Volume VI Part 99 (2/2)

I left hi him to send me his man and a cup of coffee, chocolate, or broth, itseriously on his strange behaviour, and especially on the wretched tallow candle which was given me, while he had a wax taper My first idea was to leave the house ih I had only fifty ducats in h as when I was a rich hts I deter hinal , so I resolved to ask the hts This was iht be only a piece of knavery or stupidity on the part of the servant

Theto his taste or that of the cook This disgustedhihed I must have thrown the coffee in his face), that that was not the way to serve breakfast I then got ready to have ht hts

”Sir,” the worthy ave me; I received a wax taper for my master and a candle for you”

I was sorry to have vexed the poor fellow, and said no ht have taken a fancy to economise for the count's profit or his own I determined to question him on the subject

As soon as I was dressed I went out to walk off my bad humour I met the priest-steward, who had been to the locksmith He toldto fit my door with a padlock, of which I should have the key

”Provided I can lock my door,” I said, ”I care not how it's done”

I returned to the house to see the padlock fitted, and while the locksiven a tallow candle instead of one or tax tapers

”I should never dare to give you tapers, sir, without express orders fro would go without saying”

”Yes, in other houses, but here nothing goes without saying I have to buy the tapers and he pays me, and every tiive hts if I pay you for them?”

”Of course, but I think I must tell the count, for you know”

”Yes, I know all about it, but I don't care:”

I gave hihts, and went for a walk, as he toldback to the house at half-past twelve to be told that the count had been half an hour at table

I did not knohat to make of all these acts of rudeness; however, Ithat the abbe had told me dinner was at one

”It is usually,” replied the count, ”but to-day I wanted to pay so at noon You will have plenty of tiave orders for all the dishes that had been taken away to be brought back

I ood hu to touch those dishes which had been taken away He vainly asked me to try the soup, the beef, the entrees; I told him that I always punished myself thus when I ca e to accompany him on his round of visits He took me to Baron del Mestre, who spent the whole of the year in the country with his faood establishment

The count spent the whole of the day with the baron, putting off the other visits to a future ti we returned to Spessa

Soon after we arrived the priest returned theotten to inform him that I was to be treated as hiement for what it orth

Supper was served, and I ate with the appetite of four, while the count hardly ate at all