按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the miserly pair were eating their suppers。 Cornelius went to the door
and pushed two iron shutters into their place； closing； no doubt； the
loopholes through which they had been gazing into the street； then he
returned to his seat。 Philippe Goulenoire （so called） next beheld the
brother and sister dipping their sops into the egg in turn； and with
the utmost gravity and the same precision with which soldiers dip
their spoons in regular rotation into the mess…pot。 This performance
was done in silence。 But as he ate； Cornelius examined the false
apprentice with as much care and scrutiny as if he were weighing an
old coin。
Philippe； feeling that an icy mantle had descended on his shoulders；
was tempted to look about him； but； with the circumspection dictated
by all amorous enterprises； he was careful not to glance； even
furtively； at the walls； for he fully understood that if Cornelius
detected him； he would not allow so inquisitive a person to remain in
his house。 He contented himself； therefore； by looking first at the
egg and then at the old woman； occasionally contemplating his future
master。
Louis XI。's silversmith resembled that monarch。 He had even acquired
the same gestures； as often happens where persons dwell together in a
sort of intimacy。 The thick eyebrows of the Fleming almost covered his
eyes； but by raising them a little he could flash out a lucid；
penetrating； powerful glance； the glance of men habituated to silence；
and to whom the phenomenon of the concentration of inward forces has
become familiar。 His thin lips； vertically wrinkled； gave him an air
of indescribable craftiness。 The lower part of his face bore a vague
resemblance to the muzzle of a fox； but his lofty； projecting
forehead； with many lines； showed great and splendid qualities and a
nobility of soul； the springs of which had been lowered by experience
until the cruel teachings of life had driven it back into the farthest
recesses of this most singular human being。 He was certainly not an
ordinary miser； and his passion covered； no doubt； extreme enjoyments
and secret conceptions。
〃What is the present rate of Venetian sequins？〃 he said abruptly to
his future apprentice。
〃Three…quarters at Brussels； one in Ghent。〃
〃What is the freight on the Scheldt？〃
〃Three sous parisis。〃
〃Any news at Ghent？〃
〃The brother of Lieven d'Herde is ruined。〃
〃Ah！〃
After giving vent to that exclamation； the old man covered his knee
with the skirt of his dalmatian； a species of robe made of black
velvet； open in front； with large sleeves and no collar； the sumptuous
material being defaced and shiny。 These remains of a magnificent
costume； formerly worn by him as president of the tribunal of the
Parchons； functions which had won him the enmity of the Duke of
Burgundy； was now a mere rag。
Philippe was not cold； he perspired in his harness； dreading further
questions。 Until then the brief information obtained that morning from
a Jew whose life he had formerly saved； had sufficed him； thanks to
his good memory and the perfect knowledge the Jew possessed of the
manners and habits of Maitre Cornelius。 But the young man who； in the
first flush of his enterprise； had feared nothing was beginning to
perceive the difficulties it presented。 The solemn gravity of the
terrible Fleming reacted upon him。 He felt himself under lock and key；
and remembered how the grand provost Tristan and his rope were at the
orders of Maitre Cornelius。
〃Have you supped？〃 asked the silversmith； in a tone which signified；
〃You are not to sup。〃
The old maid trembled in spite of her brother's tone； she looked at
the new inmate as if to gauge the capacity of the stomach she might
have to fill； and said with a specious smile：
〃You have not stolen your name； your hair and moustache are as black
as the devil's tail。〃
〃I have supped；〃 he said。
〃Well then；〃 replied the miser； 〃you can come back and see me to…
morrow。 I have done without an apprentice for some years。 Besides； I
wish to sleep upon the matter。〃
〃Hey！ by Saint…Bavon； monsieur； I am a Fleming； I don't know a soul in
this place； the chains are up in the streets； and I shall be put in
prison。 However；〃 he added； frightened at the eagerness he was showing
in his words； 〃if it is your good pleasure； of course I will go。〃
The oath seemed to affect the old man singularly。
〃Come； come； by Saint…Bavon indeed； you shall sleep here。〃
〃But〃 said his sister； alarmed。
〃Silence；〃 replied Cornelius。 〃In his letter Oosterlinck tells me he
will answer for this young man。 You know；〃 he whispered in his
sister's ear； 〃we have a hundred thousand francs belonging to
Oosterlinck？ That's a hostage； hey！〃
〃And suppose he steals those Bavarian jewels？ Tiens； he looks more
like a thief than a Fleming。〃
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed the old man； listening attentively to some sound。
Both misers listened。 A moment after the 〃Hush！〃 uttered by Cornelius；
a noise produced by the steps of several men echoed in the distance on
the other side of the moat of the town。
〃It is the Plessis guard on their rounds；〃 said the sister。
〃Give me the key of the apprentice's room；〃 said Cornelius。
The old woman made a gesture as if to take the lamp。
〃Do you mean to leave us alone； without light？〃 cried Cornelius； in a
meaning tone of voice。 〃At your age can't you see in the dark？ It
isn't difficult to find a key。〃
The sister understood the meaning hidden beneath these words and left
the room。 Looking at this singular creature as she walked towards the
door； Philippe Goulenoire was able to hide from Cornelius the glance
which he hastily cast about the room。 It was wainscoted in oak to the
chair…strip； and the walls above were hung with yellow leather stamped
with black arabesques； but what struck the young man most was a match…
lock pistol with its formidable trigger。 This new and terrible weapon
lay close to Cornelius。
〃How do you expect to earn your living with me？〃 said the latter。
〃I have but little money；〃 replied Philippe； 〃but I know good tricks
in business。 If you will pay me a sou on every mark I earn for you；
that will satisfy me。〃
〃A sou！ a sou！〃 echoed the miser； 〃why； that's a good deal！〃
At this moment the old sibyl returned with the key。
〃Come；〃 said Cornelius to Philippe。
The pair went out beneath the portico and mounted a spiral stone
staircase； the round well of which rose through a high turret； beside
the hall in which they had been sitting。 At the first floor up the
young man paused。
〃No； no；〃 said Cornelius。 〃The devil！ this nook is the place where the
king takes his ease。〃
The architect had constructed the room given to the apprentice under
the pointed roof of the tower in which the staircase wound。 It was a
little room； all of stone； cold and without ornament of any kind。 The
tower stood in the middle o