Pierre Grassou by Honoré de Balzac
page 11 of 34 (32%)
page 11 of 34 (32%)
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picture, eyed it for some time and then gave him fifteen francs.
"With fifteen francs a year coming in, and a thousand francs for expenses," said Fougeres, smiling, "a man will go fast and far." Elie Magus made a gesture; he bit his thumbs, thinking that he might have had that picture for five francs. For several days Pierre walked down from the rue des Martyrs and stationed himself at the corner of the boulevard opposite to Elie's shop, whence his eye could rest upon his picture, which did not obtain any notice from the eyes of the passers along the street. At the end of a week the picture disappeared; Fougeres walked slowly up and approached the dealer's shop in a lounging manner. The Jew was at his door. "Well, I see you have sold my picture." "No, here it is," said Magus; "I've framed it, to show it to some one who fancies he knows about painting." Fougeres had not the heart to return to the boulevard. He set about another picture, and spent two months upon it,--eating mouse's meals and working like a galley-slave. One evening he went to the boulevard, his feet leading him fatefully to the dealer's shop. His picture was not to be seen. "I've sold your picture," said Elie Magus, seeing him. |
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