"After all," continued Mme. Laroque, "good fortune or ill fortune, what does it matter? As I said, M. Odiot, we are very rich, and little as I may value our wealth, it is my duty to preserve it for my daughter, though the poor child cares no more for it than I. Do you, Marguerite?"
A slight smile broke the curve of Mlle. Marguerite's disdainful lips at this question, and the low arch of her eyebrows contracted momentarily; then the grave, haughty face subsided into repose again.
"M. Odiot," resumed Mme. Laroque, "you shall be shown the place, which, at M. Laubépin's explicit request, has been reserved for you; but before this I should like you to be introduced to my father-in-law, who will be very much pleased to see you. My dear cousin, will you ring? M. Odiot, I hope that you will give us the pleasure of your company at dinner to-day. Good-bye—for the present."
I was intrusted to the care of a servant, who asked me to wait in a room next to the one I had just left, until he had ascertained M. Laroque's wishes. He had not closed the door of the salon, so it was impossible for me not to hear these words spoken by Mme. Laroque with the good-natured irony habitual to her:
"There! Can you understand Laubépin? He talked of a man of a certain age; very simple, very steady, and he sends me a gentleman like that!"
Mlle. Marguerite said something, but so quietly that I could not hear it, much to my regret, I confess. Her mother replied immediately:
"That may be so, my dear, but it is none the less absolutely ridiculous of Laubépin. Do you expect that a man of that kind will go running about ploughed fields in sabots? I will wager that man has never worn sabots; he doesn't know what they are. Well, it may be a prejudice of mine, dear, but sabots seem to me essential to a good bailiff. Marguerite, it has just occurred to me, you might take him to your grandfather."
Mlle. Marguerite entered the room where I was almost directly. She seemed vexed to find me there.
"Pardon me, mademoiselle," I said, "but the servant asked me to wait here."
"Will you be so good as to follow me, sir?"