“Or Malagasy.”
“Malagasy, perhaps.”
“There is also a certain Polynesian language which was spoken, at the beginning of this century, by only one old yellow woman. She died, leaving behind her a parrot. A German scholar collected a few words of the language from the parrot, and from these he compiled a dictionary. Perhaps this language is still taught at the School of Oriental Languages. I should advise your son to find out.”
Upon this advice, Monsieur Panneton de La Barge made his adieux and thoughtfully took his departure.
CHAPTER VI
Events followed their due course. Monsieur Bergeret continued to look for a flat; it was his sister who found one. Thus the positive mind has the advantage over the speculative mind. It must be admitted that Mademoiselle Bergeret made an excellent choice. She was lacking neither in experience of life nor in common sense. Having been a governess, she had lived in Russia, and had travelled about Europe. She had observed the manners and customs of the different nations. She knew the world, and that helped her to know Paris.
“That’s it,” she said to her brother, stopping before a new house overlooking the Luxembourg garden.
“The stairs look decent enough,” said Monsieur Bergeret, “but it’s rather a stiff climb.”