"My lord might have a voice as hoarse as an owl or a rattle, I should still think he had a good voice."
"Hold your tongue, flatterer!"
"When your lordship sings, it is a sign you are contented; and then your voice appears to me the most charming music in the world."
"In that case, Joseph, learn to open your long ears."
"What do you say?"
"You can enjoy this charming music every day."
"You will be happy every day, my lord?" cried Joseph, clasping his hands with astonished delight.
"Every day, my old Joseph! happy every day. Yes, no more sorrow—no more sadness. I can tell this to you, who are sole and discreet confidant of all my sorrows! I am overjoyed with happiness! My wife is an angel of goodness! she has asked pardon for her past coldness, attributing it to—can you guess?—to jealousy!"
"To jealousy?"
"Yes; absurd suspicions, caused by anonymous letters."