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of Mephistopheles；a type which painters give to cats。 This double
resemblance was observable on the face of Babylas Latournelle。 Above
the atrocious green spectacles rose a bald crown； all the more crafty
in expression because a wig； seemingly endowed with motion； let the
white hairs show on all sides of it as it meandered crookedly across
the forehead。 An observer taking note of this excellent Norman；
clothed in black and mounted on his two legs like a beetle on a couple
of pins； and knowing him to be one of the most trustworthy of men；
would have sought； without finding it； for the reason of such physical
misrepresentation。
Jean Butscha； a natural son abandoned by his parents and taken care of
by the clerk of the court and his daughter； and now； through sheer
hard work； head…clerk to the notary； fed and lodged by his master； who
gave him a salary of nine hundred francs； almost a dwarf； and with no
semblance of youth；Jean Butscha made Modeste his idol； and would
willingly have given his life for hers。 The poor fellow； whose eyes
were hollowed beneath their heavy lids like the touch…holes of a
cannon； whose head overweighted his body； with its shock of crisp
hair； and whose face was pock…marked； had lived under pitying eyes
from the time he was seven years of age。 Is not that enough to explain
his whole being？ Silent； self…contained； pious； exemplary in conduct；
he went his way over that vast tract of country named on the map of
the heart Love…without…Hope； the sublime and arid steppes of Desire。
Modeste had christened this grotesque little being her 〃Black Dwarf。〃
The nickname sent him to the pages of Walter Scott's novel； and he one
day said to Modeste： 〃Will you accept a rose against the evil day from
your mysterious dwarf？〃 Modeste instantly sent the soul of her adorer
to its humble mud…cabin with a terrible glance； such as young girls
bestow on the men who cannot please them。 Butscha's conception of
himself was lowly； and； like the wife of his master； he had never been
out of Havre。
Perhaps it will be well； for the sake of those who have never seen
that city； to say a few words as to the present destination of the
Latournelle family；the head clerk being included in the latter term。
Ingouville is to Havre what Montmartre is to Paris；a high hill at
the foot of which the city lies； with this difference； that the hill
and the city are surrounded by the sea and the Seine； that Havre is
helplessly circumscribed by enclosing fortifications； and； in short；
that the mouth of the river； the harbor； and the docks present a very
different aspect from the fifty thousand houses of Paris。 At the foot
of Montmartre an ocean of slate roofs lies in motionless blue billows；
at Ingouville the sea is like the same roofs stirred by the wind。 This
eminence； or line of hills； which coasts the Seine from Rouen to the
seashore； leaving a margin of valley land more or less narrow between
itself and the river； and containing in its cities； its ravines； its
vales； its meadows； veritable treasures of the picturesque； became of
enormous value in and about Ingouville； after the year 1816； the
period at which the prosperity of Havre began。 This township has
become since that time the Auteuil； the Ville…d'Avray； the
Montmorency； in short； the suburban residence of the merchants of
Havre。 Here they build their houses on terraces around its ampitheatre
of hills； and breathe the sea air laden with the fragrance of their
splendid gardens。 Here these bold speculators cast off the burden of
their counting…rooms and the atmosphere of their city houses； which
are built closely together without open spaces； often without court…
yards；a vice of construction with the increasing population of
Havre； the inflexible line of the fortifications； and the enlargement
of the docks has forced upon them。 The result is； weariness of heart
in Havre； cheerfulness and joy at Ingouville。 The law of social
development has forced up the suburb of Graville like a mushroom。 It
is to…day more extensive than Havre itself； which lies at the foot of
its slopes like a serpent。
At the crest of the hill Ingouville has but one street； and （as in all
such situations） the houses which overlook the river have an immense
advantage over those on the other side of the road； whose view they
obstruct； and which present the effect of standing on tip…toe to look
over the opposing roofs。 However； there exist here； as elsewhere；
certain servitudes。 Some houses standing at the summit have a finer
position or possess legal rights of view which compel their opposite
neighbors to keep their buildings down to a required height。 Moreover；
the openings cut in the capricious rock by roads which follow its
declensions and make the ampitheatre habitable； give vistas through
which some estates can see the city； or the river； or the sea。 Instead
of rising to an actual peak； the hill ends abruptly in a cliff。 At the
end of the street which follows the line of the summit； ravines appear
in which a few villages are clustered （Sainte…Adresse and two or three
other Saint…somethings） together with several creeks which murmur and
flow with the tides of the sea。 These half…deserted slopes of
Ingouville form a striking contrast to the terraces of fine villas
which overlook the valley of the Seine。 Is the wind on this side too
strong for vegetation？ Do the merchants shrink from the cost of
terracing it？ However this may be； the traveller approaching Havre on
a steamer is surprised to find a barren coast and tangled gorges to
the west of Ingouville； like a beggar in rags beside a perfumed and
sumptuously apparelled rich man。
In 1829 one of the last houses looking toward the sea； and which in
all probability stands about the centre of the Ingouville to…day； was
called； and perhaps is still called； 〃the Chalet。〃 Originally it was a
porter's lodge with a trim little garden in front of it。 The owner of
the villa to which it belonged；a mansion with park； gardens；
aviaries； hot…houses； and lawnstook a fancy to put the little
dwelling more in keeping with the splendor of his own abode； and he
reconstructed it on the model of an ornamental cottage。 He divided
this cottage from his own lawn； which was bordered and set with
flower…beds and formed the terrace of his villa； by a low wall along
which he planted a concealing hedge。 Behind the cottage （called； in
spite of all his efforts to prevent it； the Chalet） were the orchards
and kitchen gardens of the villa。 The Chalet； without cows or dairy；
is separated from the roadway by a wooden fence whose palings are
hidden under a luxuriant hedge。 On the other side of the road the
opposite house； subject to a legal privilege； has a similar hedge and
paling； so as to leave an unobstructed view of Havre to the Chalet。
This little dwelling was the torment of the present proprietor of the
villa； Monsieur Vilquin； and here is the why and the wherefore。 The
original creator o