[节选]A START IN LIFE

Now, a thousand francs were lacking to Pierrotin, and where to get

them he did not know. He was in debt to the master of the Lion

d'Argent; he was in danger of his losing his two thousand francs

already paid to the coach-builder, not counting five hundred for the

mate to Rougeot, and three hundred for new harnesses, on which he had

a three-months' credit. Driven by the fury of despair and the madness

of vanity, he had just openly declared that the new coach was to start

on the morrow. By offering fifteen hundred francs, instead of the two

thousand five hundred still due, he was in hopes that the softened

carriage-builders would give him his coach. But after a few moments'

meditation, his feelings led him to cry out aloud:--



"No! they're dogs! harpies! Suppose I appeal to Monsieur Moreau, the

steward at Presles? he is such a kind man," thought Pierrotin, struck

with a new idea. "Perhaps he would take my note for six months."



At this moment a footman in livery, carrying a leather portmanteau and

coming from the Touchard establishment, where he had gone too late to

secure places as far as Chambly, came up and said:--



"Are you Pierrotin?"



"Say on," replied Pierrotin.



"If you would wait a quarter of an hour, you could take my master. If

not, I'll carry back the portmanteau and try to find some other

conveyance."



"I'll wait two, three quarters, and throw a little in besides, my

lad," said Pierrotin, eyeing the pretty leather trunk, well buckled,

and bearing a brass plate with a coat of arms.



"Very good; then take this," said the valet, ridding his shoulder of

the trunk, which Pierrotin lifted, weighed, and examined.



"Here," he said to his porter, "wrap it up carefully in soft hay and

put it in the boot. There's no name upon it," he added.



"Monseigneur's arms are there," replied the valet.



"Monseigneur! Come and take a glass," said Pierrotin, nodding toward

the Cafe de l'Echiquier, whither he conducted the valet. "Waiter, two

absinthes!" he said, as he entered. "Who is your master? and where is

he going? I have never seen you before," said Pierrotin to the valet

as they touched glasses.