Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 How the Bohemian Society Was Established
- Chapter 2 A Gift from the Gods
- Chapter 3 Love at Lent
- Chapter 4 Ali-Rodolphe, or A Turk by Necessity
- Chapter 5 Charlemagne’s Coin
- Chapter 6 Mademoiselle Musette
- Chapter 7 The Sands of Pactolus
- Chapter 8 What Five Francs Can Cost
- Chapter 9 Polar Violets
- Chapter 10 The Cape of Storms
- Chapter 11 A Bohemian Café
- Chapter 12 A Reception in Bohemia
- Chapter 13 The Housewarming Party
- Chapter 14 Mademoiselle Mimi
- Chapter 15 Donec Gratus
- Chapter 16 The Passage of the Red Sea
- Chapter 17 The Graces Adorned
- Chapter 18 Francine’s Muff
- Chapter 19 Musette’s Whims
- Chapter 20 Mimi’s Fine Feathers
- Chapter 21 Romeo and Juliet
- Chapter 22 Epilogue to Love
- Chapter 23 Only Young Once
- Appendix: Murger’s Preface
- Notes
Chapter 7 - The Sands of Pactolus
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 March 2024
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 How the Bohemian Society Was Established
- Chapter 2 A Gift from the Gods
- Chapter 3 Love at Lent
- Chapter 4 Ali-Rodolphe, or A Turk by Necessity
- Chapter 5 Charlemagne’s Coin
- Chapter 6 Mademoiselle Musette
- Chapter 7 The Sands of Pactolus
- Chapter 8 What Five Francs Can Cost
- Chapter 9 Polar Violets
- Chapter 10 The Cape of Storms
- Chapter 11 A Bohemian Café
- Chapter 12 A Reception in Bohemia
- Chapter 13 The Housewarming Party
- Chapter 14 Mademoiselle Mimi
- Chapter 15 Donec Gratus
- Chapter 16 The Passage of the Red Sea
- Chapter 17 The Graces Adorned
- Chapter 18 Francine’s Muff
- Chapter 19 Musette’s Whims
- Chapter 20 Mimi’s Fine Feathers
- Chapter 21 Romeo and Juliet
- Chapter 22 Epilogue to Love
- Chapter 23 Only Young Once
- Appendix: Murger’s Preface
- Notes
Summary
It was March 19th, and Rodolphe would never forget this date even if he lived to the ripe old age of M. Raoul-Rochette, who had personally witnessed the construction of Nineveh. For on this day, Saint Joseph's Day, at three o’clock in the afternoon, he made his way out of the bank where he had just taken possession of the sum of five hundred francs in cold hard cash.
The first thing Rodolphe did with this slice of Peru that had dropped into his pocket was to not pay his debts, although he did promise himself that he was going to live very frugally and not take on any more debt. His opinions on this matter were quite firm and he reasoned that before dreaming about luxuries, one had to take care of necessities. For this reason, he didn't pay any of his creditors, but he did purchase the Turkish pipe he’d long been coveting.
Armed with this new prize, he headed off to his friend Marcel's place, where he’d been staying for some time. As he walked into the studio, Rodolphe's pockets were ringing out like a village bell on a festival day. Hearing this unusual sound, Marcel thought it must be one of his neighbors, a market speculator, counting up his winnings. In a low voice, he grumbled, “It's that calculating neighbor of mine starting his counting rituals again. If this keeps up, I’ll give my notice and move. It impossible to get any work done with that racket going on. It's enough to make me consider giving up my role as starving artist and joining up with the forty thieves.” As he turned back to his painting of The Passage of the Red Sea, which had been on his easel for the last three years, it never crossed his mind that Rodolphe might have become as rich as Croesus.
Rodolphe, who hadn't yet said a word yet, was quietly plotting some fun with his friend. “Now we’ll have a good laugh,” he said to himself. “Oh my God, this’ll be good!” And he dropped a five franc coin onto the floor.
Marcel lifted his eyes and looked at Rodolphe, whose face was as serious as an article in the Revue des Deux Mondes.
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- Scenes of Bohemian Life , pp. 65 - 72Publisher: Anthem PressPrint publication year: 2023