Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-04-03
CHAPTER. II.

w uen aWOke TeXU morning IL was TO VOL
der what could be the hour of day. felt as
if had slept sufficiently, and yet the light in
the room seemed strangely dim. 1t might
have been early morning.
looked across the room to the corner in
which stood Raouls truckle-bed, opposite my
own. Raoul still slept, and soundly, to judge
from his deep, regular breathing. I knew
that he must have been late the night before;
had fallen asleep before he returned.
Presently heard the heavy foot of Pierre,
our landlord and servant in one, mounting
the stair, and then his knock at the door,
"Is that you, Pierre?"
SIT is I, with letter for Monsieur, and one
also for NJ. Girard"
was about to rise to admit him, when l
noticed that the key was not in the lock of
the door. Evidently Raoul had not secured
the door behind him last night, as it was his
habit to do.
''Enter, then; the key is on your side, is it
not?"
"Ah, it is truel" Next minute he had en-
tered the room, and coming to my bedside,
handed me the two letters.
What o'clock is it. Pierce"
1T is half-past eleven, Monsieur"
"How! Half-past eleven? Why, it is a
yeritable twilight in this roomm
eff Monsieur looks at the window he will
see the reason of that"
looked at the window in the ceiling of our
attic room, and saw that it was covered with
snow.
''What frightful weather. You will find
two faggots in the cloaet, Pierre; have the
goodness to light fire, and hang these clothes
before it. And make as little noise as pos
sible, if you please. M. Gnard still sleeps"
IN Girard was very late last night" re-
marked Pierre; sit was after two when let
him in"
$50 late as that2" I said surprised. Raoul
could not then have gone to visit Nine. Du-
maine and Gabrielle; he never stayed there
after II at latest. Where had he beene
While Pierre was making up the fire,
read the letter he had brought me- It was
from my father, in answer to an appeal for
money! desperate appeal, and useless, as
had expected. Unlike myself, my father was
man of principle; and one of his principles
the one I found personally most incon-
venient-was this: Not SOU till quarter-day.
He made me good allowance which, in those
days Of wild and thoughtless youth, was
accustomed to spend with rapidity. Raoul
was always poor; I was, at intervals, rich for
few days; then plunged into frightful pow
q ny, o"AAS3 w ny PeAOAASo ooC1d iOoOl' z
never to antedate supplies. / had also nu-
merous creditors, and had become proficient
in the art of doubling cape''-that is, slip
ping round street corner when one of these
appeared. 1t was my custom, when the funds
began to sink, to leave my comparatively
luxurious room in the Rue de Medicis,
with their pleasant view over the
Luxembourg gardens, and install myself in
Raouls garrett, amid the din and squalor
of the Rue Dauphine. His companionship
more than made up for the discomfort, the
cold and the occasional pinch of hunger. We
were fast friends, financed in common and
had no secrets from each other. Raoul was
very different from me-frugal, industrious,
indulging in few pleasures, but always frank
and gay, however empty his pockets We
were both students Of law and our final ex-
animation was now not far off. had never
regretted my improvidence until now. But,
when I saw how little ready money would
have enabled Raoul and myself to leave
aside all other work and give ourselves to our
law books, did regret it. And therefore,
some days ago. had written that letter to
my father, scarcely expecting any more fav-
orable answer than the exceedingly curt and
decided one received.
Pierre had by this time Hndled the fire, and
was arranging before it, on the backs of the
two chairs our attic boosted, Raoul's damp
clothes and mine. All at once he uttered an
exclamation of surprise, which startled me
from my study of the parental letter. elbow!
look then at the coat of M. Girard The
sleeve is ripped up right to the shoulder"
ssWhat! the sleeve ripped up, do you say?'
"Torn completely, Monsieur! But what is
to be done? Monsieur has but one coat at
present, and until it is repaired"
HE cannot leave this room, Of course. 1t
is very awkward. How can he have done it?'
eff Monsieur desires, will take the coat
downstairs to Nannette, who will sew it suffi-
GENTLY we'll. Monsieur doubtless remembers
what the little tailor at the corner says-that
he will do absolutely nothing more for Mon
seur until his bill is paidg'
cit is true, Pierre; l recoIlect the words of
the little wretch. BY MI means. take the
;oat to Madame, and give her my thanks in
ADVANCE"
Pierre departed, taking the coat with him.
Ibegan turning over the pages Of the English
book, reading a passage here and there, and
trying to reckon the time it would take us to
translate it. Raoul was an excellent English
scholar; could read that language fairly.
We had done this kind of work once OF
UWlC6
Every now and then looked across the
room to see whether Raoul was not awake
But he did not stir. The heavy, regular
breathing continued; seemed to be sleeping
very soundly.
By chance my eye fell on Raoul's letter,
which I had laid on the table beside me. /
stretched forth my hand, took it and looked at
the address; letters in those days were
anO1ol1 of reritxr 70 N, 10 ono r,1,ioI1c Tho
handwriting was strange to me. was about
to lay the letter down, when I noticed these
words on the front Of the envelope, "Odeon
Theatre" Imagine my wonder, my delight!
There was but one conclusion to be drawn
from letter which came unaccompanied by
the manuscript Raouls comedy was &C
cepted! For weeks past had cen tellingmy-
self, had been assuring Raoul, that NOTHING