contradictory expression really represents one of them。 The Livonian
being fairly entangled in the toils of commercial procedure； the point
was to obtain payment； for the illustrious tradesman looked on
Wenceslas as a swindler。 Feeling； sincerity； poetry； were in his eyes
mere folly in business matters。
So Rivet went off to see； in behalf of that poor Mademoiselle Fischer；
who； as he said； had been 〃done〃 by the Pole； the rich manufacturers
for whom Steinbock had worked。 It happened that Stidmannwho； with
the help of these distinguished masters of the goldsmiths' art； was
raising French work to the perfection it has now reached； allowing it
to hold its own against Florence and the RenaissanceStidmann was in
Chanor's private room when the army lace manufacturer called to make
inquiries as to 〃One Steinbock； a Polish refugee。〃
〃Whom do you call 'One Steinbock'？ Do you mean a young Livonian who
was a pupil of mine？〃 cried Stidmann ironically。 〃I may tell you；
monsieur； that he is a very great artist。 It is said of me that I
believe myself to be the Devil。 Well； that poor fellow does not know
that he is capable of becoming a god。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Rivet； well pleased。 And then he added； 〃Though you
take a rather cavalier tone with a man who has the honor to be an
Assessor on the Tribunal of Commerce of the Department of the Seine。〃
〃Your pardon； Consul！〃 said Stidmann； with a military salute。
〃I am delighted；〃 the Assessor went on； 〃to hear what you say。 The man
may make money then？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Chanor； 〃but he must work。 He would have a tidy sum
by now if he had stayed with us。 What is to be done？ Artists have a
horror of not being free。〃
〃They have a proper sense of their value and dignity；〃 replied
Stidmann。 〃I do not blame Wenceslas for walking alone； trying to make
a name； and to become a great man； he had a right to do so！ But he was
a great loss to me when he left。〃
〃That； you see；〃 exclaimed Rivet； 〃is what all young students aim at
as soon as they are hatched out of the school…egg。 Begin by saving
money； I say； and seek glory afterwards。〃
〃It spoils your touch to be picking up coin；〃 said Stidmann。 〃It is
Glory's business to bring us wealth。〃
〃And； after all；〃 said Chanor to Rivet； 〃you cannot tether them。〃
〃They would eat the halter；〃 replied Stidmann。
〃All these gentlemen have as much caprice as talent；〃 said Chanor；
looking at Stidmann。 〃They spend no end of money； they keep their
girls； they throw coin out of window； and then they have no time to
work。 They neglect their orders； we have to employ workmen who are
very inferior； but who grow rich； and then they complain of the hard
times； while； if they were but steady； they might have piles of gold。〃
〃You old Lumignon；〃 said Stidmann； 〃you remind me of the publisher
before the Revolution who said'If only I could keep Montesquieu；
Voltaire； and Rousseau very poor in my backshed； and lock up their
breeches in a cupboard； what a lot of nice little books they would
write to make my fortune。'If works of art could be hammered out like
nails； workmen would make them。Give me a thousand francs； and don't
talk nonsense。〃
Worthy Monsieur Rivet went home； delighted for poor Mademoiselle
Fischer； who dined with him every Monday； and whom he found waiting
for him。
〃If you can only make him work；〃 said he； 〃you will have more luck
than wisdom； you will be repaid； interest； capital； and costs。 This
Pole has talent； he can make a living； but lock up his trousers and
his shoes； do not let him go to the /Chaumiere/ or the parish of
Notre…Dame de Lorette； keep him in leading…strings。 If you do not take
such precautions； your artist will take to loafing； and if you only
knew what these artists mean by loafing！ Shocking！ Why； I have just
heard that they will spend a thousand…franc note in a day！〃
This episode had a fatal influence on the home…life of Wenceslas and
Lisbeth。 The benefactress flavored the exile's bread with the wormwood
of reproof； now that she saw her money in danger； and often believed
it to be lost。 From a kind mother she became a stepmother； she took
the poor boy to task； she nagged him； scolded him for working too
slowly； and blamed him for having chosen so difficult a profession。
She could not believe that those models in red waxlittle figures and
sketches for ornamental workcould be of any value。 Before long；
vexed with herself for her severity； she would try to efface the tears
by her care and attention。
Then the poor young man； after groaning to think that he was dependent
