Nobody's Boy

by Hector Malot

  CHAPTER VI

  MY DEBUT

  We started early the next morning. The sky was blue and a light wind hadcome up in the night and dried all the mud. The birds were singingblithely in the trees and the dogs scampered around us. Now and againCapi stood up on his hind paws and barked into my face, two or threetimes. I knew what he meant. He was my friend. He was intelligent, andhe understood every thing, and he knew how to make you understand. Inhis tail only was more wit and eloquence than in the tongue or in theeyes of many people.

  Although I had never left my village and was most curious to see a town,what I most wanted to see in that town was a boot shop. Where was thewelcome shop where I should find the shoes with nails that Vitalis hadpromised me? I glanced about in every direction as we passed down theold streets of Ussel. Suddenly my master turned into a shop behind themarket. Hanging outside the front were some old guns, a coat trimmedwith gold braid, several lamps, and some rusty keys. We went down threesteps and found ourselves in a large room where the sun could never haveentered since the roof had been put on the house. How could suchbeautiful things as nailed shoes be sold in such a terrible place? YetVitalis knew, and soon I had the pleasure of being shod in nailed shoeswhich were ten times as heavy as my clogs. My master's generosity didnot stop there. He bought me a blue velvet coat, a pair of trousers, anda felt hat.

  Velvet for me who had never worn anything but cotton! This was surelythe best man in the world, and the most generous. It is true that thevelvet was creased, and that the woolen trousers were well worn, and itwas difficult to guess what had been the original color of the felt hat,it had been so soaked with rain; but dazzled by so much finery I wasunconscious of the imperfections which were hidden under their aspect.

  When we got back to the inn, to my sorrow and astonishment, Vitalis tooka pair of scissors and cut the two legs of my trousers to the height ofthe knees, before he would let me get into them. I looked at him withround eyes.

  "That's because I don't want you to look like everybody else," heexplained. "When in France I'll dress you like an Italian; when inItaly, like a French boy."

  I was still more amazed.

  "We are _artistes_, are we not? Well, we must not dress like theordinary folk. If we went about dressed like the country people, do youthink anybody would look at us? Should we get a crowd around us when westop? No! Appearances count for a great deal in life."

  I was a French boy in the morning, and by night I had become an Italian.My trousers reached my knees. Vitalis interlaced red cords all down mystockings and twisted some red ribbon all over my felt hat, and thendecorated it with a bunch of woolen flowers.

  I don't know what others thought of me, but to be frank I must admitthat I thought I looked superb; and Capi was of the same opinion, for hestared at me for a long time, then held out his paw with a satisfiedair. I was glad to have Capi's approval, which was all the moreagreeable, because, during the time I had been dressing, Pretty-Hearthad seated himself opposite to me, and with exaggerated airs hadimitated every movement I had made, and when I was finished put hishands on his hips, threw back his head, and laughed mockingly.

  It is a scientific question as to whether monkeys laugh or not. I livedon familiar terms with Pretty-Heart for a long time, and I know that hecertainly did laugh and often in a way that was most humiliating to me.Of course, he did not laugh like a man, but when something amused him,he would draw back the corners of his mouth, screw up his eyes, and workhis jaws rapidly, while his black eyes seemed to dart flames.

  "Now you're ready," said Vitalis, as I placed my hat on my head, "andwe'll get to work, because to-morrow is market day and we must give aperformance. You must play in a comedy with the two dogs andPretty-Heart."

  "But I don't know how to play a comedy," I cried, scared.

  "That is why I am going to teach you. You can't know unless you learn.These animals have studied hard to learn their part. It has been hardwork for them; but now see how clever they are. The piece we are goingto play is called, 'Mr. Pretty-Heart's Servant, or The Fool is notAlways the One You Would Think.' Now this is it: Mr. Pretty-Heart'sservant, whose name is Capi, is about to leave him because he is gettingold. And Capi has promised his master that before he leaves he will gethim another servant. Now this successor is not to be a dog, it is to bea boy, a country boy named Remi."

  "Oh...."

  "You have just come from the country to take a position with Mr.Pretty-Heart."

  "Monkeys don't have servants."

  "In plays they have. Well, you've come straight from your village andyour new master thinks that you're a fool."

  "Oh, I don't like that!"

