Part 34 (1/2)
”Parbleu! in the morning; but I consider them charming, myself. Listen, my little Cupids.”
The two peasants, who had no idea that they were the ones who were called Cupids, continued to urge their a.s.s forward; but Robineau overtook them again and stopped them.
”Listen, my children: you say that you live near La Roche-Noire?”
”Yes, monsieur.”
”Then of course you know the chateau?”
”Yes, monsieur.”
”Is it a fine chateau?”
”Oh! yes, monsieur, it's very fine! It's just like a prison--there's towers and barred windows!”
Alfred roared with laughter; but Robineau continued his examination.
”My friends, it is well that you should know that I am the new lord, the proprietor of that magnificent estate.”
The little peasants stared at him with a stupid expression, still plying their stick; and Alfred observed with a laugh:
”How strange; that doesn't seem to produce any effect at all.”
”My children,” pursued Robineau, ”you probably didn't understand what I said--I am the proprietor of La Roche-Noire.”
”Yes, monsieur, we understand. But they looked for you last night, monsieur.”
”They looked for me!--You see, messieurs, they expected me--I was sure of it!--Poor children! You had a fete all prepared, I suppose?”
”Oh! I don't know, monsieur; all I know is that a gentleman came to our place yesterday, and sung out that his master was coming and we must dance and enjoy ourselves because he'd treat us well. Then my brother and me, we went in front of the chateau to play the bagpipes, and we waited for the man as was going to treat us. But there didn't n.o.body come, and so our father, who was mad because we'd been to the chateau, he wouldn't give us no supper when we got home, and he said that would teach us to make fools of ourselves.”
”You shall have two suppers to-day, my children, I promise you, and your father shall see what kind of man I am! But you must do something for me. Just run ahead; you're not tired, you boys! You will reach the chateau before we do, and you must ask for Francois, my valet, and tell him I am coming. Go on; leave your a.s.s with me; I'll mount him and that will rest me a little. He isn't a very n.o.ble steed; but when one has been walking twenty-four hours, one takes what one finds.--Go on.”
The boys looked at each other and did not stir.
”Didn't you hear me?” asked Robineau.
”Yes, monsieur; but we can't leave our donkey with you like that; all you'd have to do would be to ride off on him and we'd never see you again!”
”What, you little rascals! you take your lord for a thief?”
”My dear Robineau,” said Alfred, ”these boys are quite right not to leave their a.s.s in your hands; for, after all, they don't know you, and you haven't the least idea how to play the _seigneur_. Do you suppose that all you have to do is to say: 'I am the man?'--Prove it; draw your purse; that's always the way to make people recognize you.”
”Ah! to be sure, I didn't think of that!” cried Robineau; and he immediately produced a five-franc piece and gave it to one of the small boys. The sight of the coin produced much more effect on the peasants than all the t.i.tles in the world. The elder consented to run on ahead to the chateau, and the younger allowed Robineau to ride the a.s.s, on condition that he himself should remain to drive him.
The a.s.s was a large, strong animal; he wore no saddle, so that the new landed proprietor was obliged to ride bareback, and in default of stirrups, to cling to the mane, confining his mount to a foot pace. But he sat proudly erect on the beast, requesting the boy not to make him go too fast, and Alfred declared that Robineau could not find a n.o.bler animal on which to make his entry into the chateau.
”I certainly shall not ride into the courtyard on the a.s.s,” said Robineau, ”but I am very glad to use him until we arrive there. You have kept me walking since yesterday noon, messieurs.--Don't urge the a.s.s, my boy, let him go quietly, I am not in such a hurry now; there will be no harm done if your brother arrives some time before us.”
Thereupon the little peasant fell back and left Robineau to guide the a.s.s as he chose. Alfred and Edouard could not help smiling whenever they glanced at the cavalier, who called to them from time to time: