Volume Ii Part 46 (1/2)
”Here's five francs more for the first outlay; for, from what you tell me, I see that it costs a great deal to feed her.”
The old peasant put the second five-franc piece in his pocket, saying:
”But I'll take such good care of her! You won't know her after a little while. If monsieur would like to come to our house to see where I live----”
”Yes, but first, you must show me Madame de Belleville's place.”
”That's easy; we get there by turning to the right.”
”And on the way, you will tell me what houses are to let here.”
”I say! is monsieur coming to live at Ch.e.l.les, too?”
”Perhaps--for a short time.”
”Our village is getting to be mighty fas.h.i.+onable; we've got lots of fine folks from Paris. But I can't think of any houses to let.”
”If I cannot get a house, I will be content with a room--at some farmer's; I am not hard to suit, I simply want to be in the country air.”
”If monsieur ain't hard to suit, we can find that, I guess. Pardi! a room--why I've got one myself I could let you have. I could sleep in my loft--it's all one to me.”
”Well, Pere Ledrux, we will look at your room; but show me first the house of these 'fine folks,' who give a party this evening.”
”In a minute, monsieur; we go this way.”
As Beauregard and the old peasant were starting, Monsieur Jarnouillard appeared at a bend in the road, shouting:
”Five sous more, Pere Ledrux; come, I'll give you thirty-five sous for your hen.”
”Not likely!” retorted the gardener with a shrug. ”You wouldn't take her for four francs just now! I'm glad you didn't! it will teach you to haggle.”
XVII
RECOGNITION
On that same morning preceding the fete she was to give, Thelenie, desirous to escape for a moment the turmoil that reigned in her house, and still anxious to learn whom the dog belonged to who had defended the little boy when she attempted to chastise him, had ordered her horse saddled, and, leaping upon him with the fearless grace of a circus rider, galloped away in the direction of the Tower.
In a very short time the intrepid equestrian reached her destination.
She skirted the park walls, then slackened her horse's pace in order to examine the house, of which she could see the turret.
”How old and gloomy the place looks!” she said to herself. ”The man who lives here must, in fact, be nothing better than a bear, a person who has no friends to entertain--for no one would ever come to see him. He is probably some old miser, or some newly-rich tradesman who knows nothing of society. But whoever he may be, I propose to inform the owner of this place that he has a very badly bred dog, that bites horses; and that, if he doesn't muzzle him, I will have him shot the first time I fall in with him. I am curious to see what answer this man will make, who, they say, is such a savage. Such manners don't frighten me.--Mon Dieu! is there no end to this park? Ah! there's a gate, at last!”
Thelenie dismounted and rang a loud peal at the gate. An old, decrepit peasant woman answered the bell and asked her what she wanted.
”Is the owner of this place at home?”
”Monsieur Paul?”