Part 15 (1/2)

”We beg that you will do so. For my part, I am very curious to know how this little Grandvilain behaves himself. Oh! what a devil of a name! But no matter, I would gladly change with him now, if he would throw in his father's coin with the name.--What do you say, Monfreville? Oh! you are a philosopher; and besides, you are rich, which makes philosophy come very easy.”

Jasmin's arrival put an end to this conversation. The old servant bowed low to all the company, then said to the notary:

”Has monsieur any questions to ask me?”

”Yes, my dear Jasmin. I want first of all to hear about our young marquis.”

”He's very well, monsieur; he is in excellent health, and he's a very fine-looking boy.”

”That is well; and his studies?”

”Well! so far as I can learn, monsieur, he seems to be a great scholar.”

”Do you know, Jasmin, that your young master was sixteen more than six months ago?”

”Oh yes, monsieur, I know it very well.”

”Does he know the terms of his father's will?”

”Why, yes, monsieur.”

”I fancy that he is too sensible to think of entering into possession of his property yet; but for all that, it is my duty to go to him and render an account of my administration of it, and to ask him if it is his intention that I should continue to handle it. Moreover, I have long desired to see the young marquis, and I do not propose to postpone that pleasure any longer. At what college is he?”

Jasmin opened his eyes in dismay and looked toward the door.

”Don't you hear me?” continued the notary. ”I ask you to what college I must go to find Monsieur Cherubin de Grandvilain?”

”The model valet seems to me as if he were deaf,” said Darena, laughing at Jasmin's expression; while Monsieur de Monfreville, who had been scrutinizing the old servant closely, walked toward him and fastening his eyes upon him, said in a half-serious, half-mocking tone:

”Do you mean that you don't know what you have done with your young master?”

”Yes, yes!” replied Jasmin; ”monsieur le marquis is at Gagny.”

”At Gagny! Is there a college there?” demanded the notary.

”Gagny, near Villemonble. Oh! I know that place,” said Darena; ”it's a small village; there are some fine estates in the neighborhood, but not a restaurant in the whole region. I went there with two dancers from the Opera, and we could not even obtain a rabbit stew, the inevitable dish in the country. But there never was a college at Gagny; I don't even know of a boarding-school there.”

”Tell us, Monsieur Jasmin,” said the notary in a stern tone, ”where is young Grandvilain staying at Gagny?”

The old servant made up his mind and replied with an almost proud air:

”At his nurse's, monsieur.”

At those words the notary was speechless, Monfreville began to laugh, and Darena rolled about in his chair.

”At his nurse's!” repeated the notary at last. ”Is it possible, Jasmin, that the young marquis is still at his nurse's, at sixteen years and a half?”

”Yes, monsieur; but never fear, he is none the less well educated; I found a teacher for him, the village schoolmaster, Monsieur Gerondif, who teaches him all that it is possible to teach.”

Darena roared with laughter anew, when he heard the name of the tutor.