Volume Ii Part 31 (1/2)
By way of compensation, the one engrossing subject of conversation in the neighborhood was the dinner given at Goldfish Villa. Pere Ledrux and Poucette repeated to the two friends what was said in Ch.e.l.les on that subject.
”It was a magnificent affair.”
”Besides the notable people from this region, there were lots of people from Paris, men especially, all of the best tone and of the most perfect refinement! Some smoked at dessert, but it was only to change the air.”
”They had things to eat that no one knew the names of, and wines to drink that looked like liqueurs.”
”There was a most beautiful porcelain service. A servant broke a plate on Monsieur Jarnouillard's head; but it did nothing but spoil his coat, which was spoiled already.”
”The master of the house nearly strangled eating fish.”
”Monsieur Luminot got a little tipsy.”
”Madame de Belleville changed her dress after the second course.”
”Madame Remplume was sick.”
”Monsieur Jarnouillard counted the different dishes of dessert--there were thirty-three.”
”They played cards and danced in the evening.”
”Monsieur Droguet fell while waltzing.”
”They played for infernally high stakes. Madame Droguet lost four francs at lansquenet. But Monsieur Antoine Beaub.i.+.c.hon won three at ecarte.”
”Everybody went away overflowing with admiration for Monsieur and Madame de Belleville.”
Such were the remarks which circulated through the village after the grand banquet. The names of the new owners of the villa were mentioned in Ch.e.l.les only with the most profound respect. Monsieur Remplume even went so far as to remove his hat when he pa.s.sed their house. And when Thelenie pranced through the village on horseback, people ran to their doors and windows to see her pa.s.s, crying:
”There she goes! there she goes! she rides like a dragoon!”
To be sure, there were some urchins who yelled: ”_A la chienlit!_” But those unseemly words were drowned by the applause and cheers.
Thelenie continued to gallop by Madame Dalmont's house; but Agathe, instead of watching her, left the window if she were sitting at it, determined that that lady should not have the satisfaction of scrutinizing her as she did before.
One afternoon, when Honorine was sitting alone under the great walnut tree by the roadside, she suddenly heard piercing shrieks not far away.
They evidently proceeded from a child's lips, and the young woman, thinking that someone might be in need of a.s.sistance, hastened down the hill, and saw, some two hundred yards away, a woman on horseback striking with her crop a small boy in whom Honorine instantly recognized the one who had stolen her cherries.
The appearance of a lady on the scene did not calm Thelenie's wrath; she continued to belabor the lost child, exclaiming: ”Ah! you won't stand aside when I tell you to look out, won't you? You make signs to show that you aren't afraid of me, and you make faces at me! You little blackguard, I'll teach you to know me and respect me!”
When he caught sight of Madame Dalmont, little Emile ran to her for protection, still making a great outcry, in which there was at least as much anger as pain.
The amazon would have ridden after him, but Honorine barred her way.
”Mon Dieu!” she said, ”what has this child done to you, madame, that you should punish him so severely?”
Thelenie eyed Honorine insolently as she retorted:
”What has he done to me? what business is it of yours? If I horsewhip him, it's because I choose to do it, and because he deserves it. What are you meddling for?”