Nobody's Boy by Hector Malot Chapter 9
ARRESTED
I had a pleasant remembrance of Pau, the beautiful winter resort wherethe wind scarcely ever blew. We stayed there the whole winter, for wewere taking in quite a lot of money. Our audience consisted mostly ofchildren, and they were never tired if we did give the same performanceover and over again. They were children of the rich, mostly English andAmerican. Fat little boys, with ruddy skins, and pretty little girlswith soft eyes almost as beautiful as Dulcie's. It was from thesechildren that I got a taste for candy, for they always came with theirpockets stuffed with sweets which they divided between Pretty-Heart, thedogs, and myself. But when the spring approached our audience grewsmaller. One by one, two by two, the little ones came to shake handswith Pretty-Heart, Capi, and Dulcie. They had come to say good-by. Theywere going away. So we also had to leave the beautiful winter resort andtake up our wandering life again.
For a long time, I do not know how many days or weeks, we went throughvalleys, over hills, leaving behind the bluish top of the Pyrenees,which now looked like a mass of clouds.
Then one night we came to a great town with ugly red brick houses andwith streets paved with little pointed stones, hard to the feet oftravelers who had walked a dozen miles a day. My master told me that wewere in Toulouse and that we should stay there for a long time. Asusual, the first thing we did was to look about for a suitable place tohold the next day's performance. Suitable places were not lacking,especially near the Botanical Gardens, where there is a beautiful lawnshaded with big trees and a wide avenue leading to it. It was in one ofthe side walks that we gave our first performance.
A policeman stood by while we arranged our things. He seemed annoyed,either because he did not like dogs, or because he thought we had nobusiness there; he tried to send us away. It would have been better ifwe had gone. We were not strong enough to hold out against the police,but my master did not think so. Although he was an old man, strollingabout the country with his dogs, he was very proud. He considered thatas he was not breaking the law, he should have police protection, sowhen the officer wanted to send us away, he refused to leave.
Vitalis was very polite; in fact he carried his Italian politeness tothe extreme. One might have thought that he was addressing some high andmighty personage.
"The illustrious gentleman, who represents the police authority," hesaid, taking off his hat and bowing low to the policeman, "can he showme an order emanating from the said authority, which states that it isforbidden for poor strolling players, like ourselves, to carry on theirhumble profession on a public square?"
The policeman replied that he would have no argument. We must obey.
"Certainly," replied Vitalis, "and I promise that I will do as you orderas soon as you let me know by what authority you issue it."
That day the officer turned on his heels, and my master, with hat inhand, body bent low, smilingly bowed to the retreating form.
But the next day the representative of the law returned, and jumpingover the ropes which inclosed our theater, he sprang into the middle ofthe performance.
"Muzzle those dogs," he said roughly to Vitalis.
"Muzzle my dogs!"
"It's an order of the law, you ought to know that!"
The spectators began to protest.
"Don't interrupt!"
"Let him finish the show, cop!"
Vitalis then took off his felt hat, and with his plumes sweeping theground, he made three stately bows to the officer.
"The illustrious gentleman representing the law, does he tell me that Imust muzzle my actors?" he asked.
"Yes, and be quick about it!"
"Muzzle Capi, Zerbino, and Dulcie," cried Vitalis, addressing himselfmore to the audience than to the officer; "how can the great physician,Capi, known throughout the universe, prescribe a cure for Mr.Pretty-Heart, if the said physician wears a muzzle on the end of hisnose?"
The children and parents began to laugh. Vitalis encouraged by theapplause, continued:
"And how can the charming nurse, Dulcie, use her eloquence to persuadethe patient to take the horrible medicine which is to relieve him of hispains if I am forced to carry out this cruel order of the law? I ask theaudience if this is fair?"
The clapping of hands and shouts of laughter from the onlookers wasanswer enough. They cheered Vitalis and hooted the policeman and, aboveall, they were amused at the grimaces Pretty-Heart was making. He hadtaken his place behind the "illustrious gentleman who represented thelaw," and was making ridiculous grimaces behind his back. The officercrossed his arms, then uncrossed them and stuck his fists on his hipsand threw back his head, so did the monkey. The onlookers screamed withlaughter.
