Volume Ii Part 3 (1/2)
”I have tried, without success; he defies punishment, he is insensible to entreaties; he has a most intractable disposition. If age and common sense do not change him, he will be a detestable man.”
While conversing thus they had reached Ch.e.l.les, and as they entered the village they met Monsieur and Madame Droguet, accompanied by Monsieur Luminot and Doctor Antoine, who were going for a walk in the country.
When she espied the new sojourners at Ch.e.l.les arm-in-arm with the owner of the Tower, Madame Droguet nearly fell backward; she stepped on the feet of Monsieur Luminot, her escort, saying:
”Great heaven! just look! what does this mean?”
On his side the former dealer in wines dug his elbow into Monsieur Droguet's ribs.
”On my word!” he exclaimed; ”will you look! this is surprising!”
Thereupon Monsieur Droguet, always ready to dance, made a pirouette which brought him nose to nose with the doctor, crying:
”What is it that's so surprising? what's the matter? why did Luminot say that?”
As for the doctor, having no one to attack, he contented himself with bowing to Honorine and Agathe, although his face betrayed the surprise he felt at meeting them in the company of Paul and his dog.
Monsieur Luminot also bowed. Pere Droguet was on the point of following their example, but his wife suddenly caught his arm.
”Well, monsieur, what are you going to do?” she demanded; ”can you think of such a thing as bowing to people who have never been to call on me since they have lived in the neighborhood? It's very uncivil of them! I have a very poor opinion of those women; and they're hardly settled here before they go about with that ill-licked cub, that Monsieur Paul who also has treated us all very rudely! That was all that was necessary to confirm my opinion concerning those women. Let us go on, messieurs; forward, march! You see, that wretched fellow didn't even bow to us.”
”The ladies bowed,” said Monsieur Luminot.
”Because you bowed first; it would have been very pretty if they hadn't returned your bow! Come, Monsieur Luminot, let us go on, I beg; do you propose to remain in admiring contemplation before the skirts of those ladies?”
And Madame Droguet, having given her husband a push to make him go forward, dragged Monsieur Luminot and the doctor away, and almost made them run.
”Oh! what a strange woman!” cried Agathe with a laugh; ”what eyes she made at us! Did you see, Honorine? One would say she wanted to turn us to stone.”
”Doubtless that is Madame Droguet, whom Doctor Antoine has often mentioned to us.”
”And that little slim man who stands on one leg when he looks at you is probably her husband.”
When the ladies reached their house, Honorine took her arm from her escort's, saying:
”This is our modest abode; would you not like to come in a moment and rest, monsieur? I must have fatigued you terribly.”
”I thank you, madame,” Paul replied, bowing, ”but I will continue my walk.”
”Oh! do come in a moment, monsieur,” said Agathe; ”see, your good dog seems to invite you; he has already gone in.”
Paul's only reply was to call his dog which quickly returned to his side; then he hurried away, after saluting the ladies.
”What a strange man!” murmured Honorine.
”All the same, my dear love, we were very lucky to meet him; and he doesn't frighten me at all now. Do you still think that he has a terrifying look?”
”No, oh, no! but he went away very abruptly.”