The Wandering Jew — Volume 06 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 174 pages of information about The Wandering Jew — Volume 06.

The Wandering Jew — Volume 06 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 174 pages of information about The Wandering Jew — Volume 06.

“Yes, sir, the Bacchanal Queen is her nickname,” said Rose-Pompon, astonished in her turn; “she is really Cephyse Soliveau, and she is my friend.”

“Oh! she is your friend?” said Rodin, reflecting.

“Yes, sir, my bosom friend.”

“So you love her?”

“Like a sister.  Poor girl!  I do what I can for her, and that’s not much. 
But how comes it that a respectable man of your age should know the
Bacchanal Queen?—­Ah! that shows you have a false name!”

“My dear child, I am no longer inclined to laugh,” said Rodin, with so sorrowful an air, that Rose-Pompon, reproaching herself with her pleasantry, said to him:  “But how comes it that you know Cephyse?”

“Alas!  I do not know her—­but a young fellow, that I like excessively—­”

“Jacques Rennepont?”

“Otherwise called Sleepinbuff.  He is now in prison for debt,” sighed Rodin.  “I saw him yesterday.”

“You saw him yesterday?—­how strange!” said Rose-Pompon, clapping her hands.  “Quick! quick!—­come over to Philemon’s, to give Cephyse news of her lover.  She is so uneasy about him.”

“My dear child, I should like to give her good news of that worthy fellow, whom I like in spite of his follies, for who has not been guilty of follies?” added Rodin, with indulgent good-nature.

“To be sure,” said Rose-Pompon, twisting about as if she still wore the costume of a debardeur.

“I will say more,” added Rodin:  “I love him because of his follies; for, talk as we may, my dear child, there is always something good at bottom, a good heart, or something, in those who spend generously their money for other people.”

“Well, come! you are a very good sort of a man,” said Rose-Pompon, enchanted with Rodin’s philosophy.  “But why will you not come and see Cephyse, and talk to her of Jacques?”

“Of what use would it be to tell her what she knows already—­that Jacques is in prison?  What I should like, would be to get the worthy fellow out of his scrape.”

“Oh, sir! only do that, only get Jacques out of prison,” cried Rose Pompon, warmly, “and we will both give you a kiss—­me and Cephyse!”

“It would be throwing kisses away, dear little madcap!” said Rodin, smiling.  “But be satisfied, I want no reward to induce me to do good when I can.”

“Then you hope to get Jacques out of prison?”

Rodin shook his head, and answered with a grieved and disappointed air.  “I did hope it.  Certainly, I did hope it; but now all is changed.”

“How’s that?” asked Rose-Pompon, with surprise.

“That foolish joke of calling me M. Rodin may appear very amusing to you, my dear child.  I understand it, you being only an echo.  Some one has said to you:  `Go and tell M. Charlemagne that he is one M. Rodin.  That will be very funny.’”

“Certainly, I should never myself have thought of calling you M. Rodin.  One does not invent such names,” answered Rose-Pompon.

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The Wandering Jew — Volume 06 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.