As an Englishman, of course, I felt strongly inclined to derisive
laughter. However, I merely said,--
"Well, what is to be done next?"
"The body must be removed, M'sieur!" he answered, with a touch of
severity, "at once!!"
"How?"
"A scavenger will remove it."
I stood silent. The idea repelled me. This thing that had been
petted and cared for by me for ten years, had slept at my side, and
often been held in my arms, now to be flung upon a dust heap, with
the rotting matter of a Paris street. The mind will not change its
associations so quickly. I looked at the man and said,--
"Can I not bury the dog somewhere myself?"
"I am afraid--I hardly know--" he said. "These are the rules,--that
all dead animals are taken by the municipality."
He spoke reluctantly now. His personal animosity against me was
evidently dead. Fortunate that I had not offended him earlier in the
interview; if I had, he would certainly now have dragged the dog
from me with every species of indignity and insult, and I could have
done nothing against him, armoured up as he was with the law. As
things stood, he was clearly on my side.
"Perhaps this gentleman," I said, indicating the master of the
hotel, "would let me purchase a piece of ground for a grave in his
courtyard. If so, would you allow me to bury the dog there?"
The master of the hotel, who saw now that after all there would be
no serious row with the police, nor discredit on his hotel, and
began to think his fury had been somewhat misdirected, hastened to
assure me that I need not consider the matter; that not only was a
portion, but the whole courtyard at my disposition, and not as a
purchase, but as a free gift, if M'sieur le Commissionaire
sanctioned the proceeding.
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