My dear friend, an incident of noteworthy importance, and of quite exceptional gravity, has just thrown me into the greatest perturbation of mind.
The other morning my aunt started upon a round of calls on behalf of her great enterprise.
"André," she said to me, "come with me like a good nephew; I need your help."
So off we started in the carriage, down the great drive of the château; I thinking that we were going to the doctor's, or else to the Camboulions. When we arrived at the gate, Bernard asked from his box for his orders.
"To El-Nouzha," said my aunt.
"What!" I exclaimed, "to Mohammed-Azis?"
"Yes," she replied; "His Excellency's name will look very nice on our list. It will be a sort of pledge of our excellent foreign relations."
"Have you forgotten? A Mahometan!"
"Certainly: an infidel's charity is quite as good in its effects as a Christian's."
"But he lives a very retired life. Such a visit will take him very much by surprise."