“Oh!” said the marshal, with a grimace.
“It is only by helping others that we can expect help in our own need, your grace.”
“Well, then, I suppose we may calculate that it will be given, but there is still another risk—if the bottle should be broken?”
“Oh! your grace, who would break a bottle of wine of that value?”
“Well, I trust not; what time, then, do you expect your courier?”
“At four o’clock precisely.”
“Then why not dine at four?” replied the marshal.
“Your grace, the wine must rest for an hour; and had it not been for an invention of my own, it would have required three days to recover itself.”
Beaten at all points, the marshal gave way.
“Besides,” continued the old servant, “be sure, your grace, that your guests will not arrive before half-past four.”