Mayeux le bossu Page #4

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It's a deal!

- Who were you talking to?

- A neighbor.

You lying toad! Buzzard! Pestilence!

There's no mistaking

that silhouette:
Lagardre!

Yes... no... stop!

- Out with it!

- He's the one...

Lived like vermin, died like vermin!

He was found in the street,

dead as you see him, my lord.

They killed him...

my grimacing little monkey.

Those swine!

It's one man's work.

A gang would have toyed with him,

stabbed him here and there,

pummeled him.

Here, a single thrust...

A signature!

I know! He's out there, not far.

I can feel it.

The thieves' quarter!

It's beautiful like the Gospels.

Here, cripples walk,

the blind see. Hey, Half-Pint!

Isn't it time for an explanation?

My time is short.

I'll explain, but quickly,

and it will hurt you, Aurore.

You seem so distant.

I'm not your father.

I'm the outlaw they're looking for,

Lagardre.

They say I slew a lord. False.

But I know who the killer is...

Turn.

No, too straight.

And you, turn... No, you stink.

A camel!

Is that a real hump?

Write your name and sign.

Write your name and sign.

Wait.

No, show them out.

Can you do bookkeeping?

To provide an estimate

of your great fortune

would require at least three days,

Your Grace.

Flatterer.

Living bent double,

fawning comes naturally.

And witty, too.

We crookbacks have two things

we use well:
our tongues and...

And what?

A certain thing

the ladies appreciate, Your Grace.

I like you, knave. I'll take him.

Keep your ears open,

report to me, note down my orders,

then go back

and dictate the market trend.

Then, I cash in.

Fine. And my wages?

Whatever you can steal is yours.

It's a deal?

Did Your Grace lose the other glove?

Mind your...

...own business. Indeed.

Those are Your Grace's terms.

Here are mine.

I lodge in town, eat in the kitchen,

have my own office,

and I take no orders from that man.

Your hand, Your Grace,

the deal is done.

I like him, but keep an eye on him.

A hump is a curse.

One is a hunchback for a reason.

Touch my hump, Your Grace.

A contract signed on my hump

means your profits will jump!

Good day, good day...

I love this house.

It's nobody's, so it's ours.

This ruin, a house?

The holes can be mended.

I can do the roofs, the floors,

even the plaster.

I want three children, all boys.

We'll live in the attic.

Children's dreams!

Marcello doesn't even have a trade.

Who said anything about Marcello?

You and I. The two of us.

I don't like your manner.

We must talk seriously.

You're not being serious.

Listen, Aurore...

Aurore de Nevers,

daughter to a duke,

heiress to 20 titles, chateaux,

earldoms, marquisats.

Me?

Aurore what?

Like the attack?

Like the attack!

Can't you be serious a moment?

If you're not my father

you still act the part.

We have to talk.

I lied to you all these years...

- For my own good, I know.

- No, you don't.

I thought your mother was dead.

Those years on the road...

I tried to replace her.

So I have a mother?

- You've seen her?

- I will, soon.

My mother.

I can speak and I can even write,

but there's a word

I've never pronounced,

which never even entered my mind:

Mama.

She loves you.

She's waiting for you.

- You'll regain your rank.

- My rank?

Good Lord! We're going to be rich?

You'll be rich. You!

No. We share, or here I stay.

I like poverty with you beside me.

I prefer Aurore-the-Nobody

to "Nevers" without you.

It's you I want!

To live with you!

You're a child.

I've sworn to restore you

to your world.

And I shall do so,

despite your silly fantasies.

Kiss me.

You think my heart is free?

A man of my mettle needs a mistress.

Ornella doesn't love you.

Not like I do.

It's not her.

It's someone in town...

Lovely, witty, a great lady.

- You're lying!

- She's a baroness.

A real baroness?

Certainly.

Well, I'm a duchess. Why should

I fear some old baroness?

She's cultured.

She must be a real hag:

beauty spots, mincing airs,

puckered mouth to speak twaddle.

A tart, a trollop!

No, she's clever and delightful.

My God, you betrayed me!

I hate you!

Get out of my life!

That's it, my love, hate me.

- Hunchback, a contract!

- No time! Excuse me!

I want to sell...

Buy, sell, enjoy yourselves.

What are you doing here?

How dare you?

I'll call the guards!

Wait!

Your daughter...

What about my daughter?

She lives.

The Chevalier de Lagardre sent me.

Her executioner.

Her savior.

Why have you come to torment me?

Is this another of Gonzague's

tricks, to drive me mad?

Leave me.

Your daughter lives.

But I daren't bring her here.

This is some treacherous pretense.

- I'm ringing...

- Don't!

At least give this miracle a chance.

It is Lagardre who begs you,

in memory of a certain letter...

"Your undying love weighs 8 lbs

and has emerald eyes."

But... how...?

I will bring you proof.

Heed me

if you wish to see Aurore.

So all this is supposed to be mine.

The bank, the house...

The whole street.

Why is she here?

Is this how you guard her, fools?

Look at me, you dunce!

Don't you recognize me?

It's our darling Half-Pint.

Holy herring! Isn't he ugly!

Why the masquerade?

I've been in the mansion.

- Do we tell the girl?

- Not a word.

Aurore must forget

Lagardre for now.

Run along home, my lovely.

Trust him. He's a good hunchback,

unlike others.

We know him well.

We just forgot the face.

I'm hungry.

You drink too much.

You have kind eyes.

They look familiar. Have we met?

You drink far too much.

Yes, when I'm sad.

Sad? A pretty girl like you?

My heart's broken.

I must forget that rake!

That rake wiped your bottom,

taught you your ABCs...

How do you know?

Your chaperones told me.

I love him, don't you see?

Why, it was him who...

I don't even exist.

Maybe he loves you, too.

More than he thought.

In a different way.

Maybe it's just dawning on him.

But he'll never say so.

But he has to!

"Maybe I love you, too, Aurore.

"Maybe it just dawned on me, too."

Why hide it?

Because he's poor...

He's older...

In 20 years I'll be his age.

Why are so many nice people ugly?

To provide some justice.

Beauty and goodness

don't go together.

You can be loved.

Women don't mind a hump

here and there.

It'd be wonderful if I could say

"I love you" and, presto:

Prince Charming!

But I'd still be in love with him.

There may be a way.

I know someone, a witch.

She can bring back love

with spells, magic words.

She must change a father's love

to a lover's love.

She works miracles.

But she needs personal objects,

jewels, lockets...

- Will mine do?

- Fine.

Lend it to me?

Sit up straight!

You're one to talk!

You're too trusting, Aurore.

Tomorrow you'll be a duchess,

and I'll be a mouse, a rag,

a pumpkin again.

Come here.

I'll go out the back way.

And watch it, you two!

If the bird flies the nest,

I'll have your hides!

Louis, come see.

Sir?

No, I beg you! I made a vow...

And I vowed to restore

the light to you.

Here she is.

Her name is Aurore.

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