Part 17 (1/2)
The two young people were greatly surprised when the professor and Jasmin suddenly appeared in the midst of their open-air repast.
”We were looking for you, attractive youths,” said Monsieur Gerondif; ”we were perturbed in spirit. The adventure of Pyramus and Thisbe has been running in my head; I have mistaken every dog I met for a lioness.
I am well aware that my pupil has no inclination to fly, like the young a.s.syrian, with any Thisbe; but anyone may make a false step.”
”Tell me, why did you come to look for us?” said Cherubin; ”I have time enough to study, I should think. I know enough already. Is anyone sick?
Has anything happened, that Jasmin comes with you?”
Monsieur Gerondif seemed struck by a sudden thought; he glanced at Jasmin and said:
”In truth, my n.o.ble pupil, there has been an accident--not at all serious, I trust. Your nurse's oldest son has hurt himself; he is at Montfermeil--he has written; and Nicole would like to have Louise go to him at once; she will come too very soon.”
”We'll go with Louise,” said Cherubin.
”No, we had better go back to poor Nicole, who is in grief--she doesn't know where to go for a doctor. Louise can go to Montfermeil alone; you can see the first houses from here.”
”Oh, yes! yes! I will be there in a few minutes,” said Louise; ”but where is dear mother Nicole's son?”
”At Madame Patineau's, on the main street. Here, here is her address, and a line for her.”
Monsieur Gerondif scrawled a few words in pencil, wherein he requested the lady to whom he was sending the girl to keep her at her house, and not to let her go until she was sent for. The girl took the note, bade Cherubin adieu and ran off toward Montfermeil. The professor rubbed his hands and glanced at Jasmin, who said to himself:
”I should never have thought of that.”
They returned to Gagny; as they approached the square, they saw a carriage stop and a gentleman alight: it was Monsieur d'Hurbain, the notary.
”Here's a visitor for you,” said Jasmin to his master. ”This gentleman is your notary, in whose care your venerable father placed his testament.”
”And it was to prevent your attention being distracted so that you might receive some gentlemen who are coming from Paris to see you, that we sent little Louise to Montfermeil,” said Gerondif with a smile.
”What? the accident to Nicole's son----”
”Was all a joke.”
Before Cherubin had time to reply, Monsieur d'Hurbain came up and bowed low to him. The notary's solemn manner made an impression on the young man, who faltered a few words in reply to the flattering remarks that were addressed to him. They walked toward the nurse's house, and for the first time Cherubin had a feeling of something like shame when the notary said:
”What, monsieur le marquis, is this where you are studying? You are sixteen and a half years old, you belong to a n.o.ble family, you have a handsome fortune, and you pa.s.s your life beneath the roof of these village folk! I honor the laboring man, I esteem all honest persons, but everyone should keep to his own rank, monsieur le marquis, otherwise society would fall into confusion and anarchy; and there would no longer be that desire to rise, to succeed, which, by implanting in men's hearts a praiseworthy ambition, makes them capable of n.o.ble efforts to attain the end at which they are eager to arrive.”
”Bravo! _recte dicis!_” cried Monsieur Gerondif, smiling at the notary; ”monsieur talks now as I used to talk.”
Cherubin blushed and did not know what to reply. Monsieur d'Hurbain continued his efforts to make the young man listen to reason, displaying the utmost amiability and suavity in his arguments. He was careful, however, to dwell on the marquis's rank and wealth, and he always ended with these words:
”You agree with me now, do you not, and you are coming back to Paris with me?”
But Cherubin, although he seemed to listen with great deference to the notary's speeches, replied in a very mild tone:
”No, monsieur, I prefer to stay here.”
”It certainly isn't my fault!” cried Monsieur Gerondif, raising his eyes heavenward. ”Every day I say to my pupil the same things that you have said, monsieur; but I reinforce them by example from history, ancient and modern; it's as if I were teaching a blind man to draw!”