Caught in the Net

by Emile Gaboriau

  CHAPTER XV.

  MASTER CHUPIN.

  Beaumarchef, when Mascarin called a general meeting of his associates,was in the habit of assuming his very best attire; for as he was oftencalled into the inner office to answer questions, he was muchimpressed with the importance of the occasion. This time, however, thesubordinate, although he had received due notice of the meeting, wasstill in his every-day dress. This discomposed him a good deal, thoughhe kept muttering to himself that he meant no disrespect by it. Early inthe morning he had been compelled to make up the accounts of twocooks, who, having obtained situations, were leaving the servants'lodging-house. When this matter was completed, he had hoped for half anhour's leisure. As he was crossing the courtyard, however, he fell inwith Toto Chupin bringing in his daily report, which Beaumarchef thoughtwould be what it usually was--a mere matter of form. He was, however,much mistaken; for though outwardly Toto was the same, yet his ideas hadtaken an entirely new direction; and when Beaumarchef urged him to looksharp, the request was received with a great deal of sullenness.

  "I ain't lost no time," said he, "and have fished up a thing or twofresh; but before saying a word--"

  He stopped, and seemed a little confused.

  "Well, go on."

  "I want a fresh arrangement."

  Beaumarchef was staggered.

  "Arrangement!" he echoed.

  "Of course you can lump it if yer don't like it," said the boy. "Doyou think as how I'm going to work like a horse, and not get a wink ofsleep, just for a 'thank ye, Chupin?' No fear. I'm worth a sight morenor that."

  Beaumarchef flew into a rage.

  "Then you are not worth a pinch of salt," said he.

  "All right, my cove."

  "And you are an ungrateful young villain to talk like this after all thekindness your master has shown you."

  Chupin gave a sarcastic laugh.

  "Goodness!" cried he. "To hear you go on, one would think that the bosshad ruined himself for my sake."

  "He took you out of the streets, and has given you a room ever since."

  "A room, do you say? I call it a dog kennel."

  "You have your breakfast and dinner every day regularly."

  "I know that, and half a bottle of wine at each meal, which has so muchwater in it that it cannot even stain the tablecloth."

  "You are an ungrateful young hound," exclaimed Beaumarchef, "and forgetthat, in addition to this, he has set you up in business as a hotchestnut seller."

  "Good old business! I am allowed to stand all day under the gateway,roasted on one side, and frozen on the other, and gain, perhaps twentysous."

  "You know that in summer he has promised to set you up in the friedpotato line."

  "Thank ye for nothing; I don't like the smell of grease."

  "What is it you want, then?"

  "Nothing. I feels that I ought to be a gentleman at large."

  Beaumarchef cast a furious glance at the shameless youth, and told himthat he would report everything to his master. The boy, however, did notseem to care a pin.

  "I intends to see Master Mascarin myself presently," remarked Chupin.

  "You are an idiot."

  "Why so? Do you think I didn't live better before I had anything todo with this blooming old cove? I never worked then. I used to sing infront of the pubs, and easily made my three francs a day. My pal and Isoon check 'em though, and then off we went to the theatre. Sometimeswe'd make tracks for Ivry, and take our doss in a deserted factory, intowhich the crushers never put their noses. In the winter we used to go tothe glass houses and sleep in the warm ashes. All these were good times,while now--"

  "Well, what have you to grumble at now? Don't I hand you a five-francpiece every day that you are at work?"

  "But that ain't good enough. Come, don't get shirty; all I asks is arise of salary. Only say either Yes or No; and if you say No, why, Isends in my resignation."

  Beaumarchef would have given a five-franc piece out of his own pocketfor Mascarin to have heard the boy's impertinence.

  "You are a young rascal!" said he, "and keep the worst of company. Thereis no use in denying it, for a hang-dog fellow, calling himself Polyte,has been here asking after you."

  "My company ain't any business of yours."

  "Well, I give you warning, you will come to grief."

  "How?" returned Toto Chupin sulkily. "How can I come to grief? If oldMascarin interferes, I'll shut up his mouth pretty sharp. I wish you andyour master wouldn't poke their noses into my affairs. I'm sick of youboth. Don't you think I'm up to you? When you make me follow some onefor a week at a time, it isn't to do 'em a kindness, I reckon. If thingsturn out badly, I've only to go before a beak and speak up; I should getoff easily enough then; and if I do so, you will be sorry for not havinggiven me more than my five francs a day."

