Part 12 (2/2)

The schoolmaster's costume was rather severe, for it was supposed to be all black; the coat, trousers and waistcoat were in fact originally made of cloth of that color; but time had wrought such ravages upon them all, that it had often been necessary to apply patches upon each of those garments; and whether from carelessness on the part of the person who had made the repairs, or because black cloth was scarcer than any other color in the neighborhood, blue, green, gray, and even nut-colored pieces had been used to patch Monsieur Gerondif's coat, trousers, and waistcoat; so that he bore some resemblance to a harlequin; add to all this, socks and wooden shoes, and a generally dirty aspect, and you will have an idea of the individual who had been sent for to act as tutor to the young Marquis de Grandvilain.

As for what he wore on his head, we have not mentioned that, for the reason that Monsieur Gerondif never wore hat or cap, and that no one could even remember having seen him with any sort of head covering in his hand. He had an old umbrella, which boasted of but three ribs, beneath which our schoolmaster bravely sheltered his head when it rained, without fear that the old thing would collapse, because it was divided into several pieces.

The schoolmaster suffered terribly from chilblains and corns on his feet, so that he had been obliged to lean heavily upon Jacquinot's arm, which was doubtless the reason that Nicole's husband had announced that he had _brought_ Monsieur Gerondif. When he learned that he had been sent for on the part of Monsieur le Marquis de Grandvilain, the professor had not taken the time to remove his potatoes from the baker's oven, nor had he deemed it necessary to wash his hands, a task which he performed in fact only on Sundays and holidays.

Jasmin pushed his young master in front of him. Cherubin did not release Louise's hand, as if he still feared that they proposed to separate him from his dear companion. The old valet followed him, still holding his hat in his hand; Nicole walked behind; and they all went to receive the professor, who had halted on the threshold of the street door, sorely embarra.s.sed to know whether he should remove or retain his wooden shoes before presenting himself to the distinguished persons who had sent for him; at last he decided to appear in socks.

When he perceived the bald head of Jasmin, whose respectable costume had nothing about it to indicate the servant, Monsieur Gerondif rushed to meet him, smiling in the fas.h.i.+on best adapted to show his molars and his incisors, and saluted him with:

”Honor to whom honor is due! _Salutem vos._ Monsieur le marquis, I consider myself very happy to be before you at this moment.”

While Monsieur Gerondif made his complimentary address, bowing to the ground, Jasmin, who saw that the professor had made a mistake and had taken him for the marquis, hastily changed places with his young master; Cherubin did not release Louise's hand, so that when he raised his head, Monsieur Gerondif found himself with the two children in front of him; he thought that he had made a mistake, and pushed the little boy and his friend aside with little ceremony, to place himself once more in front of Jasmin, who was at the other end of the room, saying:

”Pardon the blunder; _errare humanum est._ I place myself at your commands, monsieur le marquis. I did not even take the time to finish my slight collation, in order that I might be instantly ready for your orders.”

While the schoolmaster was speaking, Jasmin once more left his place and stepped behind his master; Monsieur Gerondif seemed inclined to follow him into every corner of the room, when Nicole said laughingly:

”But you are making a mistake, Monsieur Gerondif; the marquis is my _fieu_, my foster-child, this pretty boy here.”

”And I am only his very humble servant, former valet to monsieur le marquis, his father, who deigned when he died to entrust the care of his heir to me,” said Jasmin, saluting Cherubin.

Monsieur Gerondif took the thing very well; he smiled anew and hastened to place himself in front of Cherubin, saying:

”I make my excuses _ut iterum_, and that does not prevent me from saying once more that I am the very humble servant of monsieur le marquis _junior_.”

”Not Junior! de Grandvilain,” said Jasmin solemnly.

”One does not prevent the other,” replied Monsieur Gerondif, with a sly smile, ”permit me to inform you, brave Eumaeus; for you remind me much of that virtuous and royal retainer of Ulysses, King of Ithaca. I do not know whether he was bald too--Homer does not say, but it is very probable. I am at the orders of Monsieur le Marquis de Grandvilain, who can now tell me what he wants of me instantly.”

The schoolmaster's long sentences, and the quotations with which he seasoned his discourse, produced the best effect upon Jasmin, who, like most fools, placed a high estimate on whatever he did not understand; so he nodded his head to the nurse, muttering:

”He is a learned man! a very learned man, in fact; he will do very well for us.”

As for Cherubin, who was not of his old servant's opinion, and who found Monsieur Gerondif very tiresome, he answered without hesitation:

”I don't want you at all; it was Jasmin who insisted on sending for you, to make me study--I don't know what! I am perfectly willing to learn, but Louise must stay with me during my lessons.”

Having said this, Cherubin abruptly turned his back on the schoolmaster; Louise did the same, laughing heartily at Monsieur Gerondif's nose; and the two children ran from the room, to return to the garden and eat more plums.

The others deemed it best to let them go, and Jasmin asked Monsieur Gerondif, with a respectful air, if he were willing to give lessons to his young master, who had learned nothing as yet, and to whom it was high time that some attention should be paid if they wished him to have any education.

Monsieur Gerondif received the proposal with delight; he shook Jasmin's hand warmly and said:

”Trust me, we will make up for lost time. I will make the young marquis work like a horse.”

”Oh, no!” cried the old servant, ”my young master is very delicate; he isn't used to studying and you will make him ill; you must go gently with him.”

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