Faribole Explains.
"Madame the Countess," said he, "the presence of your cat tells me why you have called me; but I am less guilty than I appear; permit me to explain."
"It is useless," replied Madame de la Grenouillère; "your justification is impossible."
The steward, believing it best to play a bold game, said with irony:—
"I am curious to know what unlikely story this rogue has to tell," and in accenting these words slowly he gave Faribole a glance which signified: "If you accuse me, woe to you!’"
Without allowing himself to be confused, Faribole commenced in these terms:—
"It is necessary to avow it, madame; I entered into your service with the intention of stealing your cat; the fortune-teller wished to have him, to make him play the part of the devil Astaroth; and she had seduced me by the promise of a crown of six livres and a pair of shoes. They treated me so well, and Moumouth appeared to me so charming, that I renounced my wicked plans; I never, no, never would have put them into execution, if I had not found it was necessary to get Moumouth out of the way in order to rescue him from the attacks of an enemy all the more terrible because he was hidden."
"Of whom does he wish to speak?" demanded Lustucru.
"Of you! of you who have said to me, ’Kill Moumouth, or I chase you from the house!’"