"Alas, M.Dagobert! have you last all hope?"
"On the contrary.I have good hope--but in myself."
So saying, Dagobert twisted the upper end of the sack, for the purpose of closing it, and placed it on the drawers, by the side of his pistols.
"At all events, you will wait for Agricola, M.Dagobert?"
"Yes, if he arrives before ten o'clock."
"Alas; you have then quite made up your mind?"
"Quite.And yet, if I were weak enough to believe in bad omens--"
"Sometimes, M.Dagobert, omens do not deceive one," said the girl, hoping to induce the soldier to abandon his dangerous resolution.
"Yes," resumed Dagobert; "old women say so--and, although I am not an old woman, what I saw just now weighed heavily on my heart.After all, I may have taken a feeling of anger for a presentiment."
"What have you seen?"
"I will tell it you, my good girl; it may help to pass the time, which appears long enough." Then, interrupting himself, he exclaimed: "Was it the half hour that just struck?"
"Yes, M.Dagobert; it is half-past eight."
"Still an hour and a half," said Dagobert, in a hollow voice."This," he added, "is what I saw.As I came along the street, my notice was attracted by a large red placard, at the head of which was a black panther devouring a white horse.That sight gave me a turn, for you must know, my good girl, that a black panther destroyed a poor old white horse that I had, Spoil-sport's companion, whose name was Jovial."
At the sound of this name, once so familiar, Spoil-sport, who was crouching at the workwoman's feet, raised his head hastily, and looked at Dagobert.
"You see that beasts have memory--he recollects," said the soldier, sighing himself at the remembrance.Then, addressing his dog he added:
"Dost remember Jovial?"
On hearing this name a second time pronounced by his master, in a voice of emotion, Spoil-sport gave a low whine, as if to indicate that he had not forgotten his old travelling companion.
"It was, indeed, a melancholy incident, M.Dagobert," said Mother Bunch, "to find upon this placard a panther devouring a horse."
"That is nothing to what's to come; you shall hear the rest.I drew near the bill, and read in it, that one Morok, just arrived from Germany, is about to exhibit in a theatre different wild beasts that he tamed, among others a splendid lion, a tiger, and a black Java panther named Death."
"What an awful name!" said the hearer.
"You will think it more awful, my child, when I tell you, that this is the very panther which strangled my horse at Leipsic, four months ago."
"Good Heaven! you are right, M.Dagobert," said the girl, "it is awful."
"Wait a little," said Dagobert, whose countenance was growing more and more gloomy, "that is not all.It was by means of this very Morok, the owner of the panther, that I and my poor children were imprisoned in Leipsic."
"And this wicked man is in Paris, and wishes you evil?" said Mother Bunch."Oh! you are right, M.Dagobert; you must take care of yourself;
it is a bad omen."
"For him, if I catch him," said Dagobert, in a hollow tone."We have old accounts to settle."
"M.Dagobert," cried Mother Bunch, listening; "some one is running up the stairs.It is Agricola's footsteps.I am sure he has good news."
"That will just do," said the soldier, hastily, without answering.
"Agricola is a smith.He will be able to find me the iron hook."
A few moments after, Agricola entered the room; but, alas! the sempstress perceived at the first glance, in the dejected countenance of the workman, the ruin of her cherished hopes.
"Well!" said Dagobert to his son, in a tone which clearly announced the little faith he attached to the steps taken by Agricola; "well, what news?"
"Father, it is enough to drive one mad--to make one dash one's brains out against the wall!" cried the smith in a rage.
Dagobert turned towards Mother Bunch, and said: "You see, my poor child--
I was sure of it."
"Well, father," cried Agricola; "have you seen the Court de Montbron?"
"The Count de Montbron set out for Lorraine three days ago.That is my good news," continued the soldier, with bitter irony; "let us have yours-
-I long to know all.I need to know, if, on appealing to the laws, which, as you told me, protect and defend honest people, it ever happens that the rogues get the best of it.I want to know this, and then I want an iron hook--so I count upon you for both."
"What do you mean, father?"
"First, tell me what you have done.We have time.It is not much more than half-past eight.On leaving me, where did you go first?"