Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/244

the cries she uttered some neighbors rushed in and dragged her out of Rodolphe’s room.

Two days later a female friend of Mimi came to ask Rodolphe whether he would give up the things he had kept.

“No,” he replied.

And he got his mistress’s messenger to talk about her. She informed him that Mimi was in a very unfortunate condition, and that she would soon find herself without a lodging.

“And the lover of whom she is so fond?”

“Oh!” replied Amélie, the friend in question, “the young fellow has no intention of taking her for his mistress. He has been keeping another for a long time past, and he does not seem to trouble much about Mimi, who is living at my expense, which causes me a great deal of embarrassment.”

“Let her do as she can,” said Rodolphe; “she would have it,—it is no affair of mine.”

And he began to sing madrigals to Mademoiselle Amélie, and persuaded her that she was the prettiest woman in the world.

Amélie informed Mimi of her interview with Rodolphe.

“What did he say? What is he doing? Did he speak to you about me?” asked Mimi.

“Not at all; you are already forgotten, my dear. Rodolphe has a fresh mistress, and has bought her a superb outfit, for he has received a great deal of money, and is himself dressed like a prince. He is a very amiable young fellow, and said a lot of nice things to me.”

“I know what all that means,” thought Mimi.

Every day Mademoiselle Amélie called to see Rodolphe on some pretext or other, and however much the latter tried he could not help speaking of Mimi to her.

“She is very lively,” replied her friend, “and does not