sufficient space in the narrow ground-floor studio. Thus it was rotting out in the open like so much rubbish shot from a cart, a lamentable spectacle, weather-bitten, riddled by the rain's big, grimy tears.
Mahoudeau also was singing victory, constantly dragging in his 'Vintaging Girl, the daring points of which he explained to the silent Chaine, the only one who listened to him; while Gagniere, with the sternness of a timid man waxing wroth over questions of pure theory, spoke of guillotining the Institute; and Sandoz, with the glowing sympathy of a hard worker, and Dubuche, giving way to the contagion of revolutionary friendship, became exasperated, and struck the table, swallowing up Paris with each draught of beer.
'Oh, dear me! you have company I did not know; I'll drop in again. 'Yes, do, said Mahoudeau, looking very vexed. 'Besides, I am going out; you can give me a sitting on Sunday. At this Claude, stupefied, fairly stared at the emaciated Mathilde, and then at the huge vintaging woman. 'What? he cried, 'is it madame who poses for that figure? The dickens, you exaggerate!
I am going to give them some flesh, and living flesh, too; not the bladders of lard that they turn out. 'It's a woman bathing, isn't it? asked Sandoz. 'No; I shall put some vine leaves around her head. A Bacchante, you understand. At this Claude flew into a violent passion. 'A Bacchante? Do you want to make fools of people? Does such a thing as a Bacchante exist? A vintaging girl, eh?
'I have to go out on some business now. Isn't it so, you fellows, we are expected over yonder? He had winked at his friends, feeling eager for a good lounge. They all answered that they were expected, and helped him to cover the figure of the vintaging girl with some strips of old linen which were soaking in a pail of water. However, Mathilde, looking submissive but sad, did not stir.
To humour the poet Lycidas sings a love song of his own, and the other replies with verses about the passion of Aratus, the famous writer of didactic verse. After a courteous parting from Lycidas, the poet and his two friends repair to the orchard, where Demeter is being gratified with the first-fruits of harvest and vintaging.
But when they had reached this prince's famous halls, they sat down all orderly on seats and high chairs; and when they were come, the old man mixed well for them a bowl of sweet wine, which now in the eleventh year from the vintaging the housewife opened, and unloosed the string that fastened the lid.
And, besides, you know very well what you are about; you have something at your fingers' ends that pleases. There will be plenty of pretty bits about your vintaging girl. The compliment made Mahoudeau feel serious.
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