Part 8 (2/2)
”But he must judge our dispute,” said Bonneau.
”And he must judge this fowl,” said Edouard with a laugh.
”Oho! there's a fowl in it, is there?” said the servant; ”oh, well! that makes a difference; I will go and tell monsieur that it is about a fowl, and that he must attend to it.”
The servant went to her master, and explained the matter so fully that the mayor, understanding nothing about it, decided at last to leave his guests for a moment, and to go to his audience room.
In those days, the mayor of the village was not a genius; he had just had a summer-house built at the foot of his garden; and as he was delighted with that little building, the idea of which he himself had conceived, and which he seemed to fear that people would think that he had seen somewhere else, he had caused to be written over the door: ”This Summer-House was Built Here.”
Profound silence reigned in the a.s.semblage when the mayor appeared.
”Where is the fowl which is the subject of dispute?” he asked gravely.
”Monsieur le maire, it isn't a fowl simply, it is a dinner that they refuse to pay me for,” said Master Bonneau, stepping forward.
”A dinner! That's a matter of some consequence! Did they eat it?”
”No, monsieur,” said Edouard, ”and you see in this fowl a specimen of it.”
”Examine the bill, monsieur le maire, and you will see that it is perfectly fair.”
”Let us see the bill--fresh eggs----”
”They were hard.”
”Never mind, he who breaks the gla.s.ses pays for them; consequently he who breaks the eggs ought to pay for them.”
”Rabbit stew----”
”We found a cup-and-ball in it.”
”That doesn't concern the rabbits. Besides, cup-and-ball isn't capable of turning the sauce sour.--Let us go on: a capon----”
”Here it is, monsieur le maire; just feel it and smell it.”
The mayor motioned to Fanfan to approach; but the little scullion, abashed at the sight of so many people, held the plate forward with a trembling hand, and the fowl rolled on the floor.
The so-called capon made a sound like that of a child's drum when it falls to the ground.
”Oho! it seems a little dry,” said the mayor, examining it.
”That's because it was brought here in the sun,” said Bonneau; ”that burned it just a bit.”
”Pardieu! I have my friend the notary here, who is a connoisseur in capons, so his wife tells me. I will get him to give me his opinion.”
The mayor opened the door, and called the notary, who was dining with him, to come and pa.s.s judgment on the capon. Edouard and his wife were beginning to lose patience; they divined from what the judge had already said to them that they would have to pay the rascally inn-keeper; and that worthy also antic.i.p.ated a victory; he stared at them insolently, then turned with a smile toward the peasants, who were eagerly awaiting the moment when they could make sport of the fine gentleman and fine ladies from Paris, which is a great source of enjoyment to peasants.
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