"To you, Adamas?"
"Yes, monsieur, to me, for I devised the scheme of sending a messenger to her to say that you had a great surprise in store for her, but that nothing was ready. I took all the blame on myself, and I humbly requested her not to arrive before the hour I have mentioned, adding that you desired to keep her here to-night, with monsieur her father, and not to offer her the diversion of hunting until to-morrow."
"What have you done, villain? She will think me insane or uncivil."
"No, monsieur, she took the thing very well, saying that everything that you did was certain to prove your wisdom or your gallantry."
"In that case, my friend, we must think seriously——"
"About nothing, monsieur, nothing at all, I beseech you. You did enough with your brain and your sword last night; for what purpose can God have placed poor Adamas on earth if not to spare you all anxiety about the details of simple matters?"
"Alas! my friend, it will not be easy—not possible even—in so short a time, to make my heir presentable?"
"Do you think so, monsieur?" said Adamas, with an indescribable smile of satisfaction. "I would like to see the thing that you desire that is not possible! Yes, indeed, I would! I would like to see it! But permit me to ask you, monsieur, how your heir is to be announced when he enters the salon?"
"That is a very grave question, my friend; I have already been thinking of the name and title the dear child should bear. Neither his father nor mine was a man of quality; but as I propose to provide for his succession to my title by the proper process and by obtaining the king's consent, if necessary, I think that I can bestow upon him, in anticipation, the title that my own son would have. Therefore, in my house he will be called monsieur le comte."
"There can be no doubt about the propriety of that, monsieur! But the name? Do you propose to call him plain Bouron, that poor child who deserves so well to bear a more illustrious name?"