THE! AMERICAN.
THE WANDERING JEW.
oiiaptku xxxi.
V K I K N l I. Y K H V I C K S.
"Otherwise called Meepinbufl. He is now in
prison for debt," sighed Rodin. "I taw him
yesterday."
'You saw him yesterday? how strange! "said
Ro-e-Pompon, clapping her hand. ' Quick!
quirk! come over to Philemon', to give Cephyse
news of her lover. She is so uneasy ahoutliim."
"My dejr child, I should like to give her good
Vr.iu-'iihtt.niilinf hia surprise and uneasiness
Kodin did not frown. He began by Ming his news of that worthy fellow, whom I like in spite
door after him, as ho noticed the young girls of his follies, for who has not Wen guilty of fol-
inonisitive dance. Thou he said to her good- lies?" added Rodin, with indulgent good-nature.
naUiredlv "who do you want, my dear?" "To he Mire," said Hose-Pompon, twisting
"M, Kodin," repeated Kobe-Pompon, stoutly, ab ut as if she till wore the costume of a de
blue eves to their full extent, bardeur.
and looking Kodin full in the fare. " I will say more," added Kodin: " I love him
lt'a imt tiin"atiid he. moving towards the because of his follies; for, talk as we may, my
stairs. " I do not ki-ow him. Inquire above or dear child, there is always something good at
lj.' bottom, a good heart, or something, in those who
"No vou don't! giving yourself uirs at your spend generously their money for other people."
i;,w,..!,ninimn. shrui'iriiiL' her should- UV11. come! vou are a very aood sort of
ers. "As if wo did not know that you are M. man," said Rose-Pompon, enchanted with Ro
Rodiu." din's philosophy. " Hut why will you not come
" Chailemage," said the socius, bowing; " Char- and see Cephyse, and talk to her of Jacques?"
lemagne, to serve you if I am able." Qf wiat use WOuld it be to tell her what shej
" You are not ablo," answered Kose-Pompon, knows already that Jacques is in prison? What
majestically; then she added with a mocking air, I should like, would be to get the worthy fellow
" So, we have our little pussy-tat hiding-places; out of his scrape."
wo change our name; we are afraid Mamma Ko- Oh, sir! only do that, only get Jacques out of
din will find us out." prison, cried Kose-Pompon, warmly, "and we
"Come, my dear child," said the socius, with a will both give you a kiss me and Cephyse!"
paternal smile; "you have come to tho right " It would be throwing kisses away, dear little
quarter. I am an old man, but I love youth madcap! " said Kodin, smiliug. " But be satis
happy, joyous youth! Amuse yourself, pray, at ihd( I want no reward to induce me to do good
my expense. Only let me pass, for 1 am in a when I can."
hurry." And Kodin again advanced towards the Then you hope to get Jacques out of prison?"
etairs. Kodin shook his head, and answered with a
" M. Kodin," said Kose-Pompon, in a solemn grieved and disappointed air. "I did hope it.
voice, " I have very important things to say to Certainly, I did hope it; but now all is changed."
you, and advice to ask about a love affair." "How's that?" asked Kose-Pompon, with sur-
" Why, little madcap that you are! have you prise,
nobody to tease in your own house, that you " That foolish joke of calling me M. Rodin may
must come here?" appear very amusing to you, my dear child. I
"I lodge in this house, M. Rodin," answered understand it, you being only a echo. Someone
Kose-Pompon, laying a malicious stress nu the has said to you: Go and tell M.Charlemagne
name of her victim. that 8 one M Iiodin- Tliat will be very
"You? Oh, dear, only to think I did not funny."
know I had such a pretty neighbor." " Certainly, I should never myself have thought
Vna t iinvn Iii.IitaiI 1. ro sir months. M. Ro. of callinii vou M.Rodin. One does not invent
i VO A 11(1 I V IV'VlVV" . v -.. ..w - j - - - 1 li
such names," answered Rose-Pompon.
" Really! where?" " Well! that person, with his foolish jokes, has
"On the third story, front, M. Rodin." done, without knowing it, an injury to Jacques
"It was you, then, that sang so well just now?" Rennepont."
