"And what will you give in return? No, no, my lad; your demand is a preposterous one; besides, you wouldn't know how to spend such a sum.""Don't you flurry yourself about that; but of one thing you may be sure, I sha'n't spend my wages as you do--in wax for your mustache."Beaumarchef could not endure an insult to his mustache, and Chupin was about to receive the kick he had so richly earned, when Daddy Tantaine suddenly made his appearance, looking exactly as he did when he visited Paul in his garret.
"Tut, tut; never quarrel with the door open."Beaumarchef thanked Providence for sending this sudden reinforcement to his aid, and began in a tone of indignation,--"Toto Chupin--"
"Stop! I have heard every word," broke in Tantaine.
On hearing this, Toto felt that he had better make himself scarce; for though he hardly knew Mascarin, and utterly despised Beaumarchef, he trembled before the oily Tantaine, for in him he recognized a being who would stand no nonsense. He therefore began in an apologetic tone,--"Just let me speak, sir; I only wanted--"
"Money, of course, and very natural too. Come, Beaumarchef, hand this worthy lad the hundred francs that he has so politely asked for."Beaumarchef was utterly stupefied, and was about to make some objection when he was struck by a signal which Toto did not perceive, and, drawing out his pocketbook, extracted a note which he offered to the lad. Toto glanced at the note, then at the faces of the two men, but was evidently afraid to take the money.
"Take the money," said Tantaine. "If your information is not worth the money, I will have it back from you; come into the office, where we shall not be disturbed."Tantaine took a chair, and glancing at Toto, who stood before him twirling his cap leisurely, said,--"I heard you."
The lad had by this time recovered his customary audacity.
"Five days ago," he began, "I was put on to Caroline Schimmel; I have found out all about her by this time. She is as regular as clockwork in her duties at least. She wakes at ten and takes her absinthe. Then she goes to a little restaurant she knows, and has her breakfast and a game at cards with any one that will play with her. At six in the evening she goes to the Grand Turk, a restaurant and dancing-shop in the Rue des Poisonnieres. Ain't it a swell ken just! You can eat;drink, dance, or sing, just as you like; but you must have decent togs on, or they won't let you in.""Wouldn't they let you through then?"
Toto pointed significantly to his rags as he replied,--"This rig out wouldn't pass muster, but I have a scheme in hand."Tantaine took down the address of the dancing-saloon, and then, addressing Toto with the utmost severity,--"Do you think," said he, "that this report is worth a hundred francs?"Toto made a quaint grimace.
"Do you think," asked he, "that Caroline can lead the life she does without money? No fear. Well, I have found out where the coin comes from."The dim light in the office enabled Tantaine to hide the pleasure he felt on hearing these words.
"Ah," answered he carelessly, as if it was a matter of but little moment, "and so you have found out all that, have you?
"Yes, and a heap besides. Just you listen. After her breakfast, my sweet Carry began to play cards with some chaps who had been grubbing at the next table. 'Regular right down card sharpers and macemen,'
said I to myself, as I watched the way in which they faked the pasteboards. 'They'll get everything out of you, old gal.' I was in the right, for in less than an hour she had to go up to the counter and leave one of her rings as security for the breakfast. He said he knew her, and would give her credit. 'You are a trump,' said she.
'I'll just trot off to my own crib and get the money.' ""Did she go home?"
"Not she; she went to a real swell house in a bang up part of Paris, the Rue de Varennes. She knocked at the door, and in she went, while Ilounged about outside."
"Do you know who lives there?"
"Of course I do. The grocer round the corner told me that it was inhabited by the Duke--what was his blessed name? Oh, the Duke----""Was it the Duke de Champdoce?"
"That is the right one, a chap they say as has his cellars chock full of gold and silver.""You are rather slow, my lad," said Tantaine, with his assumed air of indifference. "Get on a bit, do."Toto was much put out; for he had expected that his intelligence would have created an immense sensation.
"Give a cove time to breathe in. Well, in half an hour out comes my Carry as lively as a flea. She got into a passing cab and away she went. Fortunately I can run a bit, and reached the Palais Royal in time to see Caroline change two notes of two hundred francs each at the money-changers.""How did you find out that?"
"By looking at 'em. The paper was yellow."
Tantaine smiled kindly. "You know a banknote then?""Yes, but I have precious few chances of handling them. Once I went into a money-changer's shop and asked them just to let me feel one, and they said, 'Get out sharp.' ""Is that all?" demanded Tantaine.
"No; I have kept the best bit for a finish. I want to tell you that there are others on the lookout after Caroline."Toto had no reason this time to grumble at the effect he had produced, for the old man gave such a jump that his hat fell off.
"What are you saying?" said he.
"Simply that for the last three days a big chap with a harp on his back has been keeping her in view. I twigged him at once, and he too saw her go into the swell crib that you say belongs to that Duke."Tantaine pondered a little.
"A street musician," muttered he. "I must find out all about this.
Now, Toto, listen to me; chuck Caroline over, and stick to the fellow with the harp; be off with you, for you have earned your money well."As Chupin went off, the old man shook his head.
"Too sharp by a good bit," said he; "he won't have a long lease of life."Beaumarchef was about to ask Tantaine to remain in the office while he went off to put on his best clothes, but the old man stopped this request by saying,--"As M. Mascarin does not like to be disturbed, I will just go in without knocking. When the other gentlemen arrive, show them in; for look you here, my good friend, the pear is so ripe that if it is not plucked, it will fall to the ground."