  "What does that matter if it makes the people laugh? Well, you have cometo this gentleman to be his servant and you are told to set the table.Here is one like we shall use in the play; go and set it."

  On this table there were plates, a glass, a knife, a fork, and a whitetablecloth. How could I arrange all those things? As I pondered overthis question, leaning forward with hands stretched out and mouth open,not knowing where to begin, my master clapped his hands and laughedheartily.

  "Bravo!" he cried, "bravo! that's perfect. The boy I had before put on asly expression as much as to say, 'See what a fool I can make ofmyself'; you are natural; that is splendid."

  "But I don't know what I have to do."

  "That's why you are so good! After you do know, you will have to pretendjust what you are feeling now. If you can get that same expression andstand just like you are standing now, you'll be a great success. To playthis part to perfection you have only to act and look as you do at thismoment."

  "Mr. Pretty-Heart's Servant" was not a great play. The performancelasted not more than twenty minutes. Vitalis made us do it over and overagain, the dogs and I.

  I was surprised to see our master so patient. I had seen the animals inmy village treated with oaths and blows when they could not learn.Although the lesson lasted a long time, not once did he get angry, notonce did he swear.

  "Now do that over again," he said severely, when a mistake had beenmade. "That is bad, Capi. I'll scold you, Pretty-Heart, if you don't payattention."

  And that was all, but yet it was enough.

  "Take the dogs for an example," he said, while teaching me; "comparethem with Pretty-Heart. Pretty-Heart has, perhaps, vivacity andintelligence, but he has no patience. He learns easily what he istaught, but he forgets it at once; besides he never does what he is toldwillingly. He likes to do just the contrary. That is his nature, andthat is why I do not get angry with him; monkeys have not the sameconscience that a dog has; they don't understand the meaning of the word'duty,' and that is why they are inferior to the dog. Do you understandthat?"

  "I think so."

  "You are intelligent and attentive. Be obedient, do your best in whatyou have to do. Remember that all through life."

  Talking to him so, I summoned up courage to ask him about what had soastonished me during the rehearsal: how could he be so wonderfullypatient with the dogs, the monkey, and myself?

  He smiled.

  "One can see that you have lived only with peasants who are rough withanimals, and think that they can only be made to obey by having a stickheld over their heads. A great mistake. One gains very little by beingcruel, but one can obtain a lot, if not all, by gentleness. It isbecause I am never unkind to my animals that they are what they are. IfI had beaten them they would be frightened creatures; fear paralyzesthe intelligence. Besides, if I gave way to temper I should not be whatI am; I could not have acquired this patience which has won theirconfidence. That shows that who instructs others, instructs himself. AsI have given lessons to my animals, so I have received lessons fromthem. I have developed their intelligence; they have formed mycharacter."

  I laughed. This seemed strange to me.

  "You find that odd," he continued; "odd that a dog could give a lessonto a man, yet it is true. The master is obliged to watch over himselfwhen he undertakes to teach a dog. The dog ta
kes after the master. Showme your dog and I'll tell you what you are. The criminal has a dog whois a rogue. The burglar's dog is a thief; the country yokel has astupid, unintelligent dog. A kind, thoughtful man has a good dog."

  I was very nervous at the thought of appearing before the public thenext day. The dogs and the monkey had the advantage over me, they hadplayed before, hundreds of times. What would Vitalis say if I did notplay my part well? What would the audience say? I was so worried that,when at last I dropped off to sleep, I could see in my dreams a crowd ofpeople holding their sides with laughter because I was such a fool.

  I was even more nervous the next day, when we marched off in aprocession to the market place, where we were to give our performance.Vitalis led the way. Holding his head high and with chest thrown out, hekept time with his arms and feet while gayly playing his fife. Behindhim came Capi, carrying Pretty-Heart on his back, wearing the uniform ofan English general, a red coat and trousers trimmed with gold braid andhelmet topped with a plume. Zerbino and Dulcie came next, at arespectful distance. I brought up the rear. Our procession took up somelength as we had to walk a certain space apart. The piercing notes ofthe fife brought the people running from their houses. Scores ofchildren ran behind us, and by the time we had reached the square, therewas a great crowd. Our theater was quickly arranged. A rope was fastenedto four trees and in the middle of this square we took our places.

