The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-03-24

practise the duties of hospitality and
offer our guest a chair; guest is sa-
cred. l salute you, Abraham" added
the poet.
ColIine drew forward a chair which
had about as much elasticity as piece
of bronze and offered il to the Jew.
Medicis let himself fall into the chair;
and started to complain of its hard
ness, when he remembered that he
himself had once traded it off to Col
line in exchange for a profession of
faith which he afterward sold to
deputy, AS he sat down the pockets
of the Jew gave forth a silvery sound.
and this melodious symphony threw the
four bohemians into a reyerie that was
full of sweetness.
Now said Rodolphe, in a low tone,
to Marcel. '.iet US hear the song. The
accompaniment sounds all right
Monsieur Marcel" said Medicis, Il
have simply come to make your for
tune That is to say, / have come 10
offer you a superb opportunity to enter
into the world of art. Art, as you very
well know, Monsieur Marcel, is an arid
road in which glory is the oasis"
Father Medicis,'' said Marcel. who
was on Goals of Impotence, "in the
name of fifty per cent, your revered
patron saint, be brief"
Here is the Offer rejoined Medicis.
"A wealthy amateur, who is collecting
picture gallery destined to make the
tour of Europe has commissioned me to
procure for him a series of remarkable
works I have come to give You
chance to be included in this collection.
In one word, l have come to purchase
your Passage of the Red Sea-
Money down." asked Marcel.
Money down" answered the Jew.
sounding forth the full orchestra of his
pockets.
Go on, Medicis," said Marcel, point
to you the honor of fixing for yourself
the price of that work of art which
Is priceless"
The Jew laid upon the table fifty
crowns in bright new silver.
Keep them going" said Marcel;
that is a good beginning"
Monsieur Marcel said Medicis,
| you know very well that my first word
is always my last word. I shall add
nothing more But think; fifty crowns;
that makes one hundred and fifty
francs. That is quite a sum-
"A paltry sum-" answered the artist;
"just in the robe of my Pharaoh there
is fifty crowns worth of cobalt. Pay
me at least something for my work.
Hear my last word replied Medi-
els. II will not add penny more;
but I offer dinner for the crowd, wines
| included, and after dessert I will pay in
gold
do I hear any one object?" howled
| Colline, striking three blows of his fist
upon the table 1T is a bargain"
"Come on said Marcel. Il agree"
Il will send for the picture to-mor-
row." said the Jew. Come, gentle
men, let us start. Your places are all
set"
! The four friends descended the stairs.
| singing the chorus from 1.-The Hugue-
nots,'' ito the table, to the table"
| Medicis treated the bohemians in a
fashion altogether sumptuous. He Of
| fered them lot of things which up TO
now had remained for them mystery.
Dating from this dinner, lobster ceased
| to be myth to Schaunard, and he &C
quired a passion for that amphibian
which was destined to increase to the
verge of deliriunl.
| The four friends went forth from this
| splendid feast as intoxicated as on
| day of vintage. Their inebriety came
near bearing deplorable fruits for Mar
/ eel. because as he passed the shop of
his tailor, at two o'clock in the morn
ing, he absolutely insisted upon awak-
ening his creditor in order to give him,
on account, the one hundred and fifty
| francs that he had just received But
a CLEAN of reason still awake in the
| brain of Coline held back the artist
from the brink of this precipice.
A week after this festivity Marcel
learned in what gallery his picture had
found a place. Passing along the
Faubourg Saint-Honoret he stopped in
the midst of a crowd Ahat seemed to
be staring at sign newly placed
above a shop. This sign was none other
than Marceps painting, which had been
sold by Medicis to- a dealer in prov1-
sions Only the Passage of the Red
Sea- had once again undergone modi-
ication and bore new title. A steam
heat had Been added to it, and it was
now called I'm the port of Marseilles-
| A hattering ovation arose among the
crowd when they discovered the
picture. And Marcel turned away
i delighted with this triumph, and muir
INJURED softly: "The voice of the people
8 ynII