Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/188

from Monsieur Benoît, the said property consisting of a bundle of papers.

“That is so,” said the landlord. “I have no right to detain those things. They are in the bureau. Come up with me; if the person who has taken your room has not gone to bed, we can go in.”

The room had been let during the day to a girl named Mimi, with whom Rodolphe had formerly begun a love duet. They recognized one another at once. Rodolphe began to whisper to Mimi, and tenderly squeezed her hand.

“See how it rains,” said he, calling attention to the noise of the storm that had just broken overhead.

Mademoiselle Mimi went straight up to Monsieur Benoît, who was waiting in a corner of the room.

“Sir,” said she, pointing to Rodolphe, “this is the gentleman I was expecting this evening.”

“Oh!” said Monsieur Benoît, grinning on the wrong side of his face.

Whilst Mademoiselle Mimi was hurriedly getting ready an improvised supper, midnight struck.

“Ah!” said Rodolphe to himself, “the 15th of April is over. I have at length weathered my Cape of Storms. My dear Mimi,” said the young man, taking the pretty girl in his arms and kissing her on the back of the neck, “it would have been impossible for you to have allowed me to be turned out of doors. You have the bump of hospitality.”