Volume Ii Part 22 (1/2)
”Ah! that is something we didn't know. And what is the name of these people? Monsieur Luminot can't remember.”
”Their name--wait a minute; I heard what it was; it's near La Courtille.”
”Their name is near La Courtille! Really, I don't understand.--Well, Droguet, have you finished your pirouetting? I have zigzags before my eyes, it makes me see stars to watch him whirl round like that; when I married him I didn't get a husband, but a teetotum--nothing else!”
Madame Jarnouillard soon increased this amiable party by her presence.
”My compliments to the company,” she said; ”I came to inform you that the confectioner's estate is sold at last; but I'll wager that you all know it.”
”Yes, yes--we know it.”
”But no one can remember the purchaser's name.”
”Monsieur de Belleville.”
”That's it, yes, that's it; didn't I tell you it was in the outskirts of Paris?”
”Why, you didn't tell us so at all; Monsieur Belleville; that's a real name.”
”_De_ Belleville!”
”Is there a _de_?”
”Yes, they are n.o.bles.”
”It's to be hoped that they will be decently polite; that they will call on us, and not act like those minxes at the Courtivaux house.”
”Oh! there's no danger! On the contrary, it seems that the lady intends to give some gorgeous fetes, and invite the whole neighborhood!”
”Really! How do you know that so soon, Madame Jarnouillard?”
”Oh! because the last time the purchasers came in their carriage to inspect the property--that is to say, the lady came alone; no one has seen the husband yet--Jarnouillard, who happened to be pa.s.sing, led their coachman into conversation, in order to get some information.”
”That was an excellent idea, very prudent; in that way one finds out who people are. Did the coachman say anything more?”
”His masters are very rich; they live in the Chaussee d'Antin in Paris.”
”Oh, well! if they live in the Chaussee d'Antin, I have the very highest opinion of their morality!”
”And they are to take possession to-day?”
”So it is said.”
”Jarnouillard will take occasion to walk by the Goldfish Villa, and he will find out whether the new owners are there.”
”Really, Monsieur Jarnouillard is a most invaluable man for obtaining information!”
That same day, about two o'clock in the afternoon, a fine open caleche rumbled noisily through the little village of Ch.e.l.les. The coachman had received orders to crack his whip constantly, and he acquitted himself of that duty so zealously that the children shrieked and fled as he pa.s.sed, the hens had barely time to reach their dung-heaps, the dogs barked, and everybody ran to see what was happening.
On the back seat of the caleche sat Monsieur and Madame de Belleville.