Volume I Part 69 (2/2)

”Oh! excuse me, mademoiselle, but I consider no trees good that do not bear good fruit and in large quant.i.ty. The linden bears nothing--oh, yes! they do make an infusion of the leaves, but you can buy a great quant.i.ty for two sous! As a general rule, the land hereabout is poor; it's very stony.”

”That being so, why did you come here to live, monsieur?”

”Oh! as a matter of business, you know. I still do a little something.

When I can accommodate people, I never refuse, although it's very dangerous, they are all so tricky!--There's a piano which certainly was not here in Monsieur Courtivaux's time. Are you ladies fond of music?”

”Very, monsieur.”

”It's very nice for people who have nothing to do. My wife used to play the guitar a little, but I put a stop to it; she broke too many strings; and then, when a woman wants to look after her housekeeping, she must give up music. I said to her: 'My dear love, you must choose: if you keep on playing the guitar, your dishes will be badly washed.'--She realized the force of that reasoning, and the instrument was sold.”

”That does credit to your good wife, monsieur, but everybody hasn't so p.r.o.nounced a fondness for was.h.i.+ng dishes; my friend and I are not conscious of a vocation for that--are we, Agathe?”

The pretty blonde smiled at her friend, and Monsieur Jarnouillard regarded Agathe for some moments.

”Is mademoiselle related to you?”

”No, monsieur, she is my friend.”

”Ah! I see--her parents placed her in your care?”

The two ladies, who were beginning to be annoyed by their visitor's questions, thought fit not to answer; but their silence did not deter him.

”Is mademoiselle an orphan?--I beg pardon, I ask that because, as a general rule, it is well to be informed. For example, mademoiselle is naturally in the matrimonial market; well, when one knows the antecedents, the social position, the means, one may be able to propose a suitable match, and----”

”If I ever marry, monsieur,” said Agathe, ”it will be according to my own taste, and not by the interposition of strangers.”

”We can't tell, mademoiselle, there's no knowing. I have arranged several marriages; they didn't turn out well, it is true, but one can never answer for results.--Really, you are very comfortable here, it is quite elegant. Let us see the other rooms.”

And the gentleman rose and was about to walk into an adjoining room; but Honorine closed the door, observing somewhat curtly:

”Pardon me, monsieur, but that room is not arranged yet, and no one can go in.”

”Oh! that makes a difference; some other time then. I must go home, for I am afraid my wife has forgotten to skim her stew.”

”That would be surprising on the part of a person who washes dishes so well.”

”Mesdames, I renew my compliments; enchanted to have made your acquaintance. My wife will come to see you soon; we do not often entertain, because our house is very small, but we are pleased to accept invitations. We are not ceremonious people, who keep a strict account of calls, like Madame Droguet for example; she is terrible for that! We do not insist at all that people shall come to see us, but when we are invited to dinner, we can be relied upon to come.--Mesdames, I have the honor.”

Honorine escorted the visitor to the door, and bowed, but did not utter a word. As soon as he had disappeared, Agathe cried:

”Oh! what a horrid man! so inquisitive and presuming! He has a bad word for everything.”

”You see, Agathe, that, as compared with Monsieur Jarnouillard, we are driven to regret Monsieur Luminot!”

”That is so; he may be a fool, but he hasn't such a nasty, sneering way.

Mon Dieu! if Madame Jarnouillard is like her husband, she must be perfectly ghastly!”

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