“Pardon, mademoiselle; you do not know, then, that we are very good friends, my grandson and I. With your permission, since he wishes it, I will go with him to the river—”
“And catch fish. Can you catch fish, bon père?” interrupted Raoul.
“Here and there, my prince. But as I was saying, madame, if you will allow Jean to go to bring this young gentleman home, I will return to Tours by the river.”
“You will not walk, monsieur?” said Mme. de Beaudrillart. “There is Nathalie’s carriage doing nothing; pray allow me to order it.”
“No, no, madame. I thank Heaven I am yet strong on my legs, and can walk as well as any of them. The mayor himself would be sorry to engage me in a match, although he prides himself on his powers. Raoul takes after me, as I have told his mother more than once.”
Claire, who had expected her mother to make objections, especially after this insolent assumption that in any point Raoul could resemble the ex-builder, was amazed to find that his wishes were to be carried out. She said so when he had gone.
“Really, mamma, considering how much Raoul is allowed to be with him when Nathalie is at home, we might have kept the child out of his influence in the few days he is left to us!”
“Hush, Claire, you do not know!” exclaimed her mother, feverishly. “The man is terrible, but so far he means well, and it would never do to affront him at this moment.”
Claire shrugged her thin shoulders.
“Léon has had difficulties before now, and has got through them,” she remarked. “The whole affair seems to me so inconceivable that I am inclined to believe Nathalie is persuading Léon to exaggerate it, in order that she may gain a longer time in Paris. I should be capable of doing the same myself, I own.”