Part 6 (2/2)
”I have one which should be excellent.”
”Fresh eggs?”
”Oh! as to eggs, I don't have any but fresh ones.”
”Well, that is all that we want; with lettuce and some of your best wine we shall dine very well, shall we not, mesdames?”
”Yes, but don't keep us waiting, for we are positively starving.”
”Never fear, mesdames, it will take but a moment.”
Master Bonneau returned to his staff.
”Look alive,” he said, tying his handkerchief around his waist, which he only did on great occasions; ”look alive, wife and girls, we have swells to feed, and we have nothing except the regulation rabbit stew, which unfortunately they don't want, and that infernal fowl which I roasted a week ago for a Jew who ate nothing but fresh pork, and which I haven't been able to do anything with since; I hope that it is going to be eaten at last. Goton, put it on the spit again; that will be the fifth time, I believe; but never mind, I will make a gravy with the juice of that beef _a la mode_, and it will be delicious.”
”Mon Dieu! what a horrible burn! This is the seventh potato that I have sc.r.a.ped on it.”
”Parbleu! you give me a happy idea: these grated potatoes are all cooked, put 'em aside, wife, and I will make a souffle for our guests.
You, Fanfan, run to the butcher and get some cutlets, and you, Marianne, go and buy some eggs, and come back and pick some lettuce. By the way, light me a candle, as quick as possible, and give me some wax, so that I can put seals on my bottles; that makes people think that the wine is better.”
Everyone set about executing Master Bonneau's orders, while he lighted his fires and turned up his sleeves with an important air, in order to heat water for the eggs; Goton put the unlucky fowl on the spit, praying heaven that it might be the last time; Marianne brought eggs and went out into the garden to pluck lettuce; and Madame Bonneau grated potato after potato, which she placed upon her burn, and then carefully collected in a plate, as her husband had directed, because a clever cook makes use of everything.
But Fanfan returned from the butcher's with sad news: ”there were no cutlets, because the mayor had bought the last that morning; but if they could wait a while, the shop-boy, who had gone to sharpen his knives, would come back, and they would kill a sheep.”
”The devil! this is mighty unpleasant,” said Master Bonneau, as he put his eggs in the water; ”well, I must go and consult with the company.”
The host entered the room where the ladies and the young man were beginning to get impatient for their dinner, while they laughed over the scene which their unexpected arrival had caused.
”Well, are we going to dine?” said Edouard when he caught sight of their host.
”Instantly, monsieur.”
”Your instants are very long, monsieur le traiteur.”
”I came to get your opinion on the cutlets.”
”What's that?”
”There aren't any just now at the butcher's; but the man is coming back, and he is going to kill a sheep; so if you will take a turn in the garden until they are cooked----”
”Parbleu! we should have to wait a long while! A pleasant suggestion that! We didn't come here to inspect your bed of lettuce.”
”Come, come, my dear, don't get excited,” said Adeline, laughing at the placidity of their host, and the irritation of Edouard, ”we will do without cutlets.”
”May I replace that dish with an excellent rabbit stew?”
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