Paris: The Novel

late twenties who must, Thomas guessed, be his daughter.
    “I’ll go and say
bonjour
to her,” said Luc.
    “You can’t do that. She’s with Monsieur Ney,” Thomas cried. But Luc was already on his way.
    Thomas watched, not knowing what to do, as Luc very politely took off his boater and bowed to Édith. He saw her say something to Ney, and then saw Luc bow to the lawyer and his daughter too. Then he saw Luc say something else, after which they all turned to look at him. Luc was smiling, indicating that he should advance.
    When Thomas reached them, after a polite smile to Édith, he was careful to make a deeply respectful bow to Monsieur Ney.
    “It is a great honor, monsieur, that you should visit the tower where I work.”
    “I told Monsieur Ney that you had promised to introduce me to Monsieur Eiffel if he comes by,” said Luc. “And Monsieur Ney said that he hoped you would introduce him too.”
    Thomas stared at his little brother, dumbfounded. He, a humble worker, was to introduce the rich lawyer to Eiffel? But he saw to his further amazement that Ney was smiling with amusement. Obviously this charming fifteen-year-old boy in a straw boater could get away with things that Thomas himself could not.
    “Of course, monsieur,” he said, wondering how on earth he was to do such a thing.
    “Do you know my daughter, Mademoiselle Hortense?” the lawyer asked.
    “Mademoiselle.” Thomas bowed again.
    One could see the likeness at once. The same long, pale face, narrowbody, slightly fleshy lips. To his surprise, he found the combination strangely sensual, and though of course he gave no outward sign, he wondered whether she had sensed it. She was dressed in pale gray. It occurred to him that the dress Édith was wearing might be an old one of hers. She did not smile, but observed him coolly.
    Ney turned to Luc.
    “And what do you do, young man?”
    “I work mostly at the Moulin de la Galette on Montmartre, monsieur. But I run errands for people and perform services for them.”
    “What sort of services?”
    Luc smiled, and paused for just a split second.
    “It depends what they ask, monsieur,” he answered quietly.
    The lawyer looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, and Thomas had the sense that, in some way that lay outside his own experience, Monsieur Ney and his little brother understood each other perfectly.
    He still hadn’t said a word to Édith, and was just turning to do so, when Luc nudged his elbow.
    “There is Monsieur Eiffel,” he said.
    He was walking by, not ten yards away. Thomas took a deep breath, and went quickly over to him.
    “Ah, young Gascon. I hope you are enjoying yourself.” The tone was friendly, but indicated that he was busy. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
    “Monsieur, I have my brother here, but also an important lawyer we happen to know, who wishes to be introduced to you.” He looked pleadingly at Eiffel. “His name is Monsieur Ney. I am only a workman, monsieur, and I don’t know how to do such a thing.” He indicated the Neys to him.
    A glance at the lawyer told Eiffel that this was a man who might be useful. Besides, it was his day to work the crowd. Placing his hand on Thomas’s shoulder in the most pleasant way, he went over with him.
    “Monsieur Ney, I believe. Gustave Eiffel, at your service.”
    “Monsieur Eiffel, may I present my daughter, Hortense.”
    The great man bowed over the hand she offered him.
    “Monsieur Gascon here has worked for me since the days when we built the Statue of Liberty,” said Eiffel with a smile. “We are old friends.”
    “And this is Mademoiselle Fermier,” said Ney in return, “whose aunt is my most trusted assistant.”
    Eiffel bowed to Édith.
    “Are you by any chance connected to the great Marshal Ney, might I ask?” Eiffel inquired.
    “Another branch, but the same family,” said the lawyer.
    “You must be very proud of him,” suggested Eiffel.
    “I am, monsieur. His execution was a stain upon the honor of France. I visit his grave and lay a wreath each year.”
    After the fall of the great emperor Napoléon, the royalists had sentenced Marshal Ney to be executed. He had faced the firing squad bravely, pointing out that he failed to see that it was a crime to command French troops against the enemies of France. Most Frenchmen agreed, and he had since been interred with every honor in the cemetery of Père Lachaise.
    They spoke briefly about the progress of the tower. Eiffel said that he hoped to welcome