The conversation between Cephyse and her sister was here again interrupted by a terrible uproar, above which sounded the sharp, shrill noise of Ninny Moulin's rattle.To this tumult succeeded a chorus of barbarous cries, in the midst of which were distinguishable these words, which shook the very windows: "The Queen! the Bacchanal Queen!"
Mother Bunch started at this sudden noise.
"It is only my court, who are getting impatient," said Cephyse--and this time she could laugh.
"Heavens!" cried the sewing-girl, in alarm; "if they were to come here in search of you?"
"No, no--never fear."
"But listen! do you not hear those steps? they are coming along the passage--they are approaching.Pray, sister, let me go out alone, without being seen by all these people."
That moment the door was opened, and Cephyse, ran towards it.She saw in the passage a deputation headed by Ninny Moulin, who was armed with his formidable rattle, and followed by Rose-Pompon and Sleepinbuff.
"The Bacchanal Queen! or I poison myself with a glass of water;" cried Ninny Moulin.
"The Bacchanal Queen! or I publish my banns of marriage with Ninny Moulin!" cried little Rose-Pompon, with a determined air.
"The Bacchanal Queen! or the court will rise in arms, and carry her off by force!" said another voice.
"Yes, yes--let us carry her off!" repeated a formidable chorus.
"Jacques, enter alone!" said the Bacchanal Queen, notwithstanding these pressing summonses; then, addressing her court in a majestic tone, she added: "In ten minutes, I shall be at your service--and then for a--of a time!"
"Long live the Bacchanal Queen," cried Dumoulin, shaking his rattle as he retired, followed by the deputation, whilst Sleepinbuff entered the room alone.
"Jacques," said Cephyse, "this is my good sister."
"Enchanted to see you," said Jacques, cordially; "the more so as you will give me some news of my friend Agricola.Since I began to play the rich man, we have not seen each other, but I like him as much as ever, and think him a good and worthy fellow.You live in the same house.How is he?"
"Alas, sir! he and his family have had many misfortunes.He is in prison."
"In prison!" cried Cephyse.
"Agricola in prison! what for?" said Sleepinbuff.
"For a trifling political offence.We had hoped to get him out on bail."
"Certainly; for five hundred francs it could be done," said Sleepinbuff.
"Unfortunately, we have not been able; the person upon whom we relied--"
The Bacchanal Queen interrupted the speaker by saying to her lover: "Do you hear, Jacques? Agricola in prison, for want of five hundred francs!"
"To be sure! I hear and understand all about it.No need of your winking.Poor fellow! he was the support of his mother."
"Alas! yes, sir--and it is the more distressing, as his father has but just returned from Russia, and his mother--"
"Here," said Sleepinbuff, interrupting, and giving Mother Bunch a purse;
"take this--all the expenses here have been paid beforehand--this is what remains of my last bag.You will find here some twenty-five or thirty Napoleons, and I cannot make a better use of them than to serve a comrade in distress.Give them to Agricola's father; he will take the necessary steps, and to-morrow Agricola will be at his forge, where I had much rather he should be than myself."