The Milkmaid of Montfermeil Part 20

"Ah! she would cut a strange figure in all those things!"

"Mon Dieu, madame, habit is everything. You yourself, despite all your charms, might be awkward in a milkmaid's cap. Those things that can be acquired, madame, are of little worth; but the things that are innate are beauty, grace, intellect, a sweet voice and glance and smile--in a word, the charm which takes us captive and which you possess in such abundant measure, madame."

"Ah! you did well to end in that way; if you had not I should have been angry. Madame Destival is right; you are a ne'er-do-well, a dangerous man. By the way, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in Paris, monsieur; I often give b.a.l.l.s, and I have a reception every Thursday in winter."

"Madame is too kind; but your husband has said nothing to me."

"Mon Dieu! has he any time to think to invite people? He is so distraught, so engrossed by his speculations, that I alone attend to the invitations. Will you come?"

"Is it not absolutely necessary for me to see you again? If I should yield to my inclinations, I would never leave you."

"Bless my soul! I believe that we are dropping into sentiment. Are you going to make me a declaration?"

"Is it possible to see you without loving you?"

"Look out! you are becoming serious, and I like none but merry people.

That melancholy air doesn't suit you."

"Have you no pity, then, for the pain you cause?"

"Oh! not the least! Sighs do not move me an inch; to please me, it is necessary to keep me laughing constantly."

While they talked, Auguste and his companion had strayed into the shaded portion of the garden. He had taken the young woman's arm and was pressing it tenderly. Athalie was still laughing, but was making no effort to avoid Dalville's gentle caresses, when Bertrand appeared before them at a bend in the path.

"They are waiting for you and madame at breakfast, lieutenant," said the corporal, putting the back of his hand to his forehead.

Auguste stamped on the ground impatiently; but the vivacious Athalie had already dropped his arm and was frisking away.

"Parbleu! you are exceedingly awkward, Bertrand!" said Auguste, glaring at the corporal, who still stood before him.

"What have I done, lieutenant?"

"You seem to have made it your business to disturb me when I am engaged in an interesting conversation with a pretty woman."

"Excuse me, lieutenant, but I can't tell what you're saying."

"A shrewd man can guess it at a glance. Once for all, when I am alone with a woman, I forbid you to interrupt me."

"That settles it, lieutenant; if the house should burn down, I wouldn't disturb you."

The whole party had a.s.sembled in the dining-room; even La Thoma.s.siniere, having waked with a tremendous appet.i.te, had not devised any previous business which would have vexed his stomach, and he bestowed a most affable nod upon Dalville, which meant that his wife had informed him that she proposed to receive the young man at their house. Madame Destival too seemed desirous to be reconciled to Auguste, who had treated her coldly since the scene in the courtyard.

"I must be in Paris before noon," said La Thoma.s.siniere, shuffling a ma.s.s of papers that he took from his wallet; "I have ten appointments for to-day. I am sure that at least twenty people have called at my house before this. A little more coffee, if you please. It isn't Mocha----"

"I beg your pardon," said Destival, as he poured out some for him.

"Oh, no! I a.s.sure you that isn't; I know what I am talking about. I laid in lately a _consequential_ supply; it's very different from this."

"I must be in Paris this morning," said Destival, puffing himself out; "I have numerous matters on the carpet, some of great importance! Monin wants to buy a house, and I have just what he wants."

"Who's he? that little man who bet two sous at ecarte?"

"The very same."

"What! that fellow buy houses! I shouldn't have suspected it; his coat was very threadbare--and patched on the elbows."

"Oh! that means nothing in the country."

"Never mind! you must admit that a man in a threadbare coat doesn't promise great things--it doesn't give you a very exalted idea of his wit. Oh! I have a keen glance, I have; and then, being used to seeing only rich and well-dressed people,--I say, footman, just tell my people to harness up, to put my horses to my caleche."

"I expect my milliner this morning," said Athalie; "she is to bring me the sweetest bonnet. We must go at full speed, monsieur, for I am very anxious to try on that bonnet."

"You are aware, madame, that my steeds do not travel like cab-horses. I feed them rather well, and they cost me so much that I can afford to make them gallop."

"Baptiste," Monsieur Destival called to his servant, who was leaving the room, "you will hitch up too, do you understand?"

"That's the way," muttered Baptiste, "no sooner out of the kitchen than I must go to the stable!"

"I say, Baptiste, while you're about it, tell my little Tony to put the horse to my cabriolet," said Dalville, smiling at the pompous air of La Thoma.s.siniere, who said, rubbing his hands:

"On my word, it's very pleasant for each to have his own carriage; it's very genteel; one is certain at all events that one is with _comme il faut_ people. To be sure, you have only cabriolets, but everybody can't have a caleche, a coupe and a landau, like me."

"What, are you going too, Monsieur Dalville?" asked Madame Destival, with a most expressive glance at the young man; "this is polite, everybody abandons me!"

"It is a fact, my dear fellow," said Destival, "that my wife relied on you to keep her company, and----"

"I never said that I relied on monsieur; most a.s.suredly I should not have dreamed of saying such a thing!" said Emilie, interrupting her husband; "but as everybody else is going to Paris, I don't see why I should stay here. Besides, you are to give a dinner this week, aren't you, monsieur?"

"Yes, madame, a large dinner. I shall have some influential people,--government officials and distinguished artists. I count upon Monsieur and Madame de la Thoma.s.siniere, and upon friend Dalville too."

Dalville bowed simply, but La Thoma.s.siniere replied:

"We will see. I can't promise beforehand, because I may be invited to other dinners by people high up on the ladder, and you must see----"

"So we are all going to Paris," said Madame Destival. "My husband will take Baptiste and Julie with him. Will Monsieur Dalville be kind enough to give me a seat in his cabriolet?"

"Why can't you come in our caleche?" hastily inquired the pet.i.te-maitresse.

"Oh! I am afraid that I should keep you waiting. I have several matters to attend to, and you are in a hurry to see your milliner. Monsieur Dalville will not object, I trust, to give me another half hour."

Auguste realized that it would be discourteous to refuse; moreover, although that arrangement upset his plans, although the fascinating Athalie made an enticing little pout at him, and although Madame Destival had said many unkind things about him, still, Emilie was a good-looking woman none the less, and one forgives a good-looking woman many things, even when one is no longer in love with her.

They left the table. The carriages were ready. Madame de la Thoma.s.siniere entered her caleche, with a malevolent glance at Auguste and Madame Destival. The speculator called his two servants, who a.s.sisted him to climb in; then he threw himself back on the seat, crying:

"To my house in the Chaussee-d'Antin, and go at full speed; drive _furiously_, do you hear, Lafleur? But look out and not run into anything."

The caleche flew away like an arrow. Madame Destival had hurried her domestics to such purpose that Julie and Baptiste were soon ready to start with their master. But madame still had divers matters to attend to, for which she did not need Julie. Monsieur Destival shook hands cordially with his friend and urged him not to drive his wife too fast, because it was bad for the nerves; then he took his seat in the cabriolet beside Julie, ordering Baptiste to mount behind, which he did, muttering because they made him do all sorts of things.