Perfectly secure from human audience, I acted my part before the garret-vermin.
Entering into its emptiness, frivolity, and falsehood, with a spirit inspired by scorn and impatience, I took my revenge on this "fat," by making him as fatuitous as I possibly could.
In this exercise the afternoon passed: day began to glide into evening; and I, who had eaten nothing since breakfast, grew excessively hungry.
Now I thought of the collation, which doubtless they were just then devouring in the garden far below.

(I had seen in the vestibule a basketful of small _pates a la creme_, than which nothing in the whole range of cookery seemed to me better).

A _pate_, or a square of cake, it seemed to me would come very _apropos;_ and as my relish for those dainties increased, it began to appear somewhat hard that I should pass my holiday, fasting and in prison.

Remote as was the attic from the street-door and vestibule, yet the ever-tinkling bell was faintly audible here; and also the ceaseless roll of wheels, on the tormented pavement.

I knew that the house and garden were thronged, and that all was gay and glad below; here it began to grow dusk: the beetles were fading from my sight; I trembled lest they should steal on me a march, mount my throne unseen, and, unsuspected, invade my skirts.