"Oh them who plantest in the eyes and hearts of girls
The cult of wounding and the barbs of love!"
Translation from BAUDELAIRE'S Litany to Satan.
"Yes; she is very droll, your belle-maman," said the Comtesse de Vervanne. "To live in three ateliers! That is fantastique! Three big wide ateliers! one for herself, one for the little Bran, and one other for--who? Who is it that dwells in the third atelier across the landing, Haidee, my very dear?"
"Don't ask me," said Haidee sulkily, yet with alert eyes, for she was unable to contain her curiosity and amazement at the news. Val with three studios, who on their return to Paris had not possessed the price of a quarter's rent for one! And according to Madame de Vervanne they were big studios--no mere holes in the wall with skylights let in the ceiling. Parquet floors, beautifully shaded walls, wide galleries and French windows that led into balconies! It sounded like an Arabian tale. Haidee knew, as she knew most practical everyday things, how the rents of studios ranged, and she computed that the rent of such a one as the Comtesse described ran into not a centime less than three thousand francs a year. And Val with three! But the thing was incomprehensible, impayable--fantastic indeed as the Comtesse described it!
She was aware from the new address forwarded to her that Val had removed to the Lamartine Building in Boulevard Raspail, a great block of newly finished and very elaborate studios, which they in company with all the other hard-working and poor artists of the Quarter had long made a mock of, calling it the American Crystal Palace. It had lifts, a roof garden, balconies, baths, and all the luxuries that artists can never aspire to. Haidee on seeing the changed address had supposed that in the feeble condition of the family finances Val had been obliged to take one or two of the tiny rooms always to be let at the top of most big mansions, and which are usually rented out to domestics. The idea was not displeasing to Haidee. In the frame of mind she had adopted she liked to think of Val suffering discomfort and poverty. And she did not care either if Bran had to undergo the same thing, because she knew that if Bran's quarters were cramped Val would suffer far more than for herself. It will be seen that the dark caves in Haidee's soul had taken unto themselves infernal occupants, as dark caves will if the sunshine of loving-kindness is not let into them from day to day. It actually irked her to hear now from Christiane de Vervanne that Bran's room was as big as a schoolroom.
"About four times as big as this," said the Comtesse, casting an appraising eye round classroom B of the Pavilion Mauve. "With shelves all round, and an assortment of toys most wonderful. Even I could find myself very much amused with such toys. He has a foxe too."
"A fox!" shrieked Haidee.
"But yes--one of the little black and white ones with the tail of him cut off."
"Oh, a fox-terrier." Haidee turned away impatiently, but curiosity obliged her to turn back instantly to hear the rest of the amazing tale.
"At one end of this big nursery studio two white beds, one for the petit Bran and one for the American governess who is permanently installed and very devoted."
"A governess to sleep with Bran!" exclaimed Haidee. "Oh, no, that is too strong. I have never known Val let Bran sleep out of her sight!"