Part 8 (1/2)
”There! what do you think of him?” she cried; ”ain't he fine? You'd like to be as fresh and plump as that, wouldn't you?--but I wish you may get it!”
The nurse's action restored general good-humor and peace between the servants of the house of Grandvilain. Turlurette did not tire of kissing her master's child. As for Jasmin, he took a huge pinch of snuff, then seated himself at a table, and said:
”Yes, yes, everything is all right; we have a superb scion. And now, let us taste your wine, foster-father.”
Jacquinot made haste to fill the gla.s.ses, drink, and fill again; and Jasmin was as well pleased with the foster-father as with the nurse.
”But why did not monsieur le marquis and madame come themselves?” asked Nicole.
”Oh!” Turlurette replied with a sigh, ”my poor mistress isn't very well; when she tried to nurse the child, she didn't get along well, and now that she's given it up, she's worse than ever!”
”But I offered to take our Cherubin's place, in order to relieve my excellent mistress!” murmured Jasmin, tossing off a great b.u.mper of sour wine.
”Mon Dieu! Monsieur Jasmin, you're forever saying stupid things,” said Turlurette; ”the idea of madame feeding you.”
”Why not, when it was the doctor's orders? I once knew a lady who nursed several cats and two rabbits, because she had too much milk.”
”Oh! we've had enough of your stories!--In short, my mistress is very weak; she can't leave her room, or else she'd have come long ago to see her dear child; she talks about him all the time.”
”As for monsieur le marquis,” said Jasmin, ”he has the gout in his heels, which makes it very hard for him to walk. I suggested a way to do it, and that was to walk on his toes and not touch his heels to the ground; he tried it, but after taking a few steps that way, _patatras_!
he fell flat on the floor, and he has never been willing to try again.
But they sent us in their place, and never fear, we will make a good report of what we have seen. You have restored our son's life! You are excellent people! Here's your health, foster-father; your wine sc.r.a.pes the palate, but it isn't unpleasant, and it has a taste of claret.”
While Jasmin drank and chattered, Turlurette went to the carriage to fetch what her mistress had sent to the nurse. There were presents of all sorts: sugar, coffee, clothes, and even toys for Cherubin's foster-brothers. The room in which the peasants usually sat would hardly hold all that came out of the carriage. The little Frimoussets jumped and shouted for joy, and rolled on the floor, at sight of all those presents, and Nicole said again and again:
”Madame la marquise is very kind! but she can be sure that her son will eat all these nice things; my _gas_ won't touch 'em! Besides, they prefer pork.”
Jasmin enjoyed himself exceedingly with Jacquinot, and Turlurette was finally obliged to remind him that their masters were impatiently awaiting their return. The domestics bade the villagers farewell. They kissed little Cherubin again, but on the face this time, and returned to their master's carriage, which quickly took them back to Paris.
The marchioness awaited the return of her servants with the anxiety of a mother who fears for the life of the only child that Heaven has granted her. And despite his gout, Monsieur de Grandvilain dragged himself to the window from time to time, to see if he could discover his carriage in the distance.
Turlurette, who was young and active, ran ahead of Jasmin and entered the room with a radiant air; her face announced that she brought good news.
”Magnificent, madame! magnificent health! A superb child! Oh! no one would ever know him; he was so pale and thin when he went away, and now he's as fat and solid as a rock.”
”Really, Turlurette,” cried the marchioness; ”you are not deceiving us?”
”Oh! just ask Jasmin, madame; here he comes.”
Jasmin appeared, puffing like an ox, because he had tried to go upstairs as quickly as Turlurette. He walked forward, bowed gravely to his masters and said:
”Our young marquis is in a most flouris.h.i.+ng condition; I had the honor to kiss his posterior; I ask your pardon for taking that liberty, but he is such a lovely child and so well kept! I a.s.sure you that the Frimousset family is worthy of our confidence, and that we have only praise to give the nurse and her husband.”
These words filled the atmosphere of the hotel de Grandvilain with joy.
Cherubin's mamma promised herself that she would go to Gagny to see her son as soon as her health was restored, and Monsieur le Marquis de Grandvilain swore that he would do the same as soon as the gout should be obliging enough to leave his heels.
VI