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Updated: June 28, 2025
Jean felt so giddy in the open air he could not tell how he had come to lose Monsieur Tudesco, after emptying the contents of his purse into the latter's hand. He wandered about all night in the rain, stumbling through the puddles which splashed up the mud in his face. His brains buzzed with the maddest schemes, that took shape, jostled one another, and tumbled to pieces in his head.
"Give me back my hat," bawled Monsieur Tudesco to the Superintendent, who was doing his best to restore the coins to the donors; "give back the old man's hat, the hat of one who has grown grey in learned studies." The Superintendent, scarlet with rage, tossed the felt into the court, shouting: "Be off, or I will call the police." The Marquis Tudesco took to his heels with great agility.
He hesitated, till seeing Monsieur Tudesco bowing and smiling to go: "Sir," he said, "if you are ready, two or three times a week, to give the boy lessons in French and Latin, we might come to terms." The Marquis Tudesco expressed no surprise. He smiled and said: "Certainly, sir, as you wish it, I shall find it a delightful task to initiate your son in the mysteries of the Latin rudiments.
It was no other than the Marquis Tudesco. His red waistcoat was gone; instead he wore a sort of sleeved vest of coarse ticking, but his shining face, with the little round eyes and hooked nose, still wore the same look of merry, mischievous alertness that was so like an old parrot's. Jean was surprised to see him, and not ill-pleased after all.
Monsieur Tudesco, entirely at his ease among these fine people, did not seem at all aware of the young usher's hideous embarrassment. To the latter's "Come outside; we can talk better there," the old man replied unconcernedly, "Oh, no, I don't think so." He welcomed each lady who came in with a profound bow, and distributed friendly taps on the cheek among the young aristocrats around him.
One day he asked for a taste of cheese "just enough to make a mouse's dinner," was his expression. "Mice are like me, they love the dark and a quiet life and books; and like me they live on crumbs." This pose of the wise man fallen on evil days made a bad impression, and the old lady became silent and sombre as before. When springtime came Monsieur Tudesco vanished.
Monsieur Tudesco heard him out, lapping up a glass of Chartreuse drop by drop the while, and taking snuff from a screw of paper. At times he would nod his head in approval and go on listening with the air of a man watching and waiting his opportunity.
Monsieur Tudesco caught him by the skirt of his jacket to detain him: "My young friend, you have my admiration; for I see you rise on daring pinions above the hindrances of a lowly station to the realms of beauty, fame and wealth. You will yet cull the splendid blossom that fascinates you, at least I hope so.
Monsieur Tudesco consumed brandy-cherries in a very elegant way. Then the waiter served two dantzigs in little glass cups. Jean admired the translucent liquor dotted with golden sparkles, and Monsieur Tudesco demanded two more. Then, raising his cup on high: "I drink to the health of Monsieur Servien, your venerable father," he cried.
"Yes, sir, I have often breakfasted on a page of Tacitus and supped on a satire of Juvenal." As he said the words, a look of sadness over-spread his shining red face, and dropping his voice: "Forgive me, sir, if I hold out to you the casque of Belisarius. I am the Marquis Tudesco, of Venice.
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