The officer turned round suddenly to see what amused them, and saw themonkey striking his own attitude to perfection. For some moments themonkey and the man stared at each other. It was a question which wouldlower his eyes first. The crowd yelled with delight.
"If your dogs are not muzzled to-morrow," cried the policeman, angrilyshaking his first, "you'll be arrested. That's all."
"Good-day, until to-morrow, Signor," said Vitalis, bowing, "untilto-morrow...."
As the officer strode away, Vitalis stood with his body almost bent tothe ground in mock respect.
I thought that he would buy some muzzles for the dogs, but he didnothing of the kind, and the evening passed without him even mentioninghis quarrel with the policeman. I decided at last to broach the subjectmyself.
"If you don't want Capi to tear off his muzzle to-morrow during theperformance," I said, "I think it would be a good thing to put it on himbeforehand, and let him get used to it. We can teach him that he mustkeep it on."
"You think I am going to put one of those things on their little noses?"
"The officer is down on us."
"You are only a country boy. Like all peasants you are afraid of apoliceman.
"Don't worry," he added, "I'll have matters arranged to-morrow so thatthe policeman can't have me arrested, and at the same time so that thedogs won't be uncomfortable. On the other hand, the public shall beamused a bit. This officer should be the means of bringing us some moremoney and, in the bargain, play the comic role in the piece that I shallprepare for him. Now, to-morrow, you are to go there alone withPretty-Heart. You will arrange the ropes, and play a few pieces on yourharp, and when you have a large audience the officer will arrive on thescene. I will make my appearance with the dogs. Then the farce willcommence."
I did not at all like going alone the next day, but I knew that mymaster must be obeyed.
As soon as I got to our usual place I roped off an inclosure andcommenced to play. The people came from all parts and crowded outsidethe ropes. By now I had learnt to play the harp and sing very well.Amongst other songs, I had learnt a Neapolitan _canzonetta_ which wasalways greatly applauded. But to-day I knew that the crowd had not cometo pay tribute to my talent. All who had witnessed the dispute with theofficer the day before were present, and had brought their friends withthem. The police are not liked at Toulouse, and the public were curiousto see how the old Italian would come out, and what significance wasattached to his parting words, "Until to-morrow, Signor." Several of thespectators, seeing me alone with Pretty-Heart, interrupted my song toask if the "old Italian" was coming.
I nodded. The policeman arrived. Pretty-Heart saw him first. He at onceput his clenched hands on his hips and began trotting around in aridiculously important manner. The crowd laughed at his antics andclapped their hands. The officer glared at me angrily.
How was it going to end? I was rather ill at ease. If Vitalis were therehe could reply to the officer. But I was alone. If he ordered me away,what should I say?
The policeman strode back and forth outside the ropes, and when hepassed near me, he had a way of looking at me over his shoulder that didnot reassure me.
Pretty-Heart did not understand the seriousness of the situation, so hegleefully strutted along inside the ropes, side by side with theofficer, mimicking his every movement. As he passed me, he also lookedat me over his shoulder in such a comical manner that the people laughedstill louder.
I thought the matter had gone far enough, so I called Pretty-Heart, buthe was in no mood to obey, and continued his walk, running and dodgingme when I tried to catch him. I don't know how it happened, but thepoliceman, probably mad with rage, thought that I was encouraging themonkey, for he quickly jumped the ropes. In a moment he was upon me, andhad knocked me to the ground with one blow. When I opened my eyes andgot to my feet Vitalis, who had sprung from I don't know where, stoodbefore me. He had just seized the policeman's wrist.
"I forbid you to strike that child," he cried, "what a cowardly thing todo!"
For some moments the two men looked at each other. The officer waspurple with rage. My master was superb. He held his beautiful white headhigh; his face expressed indignation and command. His look was enough tomake the policeman sink into the earth, but he did nothing of the kind.He wrenched his hand free, seized my master by the collar and roughlypushed him before him. Vitalis stumbled and almost fell, but he drewhimself up quickly and with his free hand struck the officer on thewrist. My master was a strong man, but still he was an old man, and thepoliceman was young and robust. I saw how a struggle would end. Butthere was no struggle.
