"Where do you lodge, now that you have given up your room to the
Morels?"
"I lodge—in furnished lodgings."
"Oh, how I detest that. To be where everybody else has been—it is as if everybody had been in your own room."
"I am only there at night, and then—"
"I conceive—it is less disagreeable. My home, M. Rudolph, rendered me so happy; I had arranged a life so tranquil, that I should not have believed it possible to have a sorrow. Yet you see! No, I cannot tell you what a blow the misfortunes of Germain have caused me. I have seen the Morels and others—much to be pitied, it is true; but misery is misery. Among poor folks they expect it; it does not surprise them, and they help one another as they can. But to see a poor young man, honest, and good, who has been your friend for a long time, accused of theft, and imprisoned pell-mell with rogues and cut-throats! Oh, M. Rudolph! it is true I have no strength against this; it is a misfortune I have never thought of; it upsets me."
Rigolette's large eyes filled with tears.
"Courage, courage! your gayety will return when your friend is acquitted."
"Oh, he must be acquitted! They will only have to read to the judges the letter which he has written me—that will be enough, will it not, M. Rudolph?"
"In reality, this simple and touching letter has all the marks of truth. You must let me take a copy; it will be useful in his defense."
"Certainly, M. Rudolph. If I did not write like a real cat, in spite of the lessons Germain gave me, I should propose to copy it for you; but my writing is so coarse, so crooked, and besides, there are so many—so many faults."