The Pomp of the Lavilettes, Complete

the Lavilettes', there was another sort of feasti

and Vanne Castine. Castine was blowing clouds of smoke from his pipe, and Shangois was pouring

do when the K

e do when he

of Greece and hi

we sing f

King co

do when the K

do when he s

m the house with

d with the

King co

rown bear huddled in savage ease. When it stirred, as if in response to Shangois's song, the chains rattled. He was fastened by

hich the man came with a lacerated chest; but since that time he had become the master of the bear. It feared him; yet, as he travelled with it, he scarce

ted and twitched and his hand clinche

ong for, notary?" he broke out peevishly. "No

ked, jeeringly, in English, for his English was almost as good as his French, save in the t

laughed

drink whiskey every night for a month-enough whiskey. I have drink water every night for a year-it is not enough. I have learn how to speak English; I have lose all my money when I go to play a game of cards. I go back to de circus; de circus smash; I have no pay. I take dat damn bear Michael as my share-yes. I walk trough

Ha! you come to Bon'venture. Where else you fin' it? You want people say: 'How you do, Vanne Castine-how you are? Adieu, Vanne Castine; to see yo

r head, you get break your leg, you fall down, you go to die. Ha, who is there in all de worl' like M'sieu' Vallier, the Cure? Who will say to you like him: 'Vanne Castine, you have break all de commandments: you have swear, you have steal, you have kill, you have drink. Ver' well, now, you will be sorry for dat,

his head, and his hands clinched-"You ask me why I come back? I come back because there is one thing I care for mos' in all de worl'. You t'ink I am happy to go about with a damn

er eyes all black, her cheeks like the snow, her lips, her lips!-You rememb' her father curse me, tell me to go. Why? Because I have kill a man! Eh bien,

love Vanne Castine. She say to me, 'I wil

house here, light a fire, and sit just in de spot where I am, one hour, two hour, three hour. Saprie, how I love her! She is in me like fire, like de wind and de sea. Well, I am happy like no other man. I sit here

y: 'Who shall take you

e the door

will weep and her mother's heart will break. You tell her how she will be ashame', and a curse will fall on her. Then she begin to cry, for she is afraid. Ah, where is de wrong? I love her; I would go to mar

spite the ill-kept finger nails, it was the one fine feature

ad gone with you that night, do you suppose she would have

changed; he laid his hand

ir beds. Your grandfather killed a man, your father drank and killed a man. Your grandfather drove his wife to her grave, your father broke your mother's heart. Why should you break the heart of any girl in the world? Leave her alone. Is it love to a woman when you b

for, m'sie

angois, in a low suggestive tone, as he dropped

ere is vaurien in her too,"

an," retorted Shan

imed Castine, as he turned towards the

e as important occurred at