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Judge Methuen； the interruption was a pleasant one。 ‘‘I was too busy last
evening；'' writes the judge； ‘‘to bring you this volume which I picked up in
a La Salle street stall yesterday。 I know your love for the scallawag
Villon； so I am sure you will fancy the lines which； evidently； the former
owner of this book has scribbled upon the fly…leaf。'' Fancy them？
Indeed I do； and if you dote on the ‘‘scallawag'' as I dote on him you also
will declare that our anonymous poet has not wrought ill。
FRANCOIS VILLON
If I were Francois Villon and Francois Villon I； What would it matter
to me how the time might drag or fly？ HE would in sweaty anguish toil
the days and nights away； And still not keep the prowling； growling；
howling wolf at bay！ But； with my valiant bottle and my frouzy brevet…
bride； And my score of loyal cut…throats standing guard for me outside；
What worry of the morrow would provoke a casual sigh If I were Francois
Villon and Francois Villon I？
If I were Francois Villon and Francois Villon I； To yonder gloomy
boulevard at midnight I would hie； ‘‘Stop； stranger！ and deliver your
possessions； ere you feel The mettle of my bludgeon or the temper of my
steel！'' He should give me gold and diamonds； his snuff…box and his cane
‘‘Now back； my boon companions； to our bordel with our gain！'' And；
back within that brothel； how the bottles they would fly； If I were
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
Francois Villon and Francois Villon I！
If I were Francois Villon and Francois Villon I； We both would mock
the gibbet which the law has lifted high； HE in his meagre； shabby
home； _I_ in my roaring den HE with his babes around him； _I_ with
my hunted men！ His virtue be his bulwarkmy genius should be mine！…
… ‘‘Go； fetch my pen； sweet Margot； and a jorum of your wine！
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
So would one vainly plod； and one win immortality If I were
Francois Villon and Francois Villon I！
My acquaintance with Master Villon was made in Paris during my
second visit to that fascinating capital； and for a while I was under his
spell to that extent that I would read no book but his； and I made journeys
to Rouen； Tours； Bordeaux； and Poitiers for the purpose of familiarizing
myself with the spots where he had lived； and always under the
surveillance of the police。 In fact； I became so infatuated of Villonism
that at one time I seriously thought of abandoning myself to a life of crime
in order to emulate in certain particulars at least the example of my hero。
There were； however； hindrances to this scheme； first of which was my
inability to find associates whom I wished to attach to my cause in the
capacity in which Colin de Cayeulx and the Baron de Grigny served
Master Francois。 I sought the companionship of several low…browed； ill…
favored fellows whom I believed suited to my purposes； but almost
immediately I wearied of them； for they had never looked into a book and
were so profoundly ignorant as to be unable to distinguish between a folio
and a thirty…twomo。
Then again it befell that； while the Villon fever was raging within
and I was contemplating a career of vice； I had a letter from my uncle
Cephas； apprising me that Captivity Waite （she was now Mrs。 Eliphalet
Parker） had named her first…born after me！ This intelligence had the
effect of cooling and sobering me； I began to realize that； with the
responsibility the coming and the christening of Captivity's first… born had
imposed upon me； it behooved me to guard with exceeding jealousy the
honor of the name which my namesake bore。
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While I was thus tempest…tossed； Fanchonette came across my
pathway； and with the appearance of Fanchonette every ambition to figure
in the annals of bravado left me。 Fanchonette was the niece of my
landlady； her father was a perfumer； she lived with the old people in the
Rue des Capucins。 She was of middling stature and had blue eyes and
black hair。 Had she not been French； she would have been Irish； or；
perhaps； a Grecian。 Her manner had an indefinable charm。
It was she who acquainted me with Beranger； that is why I never take
up that precious volume that I do not think； sweetly and tenderly； of
Fanchonette。 The book is bound； as you see； in a dainty blue； and the
border toolings are delicate tracings of white all for a purpose； I can
assure you。 She used to wear a dainty blue gown； from behind the nether
hem of which the most immaculate of petticoats peeped out。
If we were never boys； how barren and lonely our age would be。
Next to the ineffably blessed period of youth there is no time of life
pleasanter than that in which serene old age reviews the exploits and the
prodigies of boyhood。 Ah； my gay fellows； harvest your crops diligently；
that your barns and granaries be full when your arms are no longer able to
wield the sickle！
Haec meminisseto recall the old time to see her rise out of the dear
pastto hear Fanchonette's voice againto feel the grace of springtime
how gloriously sweet this is！ The little quarrels； the reconciliations； the
coquetries； the jealousies； the reproaches； the forgivenessesall the
characteristic and endearing haps of the Maytime of lifeprecious
indeed are these retrospections to the hungry eyes of age！
She wed with the perfumer's apprentice； but that was so very long ago
that I can pardon； if not forget； the indiscretion。 Who knows where she is
to…day？ Perhaps a granny beldame in a Parisian alley； perhaps for years
asleep in Pere la Chaise。 Come forth； beloved Beranger； and sing me the
old song to make me young and strong and brave again！
Let them be served on gold The wealthy and the
great； Two lovers on