That is an immense virtue.Yes, she is one of the celebrities of the future.""Heaven help us!" said Newman, "how far the artistic point of view may take a man! But in this case I must request that you don't let it take you too far.You have learned a wonderful deal about Mademoiselle Noemie in a quarter of an hour.
Let that suffice; don't follow up your researches.""My dear fellow," cried Bellegarde with warmth, "I hope Ihave too good manners to intrude."
"You are not intruding.The girl is nothing to me.
In fact, I rather dislike her.But I like her poor old father, and for his sake I beg you to abstain from any attempt to verify your theories.""For the sake of that seedy old gentleman who came to fetch her?"demanded Valentin, stopping short.And on Newman's assenting, "Ah no, ah no," he went on with a smile."You are quite wrong, my dear fellow;you needn't mind him."
"I verily believe that you are accusing the poor gentleman of being capable of rejoicing in his daughter's dishonor.""Voyons," said Valentin; "who is he? what is he?""He is what he looks like: as poor as a rat, but very high-toned.""Exactly.I noticed him perfectly; be sure I do him justice.
He has had losses, des malheurs, as we say.
He is very low-spirited, and his daughter is too much for him.
He is the pink of respectability, and he has sixty years of honesty on his back.All this I perfectly appreciate.
But I know my fellow-men and my fellow-Parisians, and I will make a bargain with you." Newman gave ear to his bargain and he went on.
"He would rather his daughter were a good girl than a bad one, but if the worst comes to the worst, the old man will not do what Virginius did.Success justifies everything.
If Mademoiselle Noemie makes a figure, her papa will feel--well, we will call it relieved.And she will make a figure.
The old gentleman's future is assured."
"I don't know what Virginius did, but M.Nioche will shoot Miss Noemie,"said Newman."After that, I suppose his future will be assured in some snug prison.""I am not a cynic; I am simply an observer," Valentin rejoined.
"Mademoiselle Noemie interests me; she is extremely remarkable.
If there is a good reason, in honor or decency, for dismissing her from my thoughts forever, I am perfectly willing to do it.
Your estimate of the papa's sensibilities is a good reason until it is invalidated.I promise you not to look at the young girl again until you tell me that you have changed your mind about the papa.
When he has given distinct proof of being a philosopher, you will raise your interdict.Do you agree to that?""Do you mean to bribe him?"
"Oh, you admit, then, that he is bribable? No, he would ask too much, and it would not be exactly fair.I mean simply to wait.
You will continue, I suppose, to see this interesting couple, and you will give me the news yourself.""Well," said Newman, "if the old man turns out a humbug, you may do what you please.I wash my hands of the matter.
For the girl herself, you may be at rest.I don't know what harm she may do to me, but I certainly can't hurt her.
It seems to me," said Newman, "that you are very well matched.
You are both hard cases, and M.Nioche and I, I believe, are the only virtuous men to be found in Paris."Soon after this M.de Bellegarde, in punishment for his levity, received a stern poke in the back from a pointed instrument.
Turning quickly round he found the weapon to be a parasol wielded by a lady in green gauze bonnet.Valentin's English cousins had been drifting about unpiloted, and evidently deemed that they had a grievance.
Newman left him to their mercies, but with a boundless faith in his power to plead his cause.