  The first numbers on the program consisted of various tricks performedby the dogs. I had not the slightest notion what they did. I was sonervous and taken up in repeating my own part. All that I remember wasthat Vitalis put aside his fife and took his violin and playedaccompaniments to the dogs' maneuvers; sometimes it was dance music,sometimes sentimental airs.

  The tricks over, Capi took a metal cup between his teeth and began to gothe round of the "distinguished audience." When a spectator failed todrop a coin in, he put his two fore paws upon the reluctant giver'spocket, barked three times, then tapped the pocket with his paw. Atthis every one laughed and shouted with delight.

  "If that ain't a cunning spaniel! He knows who's got money and whohasn't!"

  "Say, out with it!"

  "He'll give something!"

  "Not he!"

  "And his uncle left him a legacy! The stingy cuss!"

  And, finally, a penny was dug out of a deep pocket and thrown into thecup. During this time, Vitalis, without saying a word, but with his eyesfollowing Capi, gayly played his violin. Soon Capi returned to hismaster, proudly carrying the full cup.

  Now for the comedy.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," said Vitalis, gesticulating with his bow in onehand and his violin in the other, "we are going to give a delightfulcomedy, called 'Mr. Pretty-Heart's Servant, or the Fool is not Alwaysthe One You Would Think.' A man of my standing does not lower himself bypraising his plays and actors in advance. All I have to say is look,listen, and be ready to applaud."

  What Vitalis called a delightful comedy was really a pantomime;naturally it had to be for the very good reason that two of itsprincipals, Pretty-Heart and Capi, could not speak, and the third,myself, was incapable of uttering two words. However, so that theaudience would clearly understand the play, Vitalis explained thevarious situations, as the piece progressed. For instance, striking up awarlike air, he announced the entrance of General Pretty-Heart, who hadwon his high rank in various battles in India. Up to that day GeneralPretty-Heart had only had Capi for a servant, but he now wished to havea human being as his means allowed him this luxury. For a long timeanimals had been the slaves of men, but it was time that such waschanged!

  While waiting for the servant to arrive, the General walked up and down,smoking his cigar. You should see the way he blew the smoke into theonlookers' faces! Becoming impatient, he began to roll his eyes like aman who is about to have a fit of temper. He bit his lips, and stampedon the ground. At the third stamp I had to make my appearance on thescene, led by Capi. If I had forgotten my part the dog would havereminded me. At a given moment he held out his paw to me and introducedme to the General. The latter, upon noticing me, held up his two handsin despair. What! Was that the servant they had procured for him. Thenhe came and looked pertly up into my face, and walked around me,shrugging his shoulders. His expression was so comical that every oneburst out laughing. They quite understood that the monkey thought I wasa fool. The spectators thought that also. The piece was made to show howdense was my stupidity, while every opportunity was afforded the monkeyto show his sagacity and intelligence. After having examined methoroughly, the General, out of pity, decided to keep me. He pointed toa table that was already set for luncheon, and signed to me to take myseat.

  "The General thinks that after his servant has had something to eat hewon't be such an idiot," explained Vitalis.

  I sat down at the little table; a table napkin was placed on my plate.What was I to do with the napkin?

  Capi made a sign for me to use it. After looking at it thoughtfully fora moment, I blew my nose. Then the General held his sides with laughter,and Capi fell over with his four paws up in the air, upset at mystupidity.

  Seeing that I had made a mistake, I stared again at the table napkin,wondering what I was to do with it. Then I had an idea. I rolled it upand made a necktie for myself. More laughter from the General. Anotherfall from Capi, his paws in the air.

  Then, finally overcome with exasperation, the General dragged me fromthe chair, seated himself at my place, and ate up the meal that had beenprepared for me.

  Ah! he knew how to use a table napkin! How gracefully he tucked it intohis uniform, and spread it out upon his knees. And with what an elegantair he broke his bread and emptied his glass!

  The climax was reached when, luncheon over, he asked for a toothpick,which he quickly passed between his teeth. At this, applause broke outon all sides, and the performance ended triumphantly.

  What a fool of a servant and what a wonderful monkey!

  On our way back to the inn Vitalis complimented me, and I was alreadysuch a good comedian that I appreciated this praise from my master.