redoubled his blows. "Che cosa?" asked the bandit. "Come, come,"
said Danglars, tapping his fingers against the door, "I think it is
quite time to think of giving me something to eat!" But whether he
did not understand him, or whether he had received no orders
respecting the nourishment of Danglars, the giant, without
answering, went on with his dinner. Danglars' feelings were hurt,
and not wishing to put himself under obligations to the brute, the
banker threw himself down again on his goat-skin and did not
breathe another word.
Four hours passed by and the giant was replaced by another
bandit. Danglars, who really began to experience sundry gnawings at
the stomach, arose softly, again applied his eye to the crack of
the door, and recognized the intelligent countenance of his guide.
It was, indeed, Peppino who was preparing to mount guard as
comfortably as possible by seating himself opposite to the door,
and placing between his legs an earthen pan, containing chick-pease
stewed with bacon. Near the pan he also placed a pretty little
basket of Villetri grapes and a flask of Orvieto. Peppino was
decidedly an epicure. Danglars watched these preparations and his
mouth watered. "Come," he said to himself, "let me try if he will
be more tractable than the other;" and he tapped gently at the
door. "On y va," (coming) exclaimed Peppino, who from frequenting
the house of Signor Pastrini understood French perfectly in all its
idioms.
Danglars immediately recognized him as the man who had called
out in such a furious manner, "Put in your head!" But this was not
the time for recrimination, so he assumed his most agreeable manner
and said with a gracious smile, — "Excuse me, sir, but are they not
going to give me any dinner?"
"Does your excellency happen to be hungry?"
"Happen to be hungry, — that's pretty good, when I haven't eaten
for twenty-four hours!" muttered Danglars. Then he added aloud,
"Yes, sir, I am hungry — very hungry."
"What would your excellency like?" and Peppino placed his pan on"What would your excellency like?" and Peppino placed his pan on
the ground, so that the steam rose directly under the nostrils of
Danglars. "Give your orders."
"Have you kitchens here?"
"Kitchens? — of course — complete ones."
"And cooks?"
"Excellent!"
"Well, a fowl, fish, game, — it signifies little, so that I
eat."
"As your excellency pleases. You mentioned a fowl, I think?"
"Yes, a fowl." Peppino, turning around, shouted, "A fowl for his
excellency!" His voice yet echoed in the archway when a handsome,
graceful, and half-naked young man appeared, bearing a fowl in a
silver dish on his head, without the assistance of his hands. "I
could almost believe myself at the Cafe de Paris," murmured
Danglars.
"Here, your excellency," said Peppino, taking the fowl from the
young bandit and placing it on the worm-eaten table, which with the
stool and the goat-skin bed formed the entire furniture of the
cell. Danglars asked for a knife and fork. "Here, excellency," said
Peppino, offering him a little blunt knife and a boxwood fork.
Danglars took the knife in one hand and the fork in the other, and
was about to cut up the fowl. "Pardon me, excellency," said
Peppino, placing his hand on the banker's shoulder; "people pay
here before they eat. They might not be satisfied, and" —
"Ah, ha," thought Danglars, "this is not so much like Paris,
except that I shall probably be skinned! Never mind, I'll fix that
all right. I have always heard how cheap poultry is in Italy; I
should think a fowl is worth about twelve sous at Rome. — There,"
he said, throwing a louis down. Peppino picked up the louis, and
Danglars again prepared to carve the fowl. "Stay a moment, your
excellency," said Peppino, rising; "you still owe me
something."
"I said they would skin me," thought Danglars; but resolving to
resist the extortion, he said, "Come, how much do I owe you for
this fowl?"
"Your excellency has given me a louis on account."
"A louis on account for a fowl?"
"Certainly; and your excellency now owes me 4,999 louis.""A louis on account for a fowl?"
"Certainly; and your excellency now owes me 4,999 louis."
Danglars opened his enormous eyes on hearing this gigantic joke.
"Come, come, this is very droll — very amusing — I allow; but, as I
am very hungry, pray allow me to eat. Stay, here is another louis
for you."
"Then that will make only 4,998 louis more," said Peppino with
the same indifference. "I shall get them all in time."
"Oh, as for that," said Danglars, angry at this prolongation of
the jest, — "as for that you won't get them at all. Go to the
devil! You do not know with whom you have to deal!" Peppino made a
sign, and the youth hastily removed the fowl. Danglars threw
himself upon his goat-skin, and Peppino, reclosing the door, again
began eating his pease and bacon. Though Danglars could not see
Peppino, the noise of his teeth allowed no doubt as to his
occupation. He was certainly eating, and noisily too, like an
ill-bred man. "Brute!" said Danglars. Peppino pretended not to hear
him, and without even turning his head continued to eat slowly.
Danglars' stomach felt so empty, that it seemed as if it would be
impossible ever to fill it again; still he had patience for another
half-hour, which appeared to him like a century. He again arose and
went to the door. "Come, sir, do not keep me starving here any
longer, but tell me what they want."
"Nay, your excellency, it is you who should tell us what you
want. Give your orders, and we will execute them."
"Then open the door directly." Peppino obeyed. "Now look here, I
want something to eat! To eat — do you hear?"
"Are you hungry?"
"Come, you understand me."
"What would your excellency like to eat?"
"A piece of dry bread, since the fowls are beyond all price in
this accursed place."
"Bread? Very well. Hallo, there, some bread!" he called. The
youth brought a small loaf. "How much?" asked Danglars.
"Four thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight louis," said
Peppino; "You have paid two louis in advance."
"What? One hundred thousand francs for a loaf?"