OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

THE LODGER 101
saw the other pen, the sixty-franc one, his face fell for a moment,
and he didn't know what to say. Pulling himself together, he
remarked cheerfully:
" Well, well, it never rains but it pours, as they say, and if I lose
Monsieur Elie's ..."
Madame Baron was busy with her saucepans. Clicking his heels
punctiliously, Domb bowed to the company, then handed Baron
a horse-shoe tie-pin.
" I wish you a very happy birthday," he said gravely," and many
more to come. And may I take this opportunity of assuring you that
I shall never forget the hospitality I have enjoyed under this roof? "
Valesco hurried in, and presented Baron with a briar pipe.
For some reason Baron did not give them the accolade he had
bestowed on Elie—perhaps because neither young man came near
enough.
Moise was the last to enter, and as he shut the door behind him
he said:
" Happy birthday, Monsieur Baron."
He gave no excuse for failing to bring a present; everyone knew
he was too poor. When he was placing his biscuit-tin on the table,
Madame Baron tapped him on the shoulder.
" Not tonight! . .. Bless my soul, what's come over the lad? "
Blushing, Moise sat down at his place and stowed the biscuit-tin
under his chair. Baron surveyed the company with an all-embracing
smile.
" I am deeply touched ..." he began.
Everyone fell silent—with the exception of Elie, who remarked :
" In my country the birthday of the master of the house is the
great event of the year. Even the servants bring presents ..."
For once soup had been omitted from the menu, as being too
ordinary, not to say vulgar. Madame Baron placed the chickens
on the table, and her husband rose to his feet to carve them.
"No! Let me!"
Elie again! Antoinette's face was pale and set. Under the table
she was giving little kicks to Moise, who was staring glumly at his
plate. Madame Baron was too busy at the range to be able to sit
down.
" You, Moise, should know the rites and ceremonies," Elie
observed as he plied the carving-knife. " The Jews have all sorts of
quaint, elaborate customs.... I say, Madame Baron, haven't you
any candles? "