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A BOX OF CANDIED FRUIT
The reader will remember that Monsieur Renardin, one of Georgette's neighbors, who had a maid of all work, had purchased a box of candied fruit and had employed a little bootblack to deliver it to Georgette, and had told him that she lived on the entresol at the rear of the courtyard.
But the young fellow, who was a messenger as well as a bootblack, was a child of Auvergne, and had just as much intelligence as he required to black boots or to carry a pail of water; almost all water carriers are Auvergnats. He put the box of candied fruit under his arm; it was carefully wrapped in white paper and tied with pink ribbon. He entered the designated house, and, passing the concierge's door with his head in the air, started across the courtyard; but the concierge, who had seen him pass, ran out of his lodge and stopped him, saying:
"Where in the devil are you going, you young scamp? What do you mean by marching by my door without a word? That's no way to go into a house, do you hear, Savoyard?"
"I ain't no Savoyard, I'm an Auvergnat."
"Savoyard or Auvergnat! I don't care which, they're the same thing! Where are you going, I say?"
"I'm not speaking to you! I'm going straight ahead."
"I see that you don't speak to me; but I speak to you; I'm the concierge, and I have a right to question you, and you must answer."
"I'm not to speak to the concierge, that's my orders. I'm going straight ahead."
"What an obstinate little beggar! I tell you, you shan't pass till I know where you're going!"