第59章

ShehurriedofftotellMadameCaron，andthetwoladieswentuptotheattic，and，hiddenbysomelinenspreadacrossprops，stationedthemselvescomfortablyforoverlookingthewholeofBinet’sroom。

Hewasaloneinhisgarret，busyimitatinginwoodoneofthoseindescribablebitsofivory，composedofcrescents，ofsphereshollowedoutonewithintheother，thewholeasstraightasanobelisk，andofnousewhatever；andhewasbeginningonthelastpiece——hewasnearinghisgoal。Inthetwilightoftheworkshopthewhitedustwasflyingfromhistoolslikeashowerofsparksunderthehoofsofagallopinghorse；thetwowheelswereturning，droning；Binetsmiled，hischinlowered，hisnostrilsdistended，and，inaword，seemedlostinoneofthosecompletehappinessesthat，nodoubt，belongonlytocommonplaceoccupations，whichamusethemindwithfaciledifficulties，andsatisfybyarealisationofthatbeyondwhichsuchmindshavenotadream。

“Ah!theresheis!“exclaimedMadameTuvache。

Butitwasimpossiblebecauseofthelathetohearwhatshewassaying。

Atlasttheseladiesthoughttheymadeouttheword“francs，“andMadameTuvachewhisperedinalowvoice——

“Sheisbegginghimtogivehertimeforpayinghertaxes。“

“Apparently!“repliedtheother。

Theysawherwalkingupanddown，examiningthenapkin-rings，thecandlesticks，thebanisterrailsagainstthewalls，whileBinetstrokedhisbeardwithsatisfaction。

“Doyouthinkshewantstoordersomethingofhim？“saidMadameTuvache。

“Why，hedoesn’tsellanything，“objectedherneighbour。

Thetax-collectorseemedtobelisteningwithwide-openeyes，asifhedidnotunderstand。Shewentoninatender，suppliantmanner。Shecamenearertohim，herbreastheaving；theynolongerspoke。

“Isshemakinghimadvances？“saidMadameTuvache。Binetwasscarlettohisveryears。Shetookholdofhishands。

“Oh，it’stoomuch!“

Andnodoubtshewassuggestingsomethingabominabletohim；forthetax-collector——yethewasbrave，hadfoughtatBautzenandatLutzen，hadbeenthroughtheFrenchcampaign，andhadevenbeenrecommendedforthecross——suddenly，asatthesightofaserpent，recoiledasfarashecouldfromher，crying——

“Madame!whatdoyoumean？“

“Womenlikethatoughttobewhipped，“saidMadameTuvache。

“Butwhereisshe？“continuedMadameCaron，forshehaddisappearedwhilsttheyspoke；thencatchingsightofhergoinguptheGrandeRue，andturningtotherightasifmakingforthecemetery，theywerelostinconjectures。

“NurseRollet，“shesaidonreachingthenurse’s，“Iamchoking；

unlaceme!“Shefellonthebedsobbing。NurseRol