Volume Ii Part 45 (1/2)
”I won't give a sou more than thirty!”
”Oh well! if that's so, give me back my hen this minute. Bless me! you want all for nothing, and even then you must make a profit; I ought to have known that I couldn't do business with you.”
”Because I don't allow myself to be taken in!”
”No, but you take other folks in!”
”Pere Ledrux!”
”Monsieur Jarnouillard!”
”No harsh words, I beg.”
”Give me back my hen!”
”Here she is. It isn't too late; thirty sous.”
”I'd rather eat her!”
Monsieur Jarnouillard walked away, leaving Pere Ledrux with his hen, which he looked at with an ill-humored air, then abruptly replaced under his jacket. Whereupon Beauregard, who had been much amused by the conversation that he had overheard, walked up to the peasant and said:
”I'll buy your hen!”
”You, monsieur,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the gardener, surprised by the offer of this fine gentleman, whom he had not previously observed.
”Yes, I; won't you sell her to me?”
”Oh, yes! indeed I will; but it seems sort of strange that you should buy her, because you don't look like a dealer in hens, or eggs.”
”In truth, that is not my business; but there must be a beginning to everything. I'll give you a hundred sous for your hen; does that suit you?”
”A hundred sous! pardi! I should think it did suit me! She's yours, monsieur.”
And the peasant made haste to offer the hen to Beauregard. But he, taking a five-franc piece from his pocket, handed it to Pere Ledrux, saying:
”Yes, a hundred sous, cash, and here it is; but on one condition.”
”What is it, monsieur?”
”That you will keep the hen at your place and take care of her.”
”Ah! monsieur leaves her with me as a boarder?” rejoined Ledrux, pocketing the five francs.
”Yes; does that displease you?”
”Not at all--just the opposite; I don't ask anything better. Monsieur can flatter himself that he's bought a splendid hen.”
”Does she lay often?”
”Well! that depends on the sun; there's times when she does. Shall I keep the eggs for monsieur, too?”