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At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Clara Bell
DEDICATION
To Mademoiselle Marie de Montheau
AT THE SIGN OF THE CAT AND RACKET
Half…way down the Rue Saint…Denis； almost at the corner of the Rue du
Petit…Lion； there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which
enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy。 The threatening
walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with
hieroglyphics。 For what other name could the passer…by give to the Xs
and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front；
outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster？ It was evident that
every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest
vehicle。 This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of
which no example will； ere long； be seen in Paris。 This covering；
warped by the extremes of the Paris climate； projected three feet over
the roadway； as much to protect the threshold from the rainfall as to
shelter the wall of a loft and its sill…less dormer…window。 This upper
story was built of planks； overlapping each other like slates； in
order； no doubt； not to overweight the frail house。
One rainy morning in the month of March； a young man； carefully
wrapped in his cloak； stood under the awning of a shop opposite this
old house； which he was studying with the enthusiasm of an antiquary。
In point of fact； this relic of the civic life of the sixteenth
century offered more than one problem to the consideration of an
observer。 Each story presented some singularity； on the first floor
four tall； narrow windows； close together； were filled as to the lower
panes with boards； so as to produce the doubtful light by which a
clever salesman can ascribe to his goods the color his customers
inquire for。 The young man seemed very scornful of this part of the
house； his eyes had not yet rested on it。 The windows of the second
floor； where the Venetian blinds were drawn up； revealing little dingy
muslin curtains behind the large Bohemian glass panes； did not
interest him either。 His attention was attracted to the third floor；
to the modest sash…frames of wood； so clumsily wrought that they might
have found a place in the Museum of Arts and Crafts to illustrate the
early efforts of French carpentry。 These windows were glazed with
small squares of glass so green that； but for his good eyes； the young
man could not have seen the blue…checked cotton curtains which
screened the mysteries of the room from profane eyes。 Now and then the
watcher； weary of his fruitless contemplation； or of the silence in
which the house was buried； like the whole neighborhood； dropped his
eyes towards the lower regions。 An involuntary smile parted his lips
each time he looked at the shop； where； in fact； there were some
laughable details。
A formidable wooden beam； resting on four pillars； which appeared to
have bent under the weight of the decrepit house； had been encrusted
with as many coats of different paint as there are of rouge on an old
duchess' cheek。 In the middle of this broad and fantastically carved
joist there was an old painting representing a cat playing rackets。
This picture was what moved the young man to mirth。 But it must be
said that the wittiest of modern painters could not invent so comical
a caricature。 The animal held in one of its forepaws a racket as big
as itself； and stood on its hind legs to aim at hitting an enormous
ball； returned by a man in a fine embroidered coat。 Drawing； color；
and accessories； all were treated in such a way as to suggest that the
artist had meant to make game of the shop…owner and of the passing
observer。 Time； while impairing this artless painting； had made it yet
more grotesque by introducing some uncertain features which must have
puzzled the conscientious idler。 For instance； the cat's tail had been
eaten into in such a way that it might now have been taken for the
figure of a spectatorso long； and thick； and furry were the tails of
our forefathers' cats。 To the right of the picture； on an azure field
which ill…disguised the decay of the wood； might be read the name
〃Guillaume；〃 and to the left； 〃Successor to Master Chevrel。〃 Sun and
rain had worn away most of the gilding parsimoniously applied to the
letters of this superscription； in which the Us and Vs had changed
places in obedience to the laws of old…world orthography。
To quench the pride of those who believe that the world is growing
cleverer day by day； and that modern humbug surpasses everything； it
may be observed that these signs； of which the origin seems so
whimsical to many Paris merchants； are the dead pictures of once
living pictures by which our roguish ancestors contrived to tempt
customers into their houses。 Thus the Spinning Sow； the Green Monkey；
and others； were animals in cages whose skills astonished the passer…
by； and whose accomplishments prove the patience of the fifteenth…
century artisan。 Such curiosities did more to enrich their fortunate
owners than the signs of 〃Providence；〃 〃Good…faith；〃 Grace of God；〃
and 〃Decapitation of John the Baptist；〃 which may still be seen in the
Rue Saint…Denis。
However； our stranger was certainly not standing there to admire the
cat； which a minute's attention sufficed to stamp on his memory。 The
young man himself had his peculiarities。 His cloak； folded after the
manner of an antique drapery； showed a smart pair of shoes； all the
more remarkable in the midst of the Paris mud； because he wore white
silk stockings； on which the splashes betrayed his impatience。 He had
just come； no doubt； from a wedding or a ball； for at this early hour
he had in his hand a pair of white gloves； and his black hair； now out
of curl； and flowing over his shoulders； showed that it had been
dressed /a la Caracalla/； a fashion introduced as much by David's
school of painting as by the mania for Greek and Roman styles which
characterized the early years of this century。
In spite of the noise made by a few market gardeners； who； being late；
rattled past towards the great market…place at a gallop； the busy
street lay in a stillness of which the magic charm is known only to
those who have wandered through deserted Paris at the hours when its
roar； hushed for a moment； rises and spreads in the distance like the
great voice of the sea。 This strange young man must have seemed as
curious to the shopkeeping folk of the 〃Cat and Racket〃 as the 〃Cat
and Racket〃 was to him。 A dazzlingly white cravat made his anxious
face look even paler than it really was。 The fire that flashed in his
black eyes； gloomy and sparkling by turns； was in harmony with the
singular outline of his features； with his wide； flexible mouth；
hardened into a smile。 His forehead； knit with violent annoyance； had
a stamp of doom。 Is not the forehead the most prophetic feature of a
man？ When the stranger's brow expressed passion the furrows formed in
it were terrible in their strength and energy； but when he recovered
his calmness； so easily upset； it beamed with a luminous grace which
gave great attractiveness to a countenance in which joy； grief