“Go where you like! I may be deceived once but not twice. Go to this lady, good and amiable—and with this gentleman,” he added pointing to Jussieu, amazed at the philosopher’s rebuke to the royal pet, “he is a lover of nature and your accomplice—he has promised you fortune and assistance and he has power at court.”
He bowed to the women in a tragic manner, unable to contain himself, and left the pavillion statelily, without glancing again at Gilbert.
“What an ugly creature a philosopher is,” tranquilly said Chon, watching the Genevan stumble down the hill.
“You can have anything you like,” prompted Jussieu to Gilbert who kept his face buried in his hands.
“Yes, anything, Gilly,” added the countess, smiling on the returned prodigal.
Raising his pale face, and tossing back the hair matted on his forehead, he said in a steady voice:
“I should be glad to be a gardener at Trianon Palace.”
Chon and the countess glanced at each other, and the former touched her sister’s foot while she winked broadly. Jeanne nodded.
“If feasible, do it,” she said to Jussieu.
Gilbert bowed with his hand on his heart, overflowing with joy after having been drowned with grief.