" Rather." " Wrhat! because I called you Rodin instead of
"You gave me great pleasure, I must say." Charlemagne?" cried Rose-Pompon, much re-
" You are very polite, M. Kodin." gretting the pleasantry which she had carried on
"You lodge, I suppose, with your respectable at the instigation of Ninny Mouliu. "But really,
family? " sir," sho added, " what can this joke have to do
"I believe you, M. Rodin," said Rose-Pompon, with the service that you were about to render
casting down her eyes with a timid air. "I Jacques?"
lodge with Grandpapa rhilemon, and Grand- " I am not at'liberty to tell you, my child. In
mama Bacchanal who is a queen, and no mis- truth, I am very sorry for poor Jacques. Believe
take." rne, I am; but do let me pass."
Kodin had hitherto been seriously uneasy, not "Listen to me, sir, I beg, said Rose-Pompon;
knowing in what manner Rose had discovered "if I told you the name of the person who told
his real name. But on hearing her mention the me to call you Rodin, would you interest your
Bacchanal Queen, with the information that she self again for Jacques?"
lodged in the house, he found something to com- j (0 not wisll t0 kuow any one8 8ecrets, my
pensate for the disagreeble incident of Rose-Pom- dear jjj jn ajj thi3j you jiave been the echo
pon's appearance. It was, indeed, important to of per80n9 who are, perhaps, very dangerous
Rodin to find out the Bacchanal Queen, the mis- notwithstanding the interest I feel for Jac
tress of bleepinbuil, and the sister ol Mother que3 i;emiepontf I do not wish, you understand
Tin ii oh. who hnd heen ncted as dancerous since .-lf AnAn;aa Uonron fnrKM?"
, c I tU IHalkC liiYDvii cucmivc, ivui v
or interview wim me suiieriui ui tuo ivucim, h . i i i n i?;o
-i i.'AQa.rnmnnn n i i , hi. hi i i iucucuu iiuuiii a
111 11111 11. I
aiia ine pan snenaa iaKen m u. pruju fears, and upon this he had counted; for, after a
escape of Mdlle. de Cardoville. Moreover, Rodin flfloM- iha vm,ntr r resumej.
hoped thanks to what he had just heard to L w .lh- : 'too deeD for me: X do not un
bring Rose-Pompon to confess to him the name derstand u AU j know iS) that i am truly sorry
of the person from whom she had learned that if t have injured a good young man by a mere
"v,narieniagne maeu iwum. j win ten you exactly how it happened
naruiy naa tne young gin prououncu mc My frankness may be of some use."
"a7 V y T " Frankness will often clear up the most obscure
ilia nanus, ami iiiucoicu as uiuvu omwuavu u . , ,. .
. , , hl matters," said Rodin, sententiously
internet orl I
. "Oh, my dear child" he exclaimed, "I con- "After all," said Kose-Pompon, "it's Ninny's
inre vou not to iest on this subiect. Are you fault. Why does he tell me nonsense, that might
CnVin ,,nr rirl whn bears that nick, injure poor Cephyse's lover? Y'ou see, sir.it
name, the sister of a deformed needlewoman?" happened in this way. Ninny Moulin, whois
"Yes, sir, the Bacchanal Queen is her nick- fond of a joke, saw you just now in the street
name said Rose-Pomnon. astonished in her The portress told him that your name was Char
turn; "she is really Cephyse Soliveau, and she is
my friend."
" Oh! she is your friend? " said Rodin, reflect,
ing.
, " Yes, sir, my bosom friend."
"So you love her?"
" Like a sister. Poor girl! I do what
for her. and that's not much. But how comes it
lemagne. He said to me: "No; his name is Ko
din. We must play him a trick. Go to his room
Rose-Pompon, knock at the door, and call him
M. Rodin. You will see what a rum face he wil
make." I promised Ninny Moulin, not to name
him; but I do it, rather than run the risk of in
It T 91
I can juring Jacques.
At Ninny Moulin's name Rodin had not been
that a respectable man of your age should know able to repress a movement of surprise. This
the Bacchanal Queen? Ah! that shows you have pamphletear, wnoni ne naa employed to eait me
a false name! " " Neighborly Love," was not personally formida
"My dear child, I am no longer inclined to ble; but, being fond of talking in his drink, he
laueh"said Rodin, with so sorrowful an air, might become troublesome, particularly it ivoain
that Rose-Pompon, reproaching herself with her as was probable, had often to vist this house, to
nleasantry. said to him: "But how come it that execute ins project upon oieepinDun, mroug
you know Cephyse? "
"Alas! I do not know her but a young fellow,
that I like excessively "
the medium of the Bacchanal Queen. The socius
resolved, therefore, to provide against this incon
venience.
