Volume III Part 59 (2/2)
”Yes, if I see any prospect of its being a brilliant one, and if I have your approbation”
”You need have no doubts on that point, my dear fellow, and whatever you can't find in the shops co to spend a little ood plan, and overcomes many difficulties In the meanwhile you shall have two footmen, an excellent cook, a housekeeper, and whatever other servants you require The head of my household will pay them, and you can settle with him afterwards, he is a trustworthy man I will come now and then and take a spoonful of soup with you, and you shall rewardreat estee friend, her discretion is beyond her years, and the pledges of love you will obtain of her will doubtless increase your passion and your esteem Is she aware that I know all?”
”She knows that we are firlad of it, as she is sure that you will be discreet”
”She may count on my discretion She is really a delicious woman; I should have been teist, whoet ready the baths which were to cure inary coiven Le Duc orders to bringthe apart woman who came up toso, andto the household?” I said
”The aed me as your housekeeper”
”Pardon my surprise Takedown on the couch I begged her to sit beside me
”That is an honour,” said she, in the most polite and modest way, ”I cannot allow ood, but when I am alone I hope you will consent to take yourby myself”
”I will do so, sir”
”Where is your rooned to me, but you have only to speak if you wish me to sleep in another”
”Not at all; it will do very well”
Her room was just behind the recess in which reat display of dresses, and in an adjoining closet all the array of the toilette, linen in abundance, and a good stock of shoes and embroidered slippers Duhly satisfied hat I saw
Nevertheless I deterht herand her linen too extensive for her to be a mere servant All at once I was struck with the idea that it ht be a trick of the aed twenty-four or at the most twenty-five years, seemed to me more fitted to be my mistress than my housekeeper I therefore asked her if she knew the aes she was to receive She replied that she only knew M de Chavigni by sight, and that the steward had promised her two louis a month and her meals in her own room
”Where do you come from? What's your name?”
”I come from Lyons; I ahted to have you in ain”
She then leftwonified as her appearance I went down to the kitchen and found the cook, an honest-looking felloho told me his name was Rosier I had known his brother in the service of the French ambassador at Venice He told me that supper would be ready at nine o'clock
”I never eat by myself,” said I
”So I hear, sir; and I will serve supper accordingly”
”What are your wages?”
”Four louis a month”