Modern Prose And Poetry; For Secondary Schools | Page 9

went back to the restaurant where I had
washed dishes the night before, and the head waiter served me. After
that it was easy; the next week it was ten dollars; then in a few years I
had a place of my own; then came madame and Lucette--and here we
are."

The twilight had faded into a velvet blue, sprinkled with stars. The
lantern which madame had hung against the arbor shed a yellow light,
throwing into clear relief the sharply cut features of monsieur. Up and
down the silent stream drifted here and there a phantom boat, the gleam
of its light following like a firefly. From some came no sound but the
muffled plash of the oars. From others floated stray bits of song and
laughter. Far up the stream I heard the distant whistle of the down train.
"It is mine, monsieur. Will you cross with me, and bring back the
boat?"
Monsieur unhooked the lantern, and I followed through the garden and
down the terrace steps.
At the water's edge was a bench holding two figures.
Monsieur turned his lantern, and the light fell upon the face of young
François.
When the bow grated on the opposite bank I shook his hand, and said,
in parting, pointing to the lovers,--
"The same old story, Monsieur?"
"Yes; and always new. You must come to the church."
NOTES
=Harlem River=:--Note that this river is in New York City, not in
France as one might suppose from the name of the selection.
=Devonshire=:--A very attractive county of southwestern England.
=filet=:--A thick slice of meat or fish.
=charmant=:--The French word for charming.
=Roquefort=:--A kind of cheese.

=Sacré! Vous êtes le diable=:--Curses! You are the very deuce.
=passe-partouts=:--Engraved ornamental borders for pictures.
=gendarme=:--A policeman of France.
=Napoleon III=:--Emperor of the French, 1852-1870. He was elected
president of the Republic in 1848; he seized full power in 1851; in
1852, he was proclaimed emperor. He was a nephew of the great
Napoleon.
=confrère=:--A close associate.
=Garibaldi=:--Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian patriot (1807-1882).
=Chianti=:--A kind of Italian wine.
=Bronx=:--A small river in the northern part of New York City.
=Restaurant Français=:--French restaurant.
=the painter=:--A rope at the bow of a boat.
=C'est merveilleux=:--It's wonderful.
=Mon Dieu=:--Good heavens!
=pâté de fois gras=:--A delicacy made of fat goose livers.
=Château Lamonte, '62=:--A kind of wine; the date refers to the year in
which it was bottled.
=Oui, mon père=:--Yes, father.
=mon ami=:--My friend.
=the little affair of December 2=:--On December 2, 1851, Louis
Napoleon overawed the French legislature and assumed absolute power.
Just a year later he had himself proclaimed Emperor.

=Louis=:--Napoleon III.
=Victor Hugo=:--French poet and novelist (1802-1885).
=Louis Blanc=:--French author and politician (1812-1882).
=Changarnier=:--Pronounced _shan gär ny[=a]'_; Nicholas Changarnier,
a French general (1793-1877).
=Cavaignac=:--Pronounced ka vay nyak'; Louis Eugene Cavaignac, a
French general (1803-1857). He ran for the Presidency against Louis
Napoleon.
=Porte St. Martin=:--The beginning of the Boulevard St. Martin, in
Paris.
=Rue Royale=:--Rue_ is the French word for _street.
=Élysée=:--A palace in Paris used as a residence by Napoleon III.
=one hundred francs=:--About twenty dollars.
SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY
What does the title suggest to you? At what point do you change your
idea as to the location of Laguerre's? Do you know of any picturesque
places that are somewhat like the one described here? Could you
describe one of them for the class? Why do people usually not
appreciate the scenery near at hand? What do you think of the plan of
"seeing America first"? What is meant here by "my traps"? Why is it
better to wait for Madame? Why does Madame talk so crossly? What
sort of person is she? See if you can tell accurately, from what follows
in later pages, why Monsieur left Paris so hastily. How does the author
give you an idea of François Laguerre's appearance? Why does the
author stop to give us the two paragraphs beginning, "There is a
quality," and "Then came a long interval"? How does he get back to his
subject? Why does he not let Lucette bail the boat? Who does bail it at
last? Why? Do you think that every artist enjoys his work as the writer

seems to enjoy his? How does he make you feel the pleasure of it? Why
is there more enjoyment in eating out of doors than in eating in the
house? Why does the author sprinkle little French phrases through the
piece? Is it a good plan to use foreign phrases in this way? What kind
of man is Monsieur Laguerre? Review his story carefully. Why was the
police agent murdered? Who killed him? Why has Monsieur Laguerre
never found out what became of Cambier?
This selection deals with a number of different subjects: Why does it
not seem "choppy"? How does the author manage to link