  Beaumarchef was an old soldier and a bold man, but he was easily upset,for the lad's insolence made him believe that he was uttering words thathad been put in his mouth by some wily adviser; and not knowing howto act, the ex-soldier thought it best to adopt a more conciliatingdemeanor.

  "How much do you want?" asked he.

  "Well, seven francs to start with."

  "The deuce you do! Seven francs a day is a sum. Well, I'll give it youmyself to-day and will speak about you to the master."

  "You won't get me to loosen my tongue for that amount to-day; you maybet your boots on that," answered the lad insolently. "I wants onehundred francs down on the nail."

  "One hundred francs," echoed Beaumarchef, scandalized at such a demand.

  "Yes, my cove, that and no less."

  "And what will you give in return? No, no, my lad; your demand is apreposterous 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 wasabout to receive the kick he had so richly earned, when Daddy Tantainesuddenly made his appearance, looking exactly as he did when he visitedPaul in his garret.

  "Tut, tut; never quarrel with the door open."

  Beaumarchef thanked Providence for sending this sudden reinforcement tohis 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; forthough he hardly knew Mascarin, and utterly despised Beaumarchef, hetrembled before the oily Tantaine, for in him he recognized a being whowould 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 thisworthy lad the hundred francs that he has so politely asked for."

  Beaumarchef was utterly stupefied, and was about to make some objectionwhen he was struck by a signal which Toto did not perceive, and, drawingout his pocketbook, extracted a note which he offered to the lad. Totoglanced at the note, then at the faces of the two men, but was evidentlyafraid to take the money.

  "Take the money," said Tantaine. "If your information is not worth themoney, I will have it back from you; come into the office, where weshall not be disturbed."

  Tantaine took a chair, and glancing at Toto, who stood before himtwirling 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 havefound out all about her by this time. She is as regular as clockwork inher duties at least. She wakes at ten and takes her absinthe. Then shegoes to a little restaurant she knows, and has her breakfast and a gameat cards with any one that will play with her. At six in the eveningshe goes to the Grand Turk, a restaurant and dancing-shop in the Rue desPoisonnieres. Ain't it a swell ken just! You can eat; drink, dance, orsing, just as you like; but you must have decent togs on
, or they won'tlet 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 doeswithout money? No fear. Well, I have found out where the coin comesfrom."

  The dim light in the office enabled Tantaine to hide the pleasure hefelt on hearing these words.

  "Ah," answered he carelessly, as if it was a matter of but littlemoment, "and so you have found out all that, have you?

  "Yes, and a heap besides. Just you listen. After her breakfast, my sweetCarry began to play cards with some chaps who had been grubbing at thenext table. 'Regular right down card sharpers and macemen,' said Ito 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 inless than an hour she had to go up to the counter and leave one of herrings as security for the breakfast. He said he knew her, and would giveher credit. 'You are a trump,' said she. 'I'll just trot off to my owncrib 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 wasinhabited 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 ofgold and silver."

  "You are rather slow, my lad," said Tantaine, with his assumed air ofindifference. "Get on a bit, do."

  Toto was much put out; for he had expected that his intelligence wouldhave created an immense sensation.

  "Give a cove time to breathe in. Well, in half an hour out comes myCarry 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 tosee Caroline change two notes of two hundred francs each at themoney-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 intoa money-changer's shop and asked them just to let me feel one, and theysaid, 'Get out sharp.'"

  "Is that all?" demanded Tantaine.

  "No; I have kept the best bit for a finish. I want to tell you thatthere 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 backhas been keeping her in view. I twigged him at once, and he too saw hergo 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 withthe 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 oflife."

  Beaumarchef was about to ask Tantaine to remain in the office whilehe went off to put on his best clothes, but the old man stopped thisrequest by saying,--

  "As M. Mascarin does not like to be disturbed, I will just go in withoutknocking. When the other gentlemen arrive, show them in; for look youhere, my good friend, the pear is so ripe that if it is not plucked, itwill fall to the ground."