Volume III Part 36 (1/2)
”Very good; but I shall stay here all the sairl for not having told him of an opening packets of stockings for s, vests, and silk drawers, and I turned one packet over after another, looking at the down as fresh as a rose and as bright as a lily She sized for the disorder of her dress, and thankedmy word
”I never breaklady is concerned!”
Madaht, and an exquisite figure; without being classically beautiful, a Raphael could not wish to depict a e and brilliant Her drooping eyelids, which gave her sowhiteness of her co air hich she listened to as being said, her silvery voice, the sweetness and sparkling vivacity of her manner, her lack of conceit, or rather her unconsciousness of the power of her char about this masterpiece of nature made me wonder and admire; while she, by chance or vile monetary considerations, was in the power of Baret, who, pale and sickly, thought a good deal iven him--a treasure of which he was all unworthy, since he could not see its beauty nor taste its sweetness
I chose stockings and vests to the amount of twenty-five louis, and I paid the price without trying to cheapen theured well for h I could not expect to do much while the honeyive her six francs if she would bring the packet to my house, and so I left theave him six francs to hand over to his servant, but he hinted that he was not too proud to keep thereed, and at hisood profit in what he had sold me; but I wanted to stand ith hi dust into his eyes So while I resolved that the servant should not be a loser I gave the husband a good reception that I ht the better ht to hiht his wife
”She wanted ht be offended”
”Not at all, I should have been delighted I think your wife a char wo, she's young”
”I don't think that's any objection; and if she cares for the walk, bring her with you another time” He said he should be very pleased to do so
When I passed by the shop in e I blew kisses to her with my hand, but I did not stop as I did not want any s Indeed, I should have been bored with the crowd of fops hich the shop was always full She began to be a topic of conversation in the town; the Palais Royal was full of her; and I was glad to hear that she kept to herself as if she had richer prey in view That told ht be the preyto be captured
So, and beckoned to ies told me that he wanted me to be the first to see a new fashi+on in breeches he had just got in The breeches were parti-coloured, and no man of fashi+on would be seen without the man As they had to fit exactly, I told hi to pay in advance ”We have theo up to ood opportunity and I accepted, especially when I heard hio and help an to undress, apologizing for doing so before her
”I will fancy I am your valet,” said she, ”and I will help you”
I did not ave hercare, however, to keep on my drawers, lest her modesty should receive too severe a shock This done she took a pair of breeches, drew them on me, took them off, and tried on others, and all this without any impropriety on either side; for I had determined to behave with discretion till the opportunity came to be indiscreet
She decided that four pairs fitted ave her the sixteen louis she asked, and told her I should be delighted if she would bring them herself at any time when she was at leisure She cae of business, and Baret said that next Sunday he and his ould have the honour of bringing me my purchase
”I shall be charmed, M Baret,” said I, ”especially if you will stay to dinner”
He answered that having an iement for two o'clock he could only accept on the condition that I would let hio at that time, and he would return at about five to fetch his wife I found the plan vastly to my taste, but I kne to conceal h I should lose the pleasure of his society, he was free to go when he liked, especially as I had not to go out myself before six
I looked forward to the Sunday, and the tradesman and his wife did not fail me As soon as they arrived, I told my servant to say ”Not at home” for the rest of the day, and as I was impatient to knoould happen in the afternoon I had dinner served at an early hour The dishes were exquisite, and the wines delicious The good man ate much and drank deeply, indeed to such an extent that in coed to remind hi sharpened with chaht occurred to hio home by herself, if he were kept later than five; and I hastened to add that I would take her hoe
He thankedpunctual to his appoint, and that the fare had been paid He went off, and I foundtill six o'clock
As soon as I heard the hall door shut on the kind husband, I said to his wife,
”You are to be congratulated on having such a kind husband; with a man like that your happiness is assured”
”It is easy to say happiness, but enjoying it is a different thing My husband's health is so delicate that I can only consider myself as his nurse; and then he contracted heavy debts to set up in business which oblige us to observe the strictest economy We came here on foot to save the twenty-four sons We could live on the profits of the business, if there were no debts, but as it is everything goes to pay the interest, and our sales are not large enough to cover everything”
”But you have plenty of customers, for whenever I pass I see the shop full of people”
”These custoates, who come and make my head ache with their jests They have not a penny to bless theht for fear of their hands wandering If we had cared to give theo I am rude to them, in the hopes that they may leave me alone, but it's of no use
Their i When my husband is in I retreat to ed to put up with the ed to pay our worked to dismiss them, as we shall soon have to ot to pay six hundred francs, and we have only got two hundred”