“Parbleu, c’est horrible cette mer!” he ejaculated; when the other had done. “It is grand malheur, dere should be watair but for drink, and for la propreté, avec fosse to keep de carp round le château. Mais, Mam’selle be no haste jugement, and she shall have mari on la terre solide.”
“’Twould be better, that the estate of my brother-in-law should be kept in sight, judicious François, than to be sent adrift on the high seas.”
“Dere vas marin dans la famille de Barbérie nevair.”
“Bonds and balances! if the savings of one I could name, frugal François, were added in current coin the sum-total would sink a common ship. You know it is my intention to remember Alida, in settling accounts with the world.”
“If Monsieur de Barbérie vas ’live, Monsieur Alderman, he should say des choses convenables; mais, malheureusement, mon cher, maître est mort; and, sair, I shall be bold to remercier pour lui, et pour toute sa famille.”
“Women are perverse, and sometimes they have pleasure in doing the very thing they are desired not to do.”
“Ma foi, oui!”
“Prudent men should manage them with soft words and rich gifts; with these, they become orderly as a pair of well-broke geldings.”
“Monsieur know,” said the old valet, rubbing his hands, and laughing with the subdued voice of a well-bred domestic, though he could not conceal a jocular wink; “pourtant il est garçon! Le cadeau be good for de demoiselles, and bettair as for de dames.”
“Wedlock and blinkers! it is we gâssons, as you call us, who ought to know. Your hen-pecked husband has no time to generalize among the sex, in order to understand the real quality of the article. Now, here is Van Staats of Kinderhook, faithful François; what think you of such a youth for a husband for Alida?”