"You come along with me," said the officer, "you're under arrest."
"Why did you strike that child?" demanded Vitalis.
"No talk. Follow me."
Vitalis did not reply, but turned round to me.
"Go back to the inn," he said, "and stay there with the dogs. I'll sendword to you."
He had no chance to say more, for the officer dragged him off. So endedthe performance that my poor master had wanted to make amusing. The dogsat first had followed their master, but I called them back, andaccustomed to obey, they returned to me. I noticed that they weremuzzled, but instead of their faces being inclosed in the usualdog-muzzle, they simply wore a pretty piece of silk fastened round theirnoses and tied under their chins. Capi, who was white, wore red;Zerbino, who was black, wore white, and Dulcie, who was gray, wore blue.My poor master had thus carried out the order of the law.
The public had quickly dispersed. A few stragglers remained to discusswhat had happened.
"The old man was right."
"He was wrong."
"Why did the cop strike the boy? He did nothing to him; never said aword."
"Bad business. The old fellow will go to jail, for sure!"
I went back to the inn, depressed. I had grown very fond of my master,more and more every day. We lived the same life together from morningtill night, and often from night to morning, when we had to sleep on thesame bed of straw. No father could have shown more care for his childthan he showed for me. He had taught me to read, to sing, and to write.During our long tramps he gave me lessons, first on one subject then onanother. On very cold days he shared his coverings with me, on hot dayshe had always helped me carry the bags, and the various things which Iwas supposed to carry. And when we ate he never served me the worstpiece, keeping the best for himself; on the contrary, he shared itequally, the good and the bad. It is true, he sometimes pulled my earsmore roughly than I liked, but if I needed the correction, what of that?In a word, I loved him, and he loved me. For how long would they sendhim to prison? What should I do during that time? How should I live?
Vitalis was in the habit of carrying his money on him, and he had nothad time to give me anything before he was dragged off. I had only afew sous in my pocket. Would it be enough to buy food for Pretty-Heart,the dogs, and myself? I spent the next two days in agony, not daring toleave the inn. The monkey and the dogs were also very downcast. At last,on the third day, a man brought me a letter from him. Vitalis wrote methat on the following Saturday he was to be tried for resisting policeauthority, and for attacking an officer.
"I was wrong to get into a temper," he wrote. "This may cost me dearly,but it is too late now. Come to the court, you will learn a lesson."Then he gave me some advice, and sent his love to me, telling me tocaress the animals for him.
While I was reading the letter, Capi, standing between my feet, put hisnose to the paper, and sniffed it. I could see by the way he wagged histail that he knew it had come from his master. This was the first timein three days that he had showed any signs of joy.
I got to the court early on Saturday morning. Many of the people who hadwitnessed the scene with the policeman were present. I was so scared atbeing in court, that I got behind a large stove and squeezed up as smallas I could against the wall. Some men who had been arrested for robbery,others for fighting, were tried first. All said that they were innocent,but all were found guilty. At last Vitalis was brought in. He sat downon a bench between two policemen. What he said at first, and what theyasked him, I scarcely knew, my emotion was so great. I stared atVitalis; he stood upright, his white head thrown back. He looked ashamedand worried. I looked at the judge.
"You gave blows to the officer who arrested you," said the judge.
"Not blows, your Honor," said Vitalis, "I only struck once. When I gotto the place where we were to give our performance, I was just in timeto see the officer fell a child to the ground with a blow, the littleboy who is with me."
"The child is not yours."
"No, but I love him as my own son. When I saw him struck I lost mytemper and seized the policeman's arm so that he could not strikeagain."
"You struck him?"
"When he laid his hands on me I thought of him only as a man, not as apolice officer."
The officer then said what he had to say.
Vitalis' eyes roamed around the room. I knew that he was looking to seeif I were there, so I decided to come out of my hiding place, andelbowing through the crowd of people, I came and stood beside him. Hisface lit up when he saw me. Presently, the trial ended. He was sentencedto two months' imprisonment and a fine of one hundred francs. Twomonths' prison! The door through which Vitalis had entered was opened.Through my tears I saw him follow a policeman, and the door closedbehind him. Two months' separation!
Where should I go?