Although he seemed to be extremely aged
and feeble, he was chanting a sort of lament over his misfortunes, and
an appeal to the charity of travellers, in a loud, whining, yet vigorous
voice; promising his prayers to those who gave him of their substance,
and assuring them that they should surely go to Paradise as a reward for
their generosity. For some time before they came up with him, Isabelle
and de Sigognac had heard his doleful chant--much to the annoyance of
the latter; for when one is listening, entranced, to the sweet singing
of the nightingale, it is sorely vexatious to be intruded upon by the
discordant croaking of a raven. As they drew near to the poor old blind
man, they saw his little attendant bend down and whisper in his ear,
whereupon he redoubled his groans and supplications--at the same time
holding out towards them a small wooden bowl, in which were a few
coppers, and shaking it, so as to make them rattle as loudly as
possible, to attract their attention. He was a venerable looking old
man, with a long white beard, and seemed to be shivering with cold,
despite the great, thick, woollen cloak in which he was wrapped. The
child, a wild-looking little creature, whose scanty, tattered clothing
was but a poor protection against the stinging cold, shrunk timidly from
notice, and tried to hide himself behind his aged charge.
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