After meals they generally went out to
ascertain news from the government in regard to sending them home. Some
days they treated themselves to a regular table d'hote dinner at a
little eating house kept by a widow on the quay. The cost of this dinner
was thirteen sous and they could not often indulge in such a luxury. As
time advanced things were getting more and more desperate. The Count
was so gloomy and despondent that Paul feared he would end his life
as he had threatened to do several times unless something turned up.
They were now indebted to the landlady for two weeks' room rent. She
had a very sharp tongue and used to fire a broadside at them every time
she would meet them. In passing her door while ascending or
descending, they generally removed their shoes as they did not wish to
disturb her ladyship for whom they entertained great respect. Things
continued to grow worse and worse until at last Paul spent the few last
sous they had on two small loaves and a herring. They did not have even
wood to fry the herring and were compelled to use the stump of a candle,
which remained, to cook it with. Before retiring that night, Paul
suggested to the Count the necessity of their trying to get some work,
to which the Count replied that he would prefer death any time to
the idea of going to work.
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