"You see," Oudard continued, "we already have Vatout and Casimir, a librarian and assistant librarian."
"Of course, and that is ample, is it not, when there is no library?"
For, as a matter of fact, the library of the Duc d'Orléans, at that time especially, was very inferior.
"What do you mean by no library?" Oudard exclaimed; for, like the servant of a curé, he could not bear to have his master's house depreciated. "We have three thousand volumes!"
"You are mistaken, my dear Oudard: there are three thousand and four; for I saw the Mémoires de Dumouriez, which had just come from London, in the house of M. le Duc d'Orléans, the day before yesterday."
I gave the thrust good-humouredly, and so Oudard took it. He could not ward it off without acknowledging himself hit: he continued—
"Well, well, you are wonderfully clever, my friend; I will convey to monseigneur your desire to become attached to the household as librarian."
I stopped him.
"Stay, let us quite understand one another, Oudard."