Gerfaut -- Volume 1

f an unfrequented road, opened communications between Lorraine and upper Alsatia. This position had been one of some importance in the Middle Ages, at the

elongs, we should add that the proprietors of La Fauconnerie had made it a point at all times to justify this appellation by customs more warlike than hospitable; but for some time the souvenirs of their feudal prowess had slept with their race unde

g as vegetables patches of cabbage and a few rows of beans, gave an idea of the poverty of its inhabitants. Save the church, which the Bishop of St.-Die had caused to be built, and the manse that had naturally shared this fortunate privilege, o

storing the church. This alliance of the profane with the sacred had, it is true, scandalized the parish priest, but he did not dare say a word too much, as Madame Gobillot was one of his most important parishioners. A woman in a rose-colored dress and large panniers,

epresented a roast chicken lying upon its back with its head under its wing, and raising its mutilated legs in the air with a piteous look; it had for its companion a cluster of crabs, of a little too fine a red to have been freshly caught. The whole was interspersed with bottles and glasses brimful of wine.

oor; in which receptacle were some eggs on a plate, a bit of bread with which David might have loaded his sling, a white glass bottle filled with a liquid of some color intended to represent kirsch, but which was in

an enormous mantel, under which a whole family might warm themselves, occupied the middle of one side of the room. There was a large oven in one corner which opened its huge mouth, the door partly hiding the shovels and tongs employed in its service. Two or three thoroughly smoked hams, suspended from the

presenting the story of Prince Poniatowski, who shares the honor of decorating village inns with Paul and Virginia and Wilhelm Tell. On the upper floor-for this aristocratic dwelling had a second story- several sleeping-r

d by rustics stripping hemp, by some village lads, and three or four cart-drivers smoking short pipes as black as coa

teau de

jolies fi

air. A fat little servant disappeared frequently through the dining-room door, where she seemed to be laying the cover for a feast. With that particular dexterity of country girls, she made three trips to carry two plates, and puffed like a porpoise at her work, while the look of frightened amazement showed upon her face that every fibre of her intellige

gance of the young woman, that she was the daughter of the house, Mademoiselle Reine Gobillot, the one whose passion for fashion-plates had excited Mademoiselle de Corandeuil's anger. She sat as straight and

upon the other side. This head-dress, accompanied by long moustaches and a pointed beard covering only his chin, gave the stranger's face the mediaeval look he probably desired. This travelling artist was sketching in an album placed upon his knees, with a freedom which indicated perfect confidence in his own talents. A cigar, skilfu

ssiria,

ira

ou not to purse up your

u a Watteau air ra

oes it give me?" sh

You have a large mouth, and we wil

laimed Reine, blushing with

ips until she reduced th

ency ch

heart. Learn that there is nothing more appetizing

zontally her vermillion lips, which might have extended from ear to ear, not unlike-if we

let me put on m

ok. Sophie Mitoux had hers painted with a cora

while, you make your bust too prominent; there is no necessity for you to look as if you had swallowed a whale. L'a

ask was not easy. So she was shocked at the young man's last words, and although she did not quite understand his meaning, for that very reason she thought she scented a concealed poison more dangerous for Mademoiselle Reine than the awful word

You are as afraid of water as a mad-dog. And you! what are you staring at that chicken for, instead of basting it? If you let it burn you shall go to bed without any supper. If it is not provoking!" she continued, in a scolding tone

can have become of him. Tell me, Madame Gobillot, are you certain that an amateur of art and the picture

offended dignity; "except for the pedler who was assassinated s

sse," added Mademoiselle Reine; "the thieves did not quit

rse than the forest of Bondy! Truly, if I knew what direction m

ve him ten sous for telling him the way to Bergenheim. From his description,

s meeting of the afternoon, and the artist

ng about our play. But did you not say something about

Monsieur, and it is about a league

e Baron de Bergenheim- a large, blond, good-l

Baron does not wear a moustache now, not since

, I once rendered him one which was o

eur, and hi

was a Mademoiselle de

e pre

If a person likes a face as white as a ghost, she is. And, then, she is so thin! It ce

e an enchantress," said the painter, in a low voic

ho think that Monsieur's

served Mada

emoiselle Aline! A child of fifteen! She certainly is not wanting in color; h

g of you," said the artist, "it is an emine

ut with Christians! It see

. "Madame Gobillot, would you mind closing that door? One can not hear one's self think here. I am a little

to teaching them, they bore us to death, coming here and singing

back was turned, the latter leaned forward with the boldness of a Lovelace and imprinted a very loving kiss

pon the artist's moustache and beard for some time. They seemed to plunge him into a deep admiration

cover her countenance. "Now, then, sing us a little song instead of staring at me as if I were a giraffe. Your little cook has a nice voice, Madame Gob

put his album

g girl, whose cheek was still burning

her, smiling, and said

day. If you will give me another sitting in the morning before your mother aris

watching her, and walked away with no rep

xclaimed the artist, as he whirled on o

an Alsatian song in a

Jove, my little man! here is a fellow who sings B's and C's away up in the clouds; an E sharp, too!" he continued,

an pacing the kitchen floor, paying no more attention to Mademoiselle Reine

he would do very well for 'Pippo' in La Gazza, or for Gemma in Wilhelm Tell. But we must have a role for him to make his debut in. What subject could we take properly to introduce a child's part? Why does not that Gerfaut come? A child, girl or boy; a boy part would be better. 'Daniel,' of course; viva 'Daniel!' 'The Chaste Suzannah,' opera in three acts. Madame Begrand would be fine as Suzannah. By Jove! if Meyerbeer would only take charge of the score! That falls to him by right as a compatriot. Then, that woul

opened suddenly. "Is supper

e is, the d

prise

u! c'est

d in the

aut, as he dropped into

opera in three acts, The Chast

ot, I beseech you, give me something to eat. Th

hours for you," retorted the landlady, as

he artist; "let us go in

ensa a pr

explain my plans to y

in the

eplied Gerfaut, as he sat down to the table; "I have

ITOR'S B

n was above his cos

ng that she may

to make one of C

ons is often as fata

amuse are those who a

nceal by a s

ks of the dev

ind his hat, like