Chapter 4 Chapter Four

If T． Atlet was a Frenchman, whom his countrymen would not forget to jokingly call him Tatley.But because the name suits him, we shall not hesitate to refer to him as such.Besides, if Tattley wasn't French, he deserved it. Chateaubriand, in his Journey from Paris to Jerusalem, speaks of a short man, "powdered and curled as before, with apple-green dresses, shaggy coats, muslin pectorals and cuffs, clumsily Playing a baby violin and making Madelon Frigue dance the Iroquois." Californians are not Iroquois, by a long shot, but Tutley is still a professor of dance and appearance in California's state capital.If he wasn't paid for beaver pelts and smoked bear legs as his predecessors were paid, it was because he was paid in dollars.If, referring to his pupils, he does not say: "These savage gentlemen and savage ladies," it is because his pupils are very civilized, and, as he says, he has done nothing less to their civilization.

The Bachelor's Tatley was 45 when we introduced him to our readers.However, about 10 years ago, his marriage with a grown lady reached the point of being married. At that time, on this matter, he was only asked "two or three lines", concerning his age, his body, and his situation: the following is what he thought he should answer.This saves us from making a portrait of him both mentally and physically. "He was born on July 17, 1835, at 3:15 in the morning." "He's tall." "His measurements, measured from the waist, are exactly 2'3." "His weight, up six pounds since last year, is 151 pounds, 2 ounces."

"His head is rectangular." "His hair, sparse on the forehead, was a brown beginning to grey; his forehead was prominent, and his face was oval and ruddy." "His eyes—excellent vision—are taupe, with light chestnut lashes and eyebrows, and eyelids sunken slightly toward the orbits under the arch of the brows." "Nose, of medium size, split by a slit near the end of the left nostril." "His temples and cheeks are flat and beardless." "His ears are big and flat." "His mouth, of medium size, has absolutely no cavities."

"His lips, thin and somewhat taut, are covered with a thick mustache and a small tuft of beard below his lower lip; his chin is round, and he also has a beard of various colors." "A small mole dotted his round neck—on the nape." "Finally, when he took a shower, he could be seen to have fair skin and not much hair." "His life was quiet and regular, not very robust, and, thanks to extreme abstinence, he knew from birth to be in general health. His bronchi were easily irritated: that was the reason he had no smoking vice. Strong liquor, coffee, no liqueur, no pure wine. In short, everything that might make his nervous system react is strictly removed from his hygiene. Light beer, red wine mixed with a little Water was the only non-dangerous beverage he drank. Thanks to his prudence, he was able to never visit a doctor since his birth.

"His movements are nimble and his gait is quick, his character is forthright and extroverted. Moreover, he is so sensitive that until now he has hesitated to be bound by marriage for fear of making a woman unhappy." Such was the note made by Tartley; but the planned union with a lady of a certain age which might have been so attractive was missed.The professor has thus remained single and continues to teach his dance and instrumentation classes. About this time he entered the mansion of William W. Coedrup under this title; Seen as a superfluous cog. In short, as ridiculous as it is, this is a kind man.People love being with him.He loved Godfrey, he loved Fina, and they loved him too.He had, therefore, but one ambition in this world: to instill in them all the elegance of his art, and to make them two perfect beings in manners.

However, will people believe him?It was he, Professor Tutley, who had been chosen by William W. Codrup to accompany his nephew on this planned trip.Yes, he had some reason to think that Tatley had played no small part in propelling Godfrey into this travel mania that could be perfected in world travel.William W. Codrup therefore decided to let the two of them walk together.The next day, April 16, he asked someone to inform the professor to come to his studio to find him. For Tatley, a rich man's invitation was an order.The professor left his room, taking with him the pocket violin, which is called a miniature violin, for emergencies; he ascended the grand staircase of the mansion, landing his feet rigidly, as befitting a dance teacher, He knocked on the door of the studio, entered inside, half-bent, arms and elbows bent into a circular arc, with a smile on his mouth, and crossed his feet back and forth at half their length, taking the third position, making the ankle bones Touch each other, toes pointing to the outside.

Except for Professor Tutley who can be in this unstable balance, everyone else will be wobbly on such a basis, but he can maintain absolute straightness. "Mr. Tutley," said William W. Codrup, "I have brought you here to give you some news which, I think, will not surprise you." "Long life!" replied the professor, and although William W. Coedrup hadn't sneezed at all, one might have thought he had. "My nephew's marriage has been postponed for a year and a half," continued the uncle, "and Godfrey, at his request, is going to visit different countries in the Old and New World."

"Sir," replied Tatley, "my pupil will honor the country that saw him born, and—" "It will also discredit the etiquette professor who taught him the gentle manners." The businessman replied in a mocking tone, which the naive Tatley didn't feel. And, indeed, he thought it was time to do a "joint," he shifted his feet in turn in a sort of sideways slide, and then, softly and slightly bent at the knees, he walked toward William W. Codrup. I gave a gift. "I thought," continued the latter, "that you would no doubt feel a little sorry to part with your student?"

"Discomfort will be painful," replied Tatley, "but if it must be..." "It doesn't have to be," replied William W. Kodrup, his bushy brow furrowed. "Ah! . . . " replied Tatley. Slightly flustered, he made a pause before a difficult dance move backwards to transition from the third position to the fourth; What is he doing. "Yes," went on the merchant, in a short voice and intolerable tone, "I thought it would be cruel indeed to separate a professor from a student who had been made to understand so well!" "Indeed...travel!..." Tatley replied, as if he didn't want to understand.

"Yes! . . . indeed! . . . " continued William W. Codrup, "traveling will not only accentuate the talents of my nephew, but also the talents of the teacher who have given him such a correct appearance. the same!" The big boy never imagined that one day he would have to leave San Francisco, California and America to sail the seas.It is impossible for a person who is proficient in choreography and even travel to flood the mind with these ideas, and the radiating range of 10 miles around the state capital has yet to be recognized by him.Now it is proposed to him, nay, that he emigrates abroad, whether he likes it or not, and devotes his life to carrying out these travels which he proposes to his pupils, with all the difficulties and inconveniences involved. .Undoubtedly it disturbed such a weak mind as his, and for the first time in his life the hapless Tartley felt that the muscles of his legs, softened by thirty-five years of exercise, were working against his will. Shaking with will!

"Maybe..." he said, trying to recreate that rigid dancer's smile that had faded from his lips for a moment, "maybe...I'm not for..." "You'll fit!" replied William W. Kodrup in a capacity that allowed no discussion with him. Refusal, it was impossible, and Tatley didn't even think about it.What is he in this house?One thing, one packet, one package, can be sent anywhere in the world!But this planned dispatch still caused him a little dismay. "And when will it be executed, this time?" he asked, trying to regain a rigid posture. "A month later." "And Mr. Codrup decides on which stormy sea the ship will take me and my students?" "In the beginning, in the Pacific Ocean." "And at what point on earth did I first set my foot down?" "On New Zealand soil," replied William W. Codrup, "I have noticed that the New Zealanders do not tactfully round their elbows! . . . You will correct them!" That is why Professor Tutley was chosen to be Godfrey Morgan's traveling companion. Then a gesture from the merchant let him know that the summons was over.He then withdrew, so excited that his exit, and the grace with which he was accustomed to display this difficult maneuver, were somewhat to be perfected. Indeed, for the first time in his life, Professor Tuttley, for the first time in his life, had left with his feet turned inwards, having forgotten the most elementary admonitions of his art in his anxiety!

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