ow, however, what to say of some rather
sly and secret transactions, carried on in a small room she never allows
any one to enter, except M. Bras Rouge and an old one-eyed woman, called
La Chouette."

Rodolph opened his eyes with unmixed astonishment as these names sounded
on his ear, and the porteress, interpreting the surprise of her future
lodger according to her own notions, said:

"That name would make any one stare with astonishment. Certainly La
Chouette is uncommonly odd; is it not?"

"It is, indeed. Does the woman who is so styled come here frequently?"

"We saw her the day before yesterday, for the first time these six
weeks. She was rather lame, I observed."

"And what do you suppose she wants with the fortune-telling woman?"

"That I do not know; at least, as to what takes place in the little room
I was telling you of, where La Chouette alone is admitted with M. Bras
Rouge and Mother Burette. I have, however, particularly observed that on
those occasions the one-eyed woman always has a large bundle with her
in her basket, and that M. Bras Rouge also carries a parcel of some size
beneath his cloak, and that they always return empty-handed."

"And what can these packets contain?"

"The Lord above knows, for I don't; only they kick up the devil's own
row with them, whatever they are. And then such whiffs of sulphur,
charcoal, and melted lead, as you go up the stairs; and blow, blow,
blow, like a smith's forge. I verily believe Mother Burette has dealings
with the old one, and practises magic in this private apartment;
leastways, that is what M. Cesar Bradamanti, our third-floor lodger,
said to me. A very clever individual is M. Cesar. When I say an
'individual,' I mean an Italian, though he speaks as good French as you
or me, excepting his accent, and that is nothing. Oh, he is very clever,
indeed! knows all about physic; and pulls out teeth, not for the sake of
the money but the honour of his profession,--yes, really, sir, for
downright honour. Now, suppose you had six decayed teeth,--and he says
the same thing to all who choose to listen to him,--well, then he will
take out five for nothing, and only charge you for the sixth. Besides
which, he sells all manner of remedies for all sorts of
complaints,--diseases of the lungs, coughs, colds, every complaint you
can name; but then he makes his own drugs, and he has for his assistant
the son of our principal lessee, little Tortillard. He says that his
mas