on this shrew and under the thumb of a peasant of the Vosges； was
bewitched by her coaxing ways and by a maternal affection that
attached itself solely to the physical and material side of life。 He
was like a woman who forgives a week of ill…usage for the sake of a
kiss and a brief reconciliation。
Thus Mademoiselle Fischer obtained complete power over his mind。 The
love of dominion that lay as a germ in the old maid's heart developed
rapidly。 She could now satisfy her pride and her craving for action；
had she not a creature belonging to her； to be schooled； scolded；
flattered； and made happy； without any fear of a rival？ Thus the good
and bad sides of her nature alike found play。 If she sometimes
victimized the poor artist； she had； on the other hand； delicate
impulses like the grace of wild flowers； it was a joy to her to
provide for all his wants； she would have given her life for him； and
Wenceslas knew it。 Like every noble soul； the poor fellow forgot the
bad points； the defects of the woman who had told him the story of her
life as an excuse for her rough ways； and he remembered only the
benefits she had done him。
One day； exasperated with Wenceslas for having gone out walking
instead of sitting at work； she made a great scene。
〃You belong to me；〃 said she。 〃If you were an honest man； you would
try to repay me the money you owe as soon as possible。〃
The gentleman； in whose veins the blood of the Steinbocks was fired；
turned pale。
〃Bless me；〃 she went on； 〃we soon shall have nothing to live on but
the thirty sous I earna poor work…woman！〃
The two penniless creatures； worked up by their own war of words； grew
vehement； and for the first time the unhappy artist reproached his
benefactress for having rescued him from death only to make him lead
the life of a galley slave； worse than the bottomless void； where at
least； said he； he would have found rest。 And he talked of flight。
〃Flight！〃 cried Lisbeth。 〃Ah； Monsieur Rivet was right。〃
And she clearly explained to the Pole that within twenty…four hours he
might be clapped into prison for the rest of his days。 It was a
crushing blow。 Steinbock sank into deep melancholy and total silence。
In the course of the following night； Lisbeth hearing overhead some
preparations for suicide； went up to her pensioner's room； and gave
him the schedule and a formal release。
〃Here； dear child； forgive me；〃 she said with tears in her eyes。 〃Be
happy； leave me！ I am too cruel to you； only tell me that you will
sometimes remember the poor girl who has enabled you to make a living。
What can I say？ You are the cause of my ill…humor。 I might die；
where would you be without me？ That is the reason of my being
impatient to see you do some salable work。 I do not want my money back
for myself； I assure you！ I am only frightened at your idleness； which
you call meditation； at your ideas； which take up so many hours when
you sit gazing at the sky； I want you to get into habits of industry。〃
All this was said with an emphasis； a look； and tears that moved the
high…minded artist； he clasped his benefactress to his heart and
kissed her forehead。
〃Keep these pieces；〃 said he with a sort of cheerfulness。 〃Why should
you send me to Clichy？ Am I not a prisoner here out of gratitude？〃
This episode of their secret domestic life had occurred six months
previously； and had led to Steinbock's producing three finished works：
the seal in Hortense's possession； the group he had placed with the
curiosity dealer； and a beautiful clock to which he was putting the
last touches； screwing in the last rivets。
This clock represented the twelve Hours； charmingly personified by
twelve female figures whirling round in so mad and swift a dance that
three little Loves perched on a pile of fruit and flowers could not
stop one of them； only the torn skirts of Midnight remained in the
hand of the most daring cherub。 The group stood on an admirably
treated base； ornamented with grotesque beasts。 The hours were told by
a monstrous mouth that opened to yawn； and each Hour bore some
ingeniously appropriate symbol characteristic of the various
occupations of the day。
It is now easy to understand the extraordinary attachment of
Mademoiselle Fischer for her Livonian； she wanted him to be happy； and
she saw him pining； fading away in his attic。 The causes of this
wretched state of affairs may be easily imagined。 The peasant woman
watched this son of the North with the affection of a mother； with the
jealousy of a wife； and the spirit of a dragon； hence she managed to
put every kind of folly or dissipation out of his powe