Part 12 (2/2)
Aristide came forward and resumed his place at the end of the table The picture was in front of hiht; on his left stood Mr Sht Miss Christabel and the Honourable Harry
”I'll not take three thousand pounds for it,” said Aristide ”A picture like that! Never!”
”I assure you it would be a fair price,” said Poiron
”You ure yourself only just now,” said Mr S's eyes
”I presuentlemen,” said Aristide, ”that this picture is ly to his host ”Is it not, _cher ami_?”
”Of course it is Who said it wasn't?”
”And you, M Poiron, acknowledge formally that it is mine,” he asked, in French
”_Sans aucun doute_”
”_Eh bien_,” said Aristide, throwing open his ared my mind I do not sell the picture at all”
”Not sell it? What the--what do youthunder on his brow
”I do not sell,” said Aristide ”Listen, my dear friends!” He was in the seventh heaven of happiness--the principal e ”I have an announcement to make to you I have fallen desperately in love with asp Mr Smith looked at him, red-faced and open-mouthed Miss Christabel blushed furiously and eh and a scream Harry Ralston's eyes flashed
”My dear sir----” he began
”Pardon,” said Aristide, disarlance ”I do not wish to take mademoiselle from you My love is hopeless! I know it But it will feedday In return for the joy of this hopeless passion I will not sell you the picture--I give it to you as a wedding present”
He stood, with the air of a hero, both arive it to you,” said he ”It is mine I have no wish but for your happiness In my Chateau de Mireilles there are a hundred others”
”This is nation, so that his bald head grew scarlet
”My dear fellow!” said Mr Harry Ralston ”It is unheard-of generosity on your part But we can't accept it”
”Then,” said Aristide, advancing dramatically to the picture, ”I take it under o with it back to Languedoc”
Mr Sed him out of the room
”You little brute! Do you want your neck broken?”
”Do you want the hter with the rich and Honourable Harry broken?” asked Aristide
”Oh, da about helplessly and half weeping