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him an inkling of the truth。 The sick woman； surrounded by luxury； was
evidently kept in ignorance of the real situation of her father and
son。 The violet silk dressing…gown of Monsieur Bernard； the flowers；
his remarks to Cartier； had already roused some suspicion of this in
Godefroid's mind。 The young man stood still where he was； bewildered
by this prodigy of paternal love。 The contrast； such as he imagined
it； between the invalid's room and the rest of that squalid place；
yes； it was bewildering！
XIV
HOW THE POOR AND HELPLESS ARE PREYED UPON
Through the door of a third chamber； which the old man had left open；
Godefroid beheld two cots of painted wood； like those of the cheapest
boarding…schools； each with a straw bed and a thin mattress； on which
there was but one blanket。 A small iron stove like those that porters
cook by； near which lay a few squares of peat； would alone have shown
the poverty of the household without the help of other details。
Advancing a step or two； Godefroid saw utensils such as the poorest
persons use；earthenware jugs； and pans in which potatoes floated in
dirty water。 Two tables of blackened wood； covered with books and
papers； stood before the windows that looked out upon the rue Notre…
Dame des Champs； and indicated the nocturnal occupations of father and
son。 On each of the tables was a flat iron candlestick； such as are
used by the very poor； and in them Godefroid noticed tallow…candles of
the kind that are sold at eight to the pound。
On a third table glittered two forks and spoons and another little
spoon of silver…gilt； together with plates； bowls； and cups of Sevres
china； and a silver…gilt knife and fork in an open case； all evidently
for the service of the sick woman。
The stove was lighted； the water in the copper was steaming slightly。
A painted wooden closet or wardrobe contained； no doubt； the linen and
clothing of Monsieur Bernard's daughter。 On the old man's bed
Godefroid noticed that the habiliments he had worn the night before
lay spread as a covering。 The floor； evidently seldom swept； looked
like that of a boy's class…room。 A six…pound loaf of bread； from which
some slices had been cut； was on a shelf above the table。 Here was
poverty in its last stages； poverty resolutely accepted with stern
endurance； making shift with the lowest and poorest means。 A strong
and sickening odor came from this room； which was rarely cleaned。
The antechamber； in which Godefroid stood； was at any rate decent； and
he suspected that it served to conceal the horrors of the room in
which the grandfather and the grandson lived。 This antechamber； hung
with a checked paper of Scotch pattern； held four walnut chairs； a
small table； a colored engraving of the Emperor after Horace Vernet；
also portraits of Louis XVIII。； Charles X。； and Prince Poniatowski； no
doubt the friend of Monsieur Bernard's father…in…law。 The window was
draped with white calico curtains edged with red bands and fringe。
Godefroid watched for Nepomucene； and when the latter made his next
trip with wood signed to him to stack it very gently in Monsieur
Bernard's antechamber； then （a perception which proved some progress
in our initiate） he closed the door of the inner lair that Madame
Vauthier's slave might not see the old man's squalor。
The antechamber was just then encumbered with three plant…stands
filled with plants； two were oblong； one round； all three were of a
species of ebony and of great elegance； even Nepomucene took notice of
them and said as he deposited the wood：
〃Hey！ ain't they pretty？ They must have cost a good bit！〃
〃Jean！ don't make so much noise！〃 called Monsieur Bernard from his
daughter's room。
〃Did you hear that？〃 whispered Nepomucene to Godefroid。 〃He's cracked；
for sure； that old fellow。〃
〃You don't know what you may be at his age。〃
〃Yes； I do know；〃 responded Nepomucene； 〃I shall be in the sugar…
bowl。〃
〃The sugar…bowl？〃
〃Yes； they'll have made my bones into charcoal by that time； I often
see the carts of the refineries coming to Montsouris for charcoal；
they tell me they make sugar of it。〃 And he departed after another
load of wood； satisfied with this philosophical reflection。
Godefroid discreetly withdrew to his own rooms； closing Monsieur
Bernard's door behind him。 Madame Vauthier； who during this time had
been preparing her new lodger's breakfast； now came up to serve it；
attended by Felicite。 Godefroid； lost in reflection； stared into his
fire。 He was absorbed in meditation on this great misery which
contained so many different miseries； and yet within which he could
see the ineffable joys of the many triumphs of paternal and filial
love； they were gems shining in the blackness of the pit。
〃What romances； even those that are most famous； can equal such
realities？〃 he thought。 〃What a life it will be to relieve the burden
of such existences； to seek out causes and effects and remedy them；
calming sorrows； helping good； to incarnate one's own being in misery；
to familiarize one's self with homes like that； to act out constantly
in life those dramas which move us so in fiction！ I never imagined
that good could be more interesting； more piquant than vice。〃
〃Is monsieur satisfied with his breakfast？〃 asked Madame Vauthier； who
now； with Felicite's assistance； brought the table close to Godefroid。
Godefroid then saw a cup of excellent /cafe au lait/ with a smoking
omelet； fresh butter； and little red radishes。
〃Where the devil did you get those radishes？〃 he asked。
〃They were given me by Monsieur Cartier；〃 answered Madame Vauthier；
〃and I make a present of them to monsieur。〃
〃And what are you going to ask me for such a breakfast daily？〃
〃Well now； monsieur； be fair；I couldn't do it for less than thirty
sous。〃
〃Very good； thirty sous then；〃 said Godefroid； 〃but how is it that
they ask me only forty…five francs a month for dinner； close by here
at Machillot's？ That is the same price you ask me for breakfast。〃
〃But what a difference； monsieur； between preparing a dinner for
fifteen or twenty persons and going out to get you just what you want
for breakfast！ See here！ there's a roll； eggs； butter； the cost of
lighting a fire； sugar； milk； coffee！just think！ they ask you
sixteen sous for a cup of coffee alone on the place de l'Odeon； and
then you have to give a sou or two to the waiter。 Here you have no
trouble； you can breakfast in slippers。〃
〃Very well； very well；〃 said Godefroid。
〃Without Madame Cartier who supplies me with milk and eggs and herbs I
couldn't manage it。 You ought to go and see their establishment；
monsieur。 Ha！ it's fine！ They employ five journeymen gardeners； and
Nepomucene goes there in summer to draw water for them； they hire him
of me as a waterer。 They make lots of money out of melons and
strawberries。 It seems monsieur takes quite an interest in Monsieur
Bernard；〃 continued the widow in dulcet tones； 〃or he wouldn't be
responsible for his debts。 Perhaps he doesn't know all that family
owes。 There's the lady who keeps the circulating library on the place
Saint…Michel； she is always coming here after thirty francs they owe
her；an