下载辰思小说免费APP
Incaseyouwillconsenttorelieveme，andjudgeforyourselfthemiseryinwhichInowam，IliveintherueduHoussay，atthecorneroftherueChantereine，onthefifthfloor。IfIcannotpaymyrentto-morrowIshallbeputout——andthen，wherecanIgo？
MayIcallmyself，Yoursister-in-law，ComtesseFloredeBrambourg。
“Whatapitofinfamy！“criedJoseph；“thereissomethingunderitall。“
“Letussendforthewomanwhobroughttheletter；wemaygettheprefaceofthestory，“saidBixiou。
Thewomanpresentlyappeared，looking，asBixiouobserved，likeperambulatingrags。Shewas，infact，amassofoldgowns，oneontopofanother，fringedwithmudonaccountoftheweather，thewholemountedontwothicklegswithheavyfeetwhichwereill-coveredbyraggedstockingsandshoesfromwhosecracksthewateroozeduponthefloor。AbovethemoundofragsroseaheadlikethosethatCharlethasgiventohisscavenger-women，caparisonedwithafilthybandannahandkerchiefslitinthefolds。
“Whatisyourname？“saidJoseph，whileBixiousketchedher，leaningonanumbrellabelongingtotheyearII。oftheRepublic。
“MadameGruget，atyourservice。I’veseenbetterdays，myyounggentleman，“shesaidtoBixiou，whoselaughaffrontedher。“Ifmypoorgirlhadn’thadtheill-lucktolovesomeonetoomuch，youwouldn’tseemewhatIam。Shedrownedherselfintheriver，mypoorIda，——
savingyourpresence！I’vehadthefollytonurseupaquaterne，andthat’swhy，atseventy-sevenyearsofage，I’mobligedtotakecareofsickfolksfortensousaday，andgo——“
“——withoutclothes？“saidBixiou。“Mygrandmothernursedupatrey，butshedressedherselfproperly。“
“OutofmytensousIhavetopayforalodging——“
“What’sthematterwiththeladyyouarenursing？“
“Inthefirstplace，shehasn’tgotanymoney；andthenshehasadiseasethatscaresthedoctors。Sheowesmeforsixtydays’nursing；
that’swhyIkeeponnursingher。Thehusband，whoisacount，——sheisreallyacountess，——willnodoubtpaymewhensheisdead；andsoI’velentherallIhad。AndnowIhaven’tanything；allIdidhavehasgonetothepawn-brokers。Sheowesmeforty-sevenfrancsandtwelvesous，besidethirtyfrancsforthenursing。Shewantstokillherselfwithcharcoal。Itellheritain’tright；and，indeed，I’vehadtogettheconciergetolookafterherwhileI’mgone，orshe’slikelytojumpoutofthewindow。“
“Butwhat’sthematterwithher？“saidJoseph。
“Ah！monsieur，thedoctorfromtheSisters’hospitalcame；butastothedisease，“saidMadameGruget，assumingamodestair，“hetoldmeshemustgotothehospital。Thecaseishopeless。“
“Letusgoandseeher，“saidBixiou。
“Here，“saidJosephtothewoman，“takethesetenfrancs。“
Plunginghishandintotheskullandtakingoutallhisremainingmoney，thepaintercalledacoachfromtherueMazarinandwenttofindBianchon，whowasfortunatelyathome。MeantimeBixiouwentoffatfullspeedtotheruedeBussy，afterDesroches。ThefourfriendsreachedFlore’sretreatintherueduHoussayanhourlater。
“ThatMephistophelesonhorseback，namedPhilippeBridau，“saidBixiou，astheymountedthestaircase，“hassailedhisboatcleverlytogetridofhiswife。YouknowouroldfriendLousteau？well，PhilippepaidhimathousandfrancsamonthtokeepMadameBridauinthesocietyofFlorine，Mariette，Tullia，andtheVal-Noble。WhenPhilippesawhiscrab-girlsousedtopleasureanddressthatshecouldn’tdowithoutth
