e years ago; and now the young son of the lady does everything,
housework and all."

Godefroid made a gesture.

"Oh!" cried the Portress, "don't you be afraid; they won't say anything
to you; they never speak to any one. They came here after the Revolution
of July, in 1830. I think they're provincial folk ruined by the change
of government; they are proud, I tell you! and dumb as fishes. For three
years, monsieur, I declare they have not let me do the smallest thing
for them for fear they should have to pay for it. A hundred sous on
New Year's day, that's all I get out of them. Talk to me of authors,
indeed!"

This gossip made Godefroid hope he should get some assistance out of the
woman, who presently said, while praising the healthfulness of the two
rooms she offered him, that she was not a portress, but the confidential
agent of the proprietor, for whom she managed many of the affairs of the
house.

"You may have confidence in me, monsieur, that you may! Madame Vauthier,
it is well known, would rather have nothing than a single penny that
ought to go to others."

Madame Vauthier soon came to terms with Godefroid who would not take the
rooms unless he could have them by the single month and furnished. These
miserable rooms of students and unlucky authors were rented furnished
or unfurnished as the case might be. The vast garret which extended over
the whole building was filled with such furniture. But Monsieur Bernard,
she said, had furnished his own rooms.

In making Madame Vauthier talk, Godefroid discovered she had intended
to keep boarders in the building, but for the last five years had not
obtained a single lodger of that description. She lived herself on the
ground-floor facing towards the boulevard; and looked after the whole
house, by the help of a huge mastiff, a stout servant-girl, and a lad
who blacked the boots, took care of the rooms, and did the errands.

These two servants were, like herself, in keeping with the poverty of
the house, that of the tenants, and the wild and tangled look of the
garden. Both were children abandoned by their parents to whom the widow
gave food for wages,--and what food! The lad, whom Godefroid caught a
glimpse of, wore a ragged blouse and list slippers instead of shoes, and
sabots when he went out. With his tousled head, looking like a sparrow
when it takes a bath, and his black hands, he went to measure wood at a
wood-yard on the boulevard as soon as he had finished