Chapter 211 Jiu Rongdrete almost cried

The ghetto was so gloomy that anyone entering it from the outside would have thought they had entered a cellar.As a result, the two newcomers could not see clearly the appearance of the people around them, and they hesitated when they moved forward, but they themselves were clearly seen by those who lived in this shabby house and were used to the weak light. Chu, and was carefully observed by these people. Mr. Bai approached the parent Jondrette with a kind and depressed smile, and said to him: "Sir, this bag contains some home-made clothes, new ones, some pairs of socks and some blankets, please accept them."

"Our angelic benefactor has been too kind to us," said Jondrette, bowing deeply to the ground.Immediately, taking advantage of the opportunity of the two guests to look at the tragic situation in the room, he bent down and whispered hastily into his eldest daughter's ear: "It's not wrong, is it? Did I expect it? Ragged clothes! No money! They're all like this! Also, what's the name on the letter I wrote to this old jerk?" "Fabondo," replied his daughter. "Theatrical artist, yes!" Jondrette was lucky, because at this moment, Mr. Bai turned and talked to him, as if he couldn't remember his name for a while:

"It seems that your situation is indeed unsatisfactory... sir." "Fabondo," replied Jondrette hastily. "Monsieur Fabontou, yes, yes, I remember." "Theatrical artist, sir, with some success." Having said that, Jondrette clearly believes that the time has come to seize this "philanthropist".He spoke aloud, in a voice that combined the bluster of a bazaar and the entreaty of a roadside beggar: "Talma's student, sir! I am Talma My student! Once upon a time, I had a good time. Alas! But now, bad luck. You see, my benefactor, no bread, no fire. The two daughters have no fire! The only chair is full ! Broken a piece of glass! Especially in this weather! My wife is lying down again! Sick!"

"Poor woman!" said Mr. Bai. "There is another child injured!" Jondrette added. The child, because of the arrival of the guests, was distracted to look at "the young lady" carefully, and he stopped crying long ago. "Cry! Cry!" Jondrette whispered to her. At the same time he pinched her wounded hand.All of this is done with the ingenuity of a magician. The little girl yelled loudly. The young girl whom Marius secretly called "his Yuxie" hurried over: "Poor dear!" she said. "You see, my fair lady," went on Jondrette, "her bloody wrist! In order to earn six sous a day, she suffers from such an accident under the machine. The arm may be It has to be sawed off!"

"Really?" said the surprised old gentleman. The little girl thought it was the truth, and began to cry sadly again. "No, my benefactor!" replied the father. Prior to this, Jondrette had been watching the "philanthropist" furtively.While talking, he looked at him carefully, as if he wanted to recall something old.Suddenly, taking advantage of the moment when the two newcomers were consoling the little girl on her injury, he went to the bedside where his dejected and demented woman lay, and said hurriedly to her in a very low voice: "Pay attention to that old man!"

Then he turned to Mr. Bai and continued to complain about his suffering: "You see, sir, I only have this one shirt, and I, my wife's, have nothing else to wear! And it's worn out! It's the coldest time of winter again. I can't go out because I have no outer clothes. If I had a coat of any kind, I could go and see Miss Myers, who knew me and was very friendly with me. Didn't she live in the Rue Notre-Dame Tower all the time? Did you know, sir? We had acted together in the provinces. I shared her laurels. I thought Selimanna would come to my aid, sir! Thought Elmir would rescue Velisari! But no, nothing. And there is no sou in the house! My wife is sick, and there is no sou! The little girl is seriously injured, very dangerous, and there is no sou! My wife often suffers from gas knots. This is because of her Age, and nervous problems here too. She must be helped, and so is the little girl! But a doctor! But a pharmacist! What to pay for? Not a penny! I would kneel to a big money, sir! Look at art How low is the value of yours! And do you know, my fair lady, and you, my generous protector, that you both breathe virtue and benevolence, and that the chapel And with Fragrance, you two go to that chapel every day, and my poor daughter goes there to pray every day, and she sees you two every day... because I brought up my two daughters in religion, Sir, I don't want them to play. Ah! Bastards! If they dare! I'm not kidding, I! I've always instilled in them ideas of honor, morals, conduct! Ask them. They should go. The right way. They're men with fathers. They're not the kind of wretches who start out homeless and end up being good. There are some who go from nobody's girls to people's wives. Thank goodness! Fortunately, there is no such scandal in the house of Fabondu! I want to educate them to be chaste, they should be honest, they should be gentle, and they should believe in God! Believe in this holy title! . . . But, sir, My honorable sir, do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? Tomorrow, the fourth of February, is a terrible day, my landlord has given me a deadline, and if I don't pay him tonight, then, Tomorrow my eldest daughter, myself, my wife with a high fever, and my wounded child will all be expelled from here and thrown outside, on the street, on the road, in the rain, in the snow, without shelter. That's it, sir. I owe four quarters' rent, a whole year! That is, sixty francs."

Jondrette was lying.Four quarters were only forty francs, and it was impossible for him to owe four quarters. Marius had paid him two quarters six months ago. Mr. Bai took five francs out of his pocket and put them on the table. Jondrette looked away and complained into his eldest daughter's ear: "Brave! What does he want me to do with his five francs? Not enough to pay for my chairs and glass! I must have money to spend!" At this moment, Mr. Bai had already taken off his chestnut-colored overcoat that he wore over his blue riding jacket, and put it on the back of the chair.

"Monsieur Fabondoux," he said, "I have only these five francs with me, but I will come again to-night after I have sent my daughter home. You will pay to-night, won't you?" A strange expression came over Jondrette's face.He replied excitedly: "Yes, my honorable sir. I shall be at my landlady's at eight o'clock." "I'll be here at six o'clock and bring you the sixty francs." "My benefactor!" cried the mad Jondrette. He said again in a very low voice: "Look at him, my wife!" Mr. Bai took the arm of the young and beautiful girl, turned to the door, and said:

"See you tonight, my friends." "Six o'clock?" asked Jondrette. "Six o'clock sharp." At this time, the coat left on the back of the chair caught the attention of Miss Jondrette. "Sir," she said, "don't forget your coat." Jondrette cast a savage glance at his daughter and shrugged his shoulders horribly. Mr. Bai turned around and replied with a smile: "I didn't forget it, I left it." "Oh, my protector," said Jondrette, "my noble benefactor, I have indeed shed tears! Please do not dislike me, and allow me to lead the way, and see you to the carriage."

"If you must go out," Mr. Bai continued, "you can put on this coat. It is very cold." Jondrette didn't need to be invited twice, and he quickly put on the chestnut-colored coat. The three of them went out together, Jondrette ahead of the two guests.