“It is unnecessary, monsieur, for the house has not changed owners. I bought it simply to restore it to this poor farmer and his unfortunate family, whom this gentleman proposed to drive into the fields to sleep.”
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Guillot’s whole family threw themselves at their benefactor’s feet, and, unable to find words to express their gratitude, confined themselves to looking up into his face and kissing his hand and the hem of his jacket.
The tableau was touching enough to move every feeling heart. Honorine and Agathe did not try to conceal their tears.
But