Volume Ii Part 25 (2/2)
”Where is monsieur, pray?”
”We do not know, madame.”
”What on earth does this mean? I told him to be ready at two o'clock, and it's after two. Probably he hasn't finished dressing. Go and tell him to hurry. I am waiting.”
The maid went up to monsieur's apartment. In a moment she returned and said:
”Monsieur is not in his room, madame, but he must be dressed, for I saw on the chairs the clothes he had on this morning.”
”He is dressed, and yet he is not here! Really Monsieur de Belleville is becoming insufferable; always having to be hunted for! Can it be that he is a prisoner again in--you know, the place where he was yesterday? Let someone visit all the toilet-rooms in the house; then, if monsieur is there again, we shall find him.”
The servants executed their mistress's orders; meanwhile Thelenie stepped into the caleche, murmuring impatiently:
”Mon Dieu! what an idiot I have married! but after all, he is just what I needed.”
The servants returned, having visited all the most secret corners of the house and failed to find their master. This time it was certain that he was not in the house. They were about to look for him in the garden, when he suddenly appeared in the distance, drenched to the skin, with his hair glued to his face, and covered with mud from head to foot.
”Oh! monsieur! what a sight you are!” cried Thelenie; ”where have you been, then? Don't come near me; you are disgusting.”
”I am dripping wet, it's true. I fell into the pond, my dear love. You know, we have a fine pond on our place.”
”Yes, monsieur, I do know it; but I should say that it was visible to the naked eye, and that it can hardly be mistaken for a lawn in broad daylight.”
”And so, madame, I saw perfectly well that it was a pond.--I was dressed before the time, for I did not want to keep you waiting; and, seeing that I had a few minutes to spare, I walked about our magnificent gardens. I spied the pond--I didn't see it yesterday; I went close to it and looked in. What did I see? red, cherry-colored, orange fishes! It was a fascinating sight; I was dazzled. I saw one that gleamed so that its scales seemed to be gold! Faith, in my curiosity to see him nearer, I leaned over to catch him; he slipped through my fingers; I leaned over farther, and _pouf!_ I fell in among the fish and came near drowning; there's a lot of water there!”
”Oh, no! monsieur--only two feet and a half.”
”Three feet, madame; and then, the fish blinded me; I couldn't find the bank. However, I succeeded in getting out.”
”And in a pretty state! You don't expect to come with me in that condition, I take it?”
”No, madame; I am going to change.”
”Make haste. What an idea, to try to catch one of those fis.h.!.+ Really, monsieur, you are worse than a child!”
”Ah! I have no luck in this place.”
”Go, quickly, and change your clothes.”
Chamoureau went up to his room. He was obliged to make an entire change.
However, as he had but one black coat and his wife had told him to dress in black, he had no choice but to put that one on again; but he wiped it so carefully and rubbed it with so many towels, that it was soon in condition to be worn, and indeed was as glossy and s.h.i.+ning as a new one.
Chamoureau entered the caleche, but, although he was well cleansed, madame required him to sit opposite her, not by her side. She found that he retained from his bath an odor of goldfish which made her sick.
They drove first to Madame Droguet's; she was at the head of the list which Thelenie consulted.
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