Part 23 (2/2)
Jasmin hastened to do as he was requested, and Monfreville said to Darena:
”But you give orders without even consulting the master of the house!”
”My friend has given me carte blanche, and I am making the most of it.”
”Yes, monsieur,” said Cherubin; ”pray do whatever you choose in my house.”
Darena leaned toward Monfreville and said in his ear:
”He was already talking of going back to Gagny this morning; if we don't make the young fellow giddy, he is capable of returning to his nurse, and that would be downright murder!”
”Aren't you going to breakfast with us, monsieur?” Cherubin asked Monfreville.
”Thanks, my young friend, but I have breakfasted. Were you satisfied with the tradespeople whom I sent to you this morning?”
”Oh, yes, monsieur; everything was beautiful. I bought a lot of things, and so did monsieur le comte.”
Monfreville glanced at Darena, who pretended not to hear and seemed busily occupied helping himself to partridge pie.
”And look at my watch and my gold chain, and this pin. Monsieur Darena sent them all to me by his steward. How pretty they are, aren't they?”
”Did you pay much for them?” Monfreville inquired.
”Why, no, only two thousand five hundred francs; I don't call that dear!”
Monfreville looked again at Darena, who continued to stuff himself with partridges.
”Why, yes, it was quite enough,” he said; ”in fact, it was very dear. In the future, with your permission, I will advise you in your purchases; I fancy that I know at least as much about such matters as monsieur's steward.”
Jasmin returned with a number of bottles; he broke one when he attempted to put it on the table, and dropped a cream cheese on Darena's head.
Cherubin was terribly distressed by his servant's awkwardness; and the old fellow, overwhelmed with confusion by what he had done, slunk out of sight behind a screen. Darena was the first to laugh at the accident.
”It's of no consequence,” he said; ”I am not dressed yet.--For all that, my dear marquis, if I may venture to give you a piece of advice, I advise you to relieve your old Jasmin from the duty of waiting at table.
His services will be ruinous to you and fatal to your friends. The excellent fellow has abundantly earned retirement and you must give it to him. I will go home to dress, and come back for you; for we will pa.s.s the day together, eh, Monfreville?”
”That is my wish, if it will not annoy our young friend.”
Cherubin hesitated a moment, then said falteringly:
”But I intended to--to go to Gagny--to see my--my nurse.”
”Oh! to-morrow! to-morrow!” cried Darena; ”we have too many things to do to-day; I will hurry home to dress and return at once.”
Darena took his leave. Monfreville would have liked to hint to his young friend that he would do well not to place too much confidence in the count's manifestations of friends.h.i.+p for him; but if he attempted so soon to destroy the young man's illusions, if he told him to be on his guard against false friends, selfish affections, the wiles of shopkeepers, and all the perils of Paris, would he not run the risk of disgusting him with that city, which he had consented to visit only with regret?
”After all,” said Monfreville to himself, ”Darena is jovial and bright; he has the art of inventing some new pleasure every day, and even if his friends.h.i.+p should cost Cherubin a few thousand-franc notes, the youngster is rich, and one must needs pay for one's apprentices.h.i.+p in everything. Besides, I will keep an eye on our pupil, and I will try to see to it that his inexperience is not over-abused.--By the way, my young friend,” he said aloud, ”what have you done with your tutor? He is to remain with you, is he not? Is he not well?”
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