Volume III Part 54 (2/2)
roo-room with everybody else”
”If you want to see those ladies, that won't do, as they have ordered their supper to be brought up to theood tioing?”
”To Our Lady of Einsiedel to pay their vows”
”Where do they come from?”
”From Soleure”
”What are their naain, and thought how I could approach the fair one of o to Einsiedel, too? But what could I do when I got there? These ladies are going to et into the confessional What kind of a figure should I cut a the monks? And if I were towith hied an ambuscade and carried off my charmer It would have been an easy task, as she had nobody to defend her What if I were to pluck upthem to let me sup in their company? I was afraid of the three devotees; I should ed thatelse, as her physiogno been accustomed to read womens' characters by the play of their features
I did not knohich way to turn, when a happy idea caeand stayed there till the waiter went by I had hi a piece of gold into his hand I then asked hireen apron, as I wished to wait upon the ladies at supper
”What are you laughing at?”
”At your taking such a fancy, sir, though I think I knohy”
”You are a sharp fellow”
”Yes, sir, as sharp as et you a new apron The pretty one asked me who you were”
”What did you tell her?”
”I said you were an Italian; that's all”
”If you will hold your tongue I will double that piece of gold”
”I have asked your Spaniard to help le-handed, and supper has to be served at the saood; but the rascal h Let hi up the dishes, and leave them outside the door”
The waiter went out, and returned soon after with the apron and Le Duc, to whohed like a madman, but assured -knife, tied my hair in a queue, took off my coat, and put on the apron over old lace I then looked at h for the hted at the prospect, and thought to myself that as the ladies came from Soleure they would speak French
Le Duc ca upstairs I went into the ladies' room and said, ”Supper is about to be served, ladies”
”Make haste about it, then,” said the ugliest of theot to rise before day-break”
I placed the chairs round the table and glanced at my fair one, who looked petrified The waiter came in, and I helped him to put the dishes on the table, and he then said to o downstairs”
I took a plate and stood behind a chair facing the lady, and without appearing to look at her I saw her perfectly, or rather I saw nothing else She was astonished the others did not give lance, and they could not have pleased e her plate, and then did the same office for the rest: they helped the, I took a boiled capon and cut it up in a masterly manner