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gave great attractiveness to a countenance in which joy； grief； love；
anger； or scorn blazed out so contagiously that the coldest man could
not fail to be impressed。
He was so thoroughly vexed by the time when the dormer…window of the
loft was suddenly flung open； that he did not observe the apparition
of three laughing faces； pink and white and chubby； but as vulgar as
the face of Commerce as it is seen in sculpture on certain monuments。
These three faces； framed by the window； recalled the puffy cherubs
floating among the clouds that surround God the Father。 The
apprentices snuffed up the exhalations of the street with an eagerness
that showed how hot and poisonous the atmosphere of their garret must
be。 After pointing to the singular sentinel； the most jovial； as he
seemed； of the apprentices retired and came back holding an instrument
whose hard metal pipe is now superseded by a leather tube； and they
all grinned with mischief as they looked down on the loiterer； and
sprinkled him with a fine white shower of which the scent proved that
three chins had just been shaved。 Standing on tiptoe； in the farthest
corner of their loft； to enjoy their victim's rage； the lads ceased
laughing on seeing the haughty indifference with which the young man
shook his cloak； and the intense contempt expressed by his face as he
glanced up at the empty window…frame。
At this moment a slender white hand threw up the lower half of one of
the clumsy windows on the third floor by the aid of the sash runners；
of which the pulley so often suddenly gives way and releases the heavy
panes it ought to hold up。 The watcher was then rewarded for his long
waiting。 The face of a young girl appeared； as fresh as one of the
white cups that bloom on the bosom of the waters； crowned by a frill
of tumbled muslin； which gave her head a look of exquisite innocence。
Though wrapped in brown stuff； her neck and shoulders gleamed here and
there through little openings left by her movements in sleep。 No
expression of embarrassment detracted from the candor of her face； or
the calm look of eyes immortalized long since in the sublime works of
Raphael； here were the same grace； the same repose as in those
Virgins； and now proverbial。 There was a delightful contrast between
the cheeks of that face on which sleep had； as it were； given high
relief to a superabundance of life； and the antiquity of the heavy
window with its clumsy shape and black sill。 Like those day…blowing
flowers； which in the early morning have not yet unfurled their cups；
twisted by the chills of night； the girl； as yet hardly awake； let her
blue eyes wander beyond the neighboring roofs to look at the sky；
then； from habit； she cast them down on the gloomy depths of the
street； where they immediately met those of her adorer。 Vanity； no
doubt； distressed her at being seen in undress； she started back； the
worn pulley gave way； and the sash fell with the rapid run； which in
our day has earned for this artless invention of our forefathers an
odious name； /Fenetre a la Guillotine/。 The vision had disappeared。 To
the young man the most radiant star of morning seemed to be hidden by
a cloud。
During these little incidents the heavy inside shutters that protected
the slight windows of the shop of the 〃Cat and Racket〃 had been
removed as if by magic。 The old door with its knocker was opened back
against the wall of the entry by a man…servant； apparently coeval with
the sign； who； with a shaking hand； hung upon it a square of cloth； on
which were embroidered in yellow silk the words： 〃Guillaume； successor
to Chevrel。〃 Many a passer…by would have found it difficult to guess
the class of trade carried on by Monsieur Guillaume。 Between the
strong iron bars which protected his shop windows on the outside；
certain packages； wrapped in brown linen； were hardly visible； though
as numerous as herrings swimming in a shoal。 Notwithstanding the
primitive aspect of the Gothic front； Monsieur Guillaume； of all the
merchant clothiers in Paris； was the one whose stores were always the
best provided； whose connections were the most extensive； and whose
commercial honesty never lay under the slightest suspicion。 If some of
his brethren in business made a contract with the Government； and had
not the required quantity of cloth； he was always ready to deliver it；
however large the number of pieces tendered for。 The wily dealer knew
a thousand ways of extracting the largest profits without being
obliged； like them； to court patrons； cringing to them； or making them
costly presents。 When his fellow…tradesmen could only pay in good
bills of long date； he would mention his notary as an accommodating
man； and managed to get a second profit out of the bargain； thanks to
this arrangement； which had made it a proverb among the traders of the
Rue Saint…Denis： 〃Heaven preserve you from Monsieur Guillaume's
notary！〃 to signify a heavy discount。
The old merchant was to be seen standing on the threshold of his shop；
as if by a miracle； the instant the servant withdrew。 Monsieur
Guillaume looked at the Rue Saint…Denis； at the neighboring shops； and
at the weather； like a man disembarking at Havre； and seeing France
once more after a long voyage。 Having convinced himself that nothing
had changed while he was asleep； he presently perceived the stranger
on guard； and he； on his part； gazed at the patriarchal draper as
Humboldt may have scrutinized the first electric eel he saw in
America。 Monsieur Guillaume wore loose black velvet breeches； pepper…
and…salt stockings； and square toed shoes with silver buckles。 His
coat； with square…cut fronts； square…cut tails； and square…cut collar
clothed his slightly bent figure in greenish cloth； finished with
white metal buttons； tawny from wear。 His gray hair was so accurately
combed and flattened over his yellow pate that it made it look like a
furrowed field。 His little green eyes； that might have been pierced
with a gimlet； flashed beneath arches faintly tinged with red in the
place of eyebrows。 Anxieties had wrinkled his forehead with as many
horizontal lines as there were creases in his coat。 This colorless
face expressed patience； commercial shrewdness； and the sort of wily
cupidity which is needful in business。 At that time these old families
were less rare than they are now； in which the characteristic habits
and costume of their calling； surviving in the midst of more recent
civilization； were preserved as cherished traditions； like the
antediluvian remains found by Cuvier in the quarries。
The head of the Guillaume family was a notable upholder of ancient
practices； he might be heard to regret the Provost of Merchants； and
never did he mention a decision of the Tribunal of Commerce without
calling it the /Sentence of the Consuls/。 Up and dressed the first of
the household； in obedience； no doubt； to these old customs； he stood
sternly awaiting the appearance of his three assistants； ready to
scold them in case they were late。 These young disciples of Mercury
knew nothing more terrible than the wordless assiduity with which the
master scrutinized their faces and their movements on Monday in sea