" So, my dear child," said he to Rose-Pompon,
"it is a M. lesmoulins that persuade-! you to
play otr this silly joke? "
"Not Desmoulins, but Dumoulin," corrected
K be. "He writes in the pewholders' papers,
and defends the saint Drinkard and Siint Flash
ete, as he himself declares."
"This gentleman appears to be very gay."
"Oh! a very good fellow."
"But stop," resumed Kodin. appearing to recol
lect himself; " aint he a man about thirty-six or
forty, fat, with a raddy complexion?"
" Ruddy as a glass of red wine," said Kose-Pompon,
"and with a pimpled nose like a mulbirry."
"That's the man M. Dumoulin. Oil! in that
case, I am quite satisfied, my dear child. The
jest n longer makes me uneasy; for M." Duinoil
in is a very worthy man only perhaps a little
too fond of his joke."
" Then, sir, you will try to be useful to Jacques?
The stupid pleasantry of Ninny Mouliu will not
prevent you? "
" I hope not."
" But I must not tell Ninny Moulin that you
know it was he who sent me to call you M. Kodin
eh, sir?"
" Why not? In every case, my dear child, it
s always better to speak frankly the truth."
"But, sir, Ninny Moulin so strongly recom
mended me not to name him to you "
' If you have named him, it is from a very
good motive; why not avow it? However, my
ear child, this concerns you, not me. Do as
ou think best."
ud may I tell Cephyse of your good inten-
ions towards Jacques?"
'The truth, my dear child, always the truth.
One need never hesitate to say what is."
"Poor Cephyse! how happy she will be!" cried
iose-Pompon, cheerfully; "and the news will
come just in time."
'Only you must not exaggerate; I do not
promise positively to get this good fellow out of
prison; I say, that I will do what I can. But
what I promise positively is for, since the im
prisonment of poor Jacques, your friend most be
very much staitened "
Alas, sir! "
" What I promise positively is, some little as
sistance, which your friend will receive today, to
enable her to live honestly; and if she behaves
well hereafter why, hereafter, we shall see."
Oh, sir! you do not know how welcome will
be you assistance to poor Cephyse! One might
fancy you were her actual good angel. Faith!
you may call yourself Rodin, or Charlemagne;
all I know is, that you are a nice, sweet
"Come, come, do not exaggerate," said Rodin;
Say a good sort of old fellow; nothing more,
m 11 fti t it l 11 i
my dear cnuu. uut see now inings ian out,
sometimes! Who could have told me, when I
heard you knock at my door which, I must say,
vexed me a great deal that it was a pretty little
neighbor of mine, who, under the pretext of
playing off a joke, wa3 to put me in the way of
doing a good action? Go and comfort your
friend; this evening she will receive some assist
ance; and let us have hope and confidence
Thanks be, there are still some good people in
the world! "
" Oh, sir! you prove it yourself."
" Not at all! The happiness of the old is to
see the young happy."
This was said by Rodin with so much kind
ness, that Rose-Poinpon felt the tears well up to
her eyes, and answered with much emotion:
" Sir, Cephyse and me are only poor girls; there
are many more virtuous in the world; but I ven
ture to say, we have good hearts. Now, if ever
you should be ill, only send for us; there are no
Sisters of Charity that will take better care of
you. It is all that we can offer you, without
reckoning Philemon, who shall go through fire
and water for you, I give you my word for it-
and Cephyse, I am sure, will answer for Jacques
also, that he will be yours in life and death."
"You see, my dear child, that I was right in
saying a fitful head and a good heart. Adieu
till we meet again."
Thereupon Rodin, taking up the basket, which
he had placed on the ground by the side of his
umbrella, prepared to descend the stairs.
" First of all, you must give me this basket; it
will be in vour way going down," said Rose-
Pompon, taking the basket from the hands o
Rodin, notwithstanding his resistance. Then
she added: "Lean upon my arm. The stairs
are so dark. You might slip."
" I will accept your offer, my dear child, for
am not very courageous." Leaning paternally
on the right arm of Rose-Pompon, who held the
basket in her left hand, Rodin descended the
stairs, and crossed the caurt-yard
" Up there, on the third story, do you see that
big face close to the window-frame?" said Rose
Pompon suddenly to Rodin, stopping in the ceu
tre of the little court. " That is my Ninny Moul
in. Do vou know him? Is he the same as
yours? "
"The same as mine," said Kodin, raising Lis
hea l, aud waving his hand very affectionately to
Jacques Dumoulin, who, eturK-tied thereat, re
tired abruptly from the windo.
The poor fellow! I am sure he is afraid of
me since his foolish joke," said Rodin, smiling.
" He is very wrong."
And he accompanied these last words with sin
ister nipping of the lips, not perceived by Rose
Pompon. "And now, my dear child," said he, as they
both entered the passage, " I no longer need your
assistance; return to your friend, and tell her the
good news you have heard."
" Yes, sir, you are right. I burn with impa
tience to tell her whit a good man you are." And
Rose-Pompon spiung towards the stairs.
"Stop, stop! how about my basket that the
little madcap carries off with her!" said Rodin.
"Oh, true! I beg pardon, sir. Poor Cephyse!
how pleased she will be. Adieu, sir! " And
Rose-Pompon's pretty figure disappeared in the
darkness of the staircase, which she mounted
with an alert and impatient step.
Rodin issued from the entry. " Here is your
basket, my good lady," said he, topping at the
threshold of Mother Arsene's shop. " I give you
my humble thanks for your kindness."
" For nothing, my dear sir, for nothing. It is
all at your service. Well! was the radish good?"
" Succulent, my dear madame, and excellent."
"Oh! I am glad of it. Shall we soon see you
again:
" I hope so. But could you tell me where is
the nearest post-office? "
"Turn to the left, the third house, at the gro
er's." " A thousand thanks."
" 1 wager it's a love letter for your sweetheart,"
said Mother Arsene, enlivened probably by Rose-
ompon's and Ninny Moulin's proximity.
" Ha! ha! ha! the good lady! " said Rodin, with
titter. Then, suddenly resuming his serious
aspect, he made a low bow to the green-grocer,
adding: " Your most obedient, humble servant!
and walked out into the street.
We now usher the reader into Dr. Baleinier's
asylum, in which Mdlle. de Cardoville was con
fined.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE ADVICE.
Adrienne de Cardoville had been still more
strictly confined in Dr. Baleinier's house, since
the double nocturnal attempt of Agricola and
Dagobert, in which the soldier, though severely
wounded, and succeeded, thanks to the intrepid
devotion of his son, seconded by the heroic Spoil-
port, it gaining the little garden gate of the con
vent, and escaping by way of the boulevard,
along with the young smith. Four o'clock had
just struck. Adrienne, since the previous day,
had been removed to a chamber on the second
story of the asylum. The grated window, with
closed shutters, only admitted a faint light to
this apartment. The young lady, since her in
terview with Mother Bunch, expected to be de
livered any day by the intervention of her
friends. But she felt painful uneasiness on the
subject of Agricola and Dagobert, being abso-
utely ignorant of the issue of the struggle in
which her intended liberators had been engaged
with the people of the asylum and convent. She
had in vain questioned her keepers on the sub
ject; they had remained perfectly mute. These
new incidents had augmented the bitter resent
ment of Adrienne against the Princess de Saint
Dizier, Father d'Aigrigny, and their creatuies.
The slight paleness of Mdlle. de Cardoville's
charming face, and her fine eyes a little droop
ing, betrayed her recent sufferings; seated before
a little table, with her forehead resting upon one
of her hands, half veiled by the long curls of her
golden hair, she was turning over the leaves of a
book. Suddenly, the door opened, and M. Bal
einier entered. The doctor, a Jesuit, in lay at
tire, a docile and passive instrument of the will
of his Order, was only half in the confidence of
Father d'Aigrigny and the Princes de Saint Diz
ier. He was ignorant of the object of the im
prisonment of Mdlle. de Cardoville; he was ignor
ant also of the sudden change which had taken
place in the relative position of Father d'Aigrigny
and Rodin, after the reading of the testament of
Marius de Rennepont. The doctor had, only the
day before, received orders from Father d'Aig
rigny (now acting under the directions of Rodin)
to confine Mdlle. de Cardoville still more strictly,
to act towards her with redoubled severity, and
to endeavor to force her, it will be seen by what
expedients, to renounce the judicial proceedings,
which she promised herself to take hereafter
against her persecutors. At sight of the doctor,
Mdlle. de Cardoville could not hide the aversion
and disdain with which this man inspired her.
M. Baleinier, on the contrary, always smiling,
always courteous, approached Adrienne with per-
"Jacques Rennepont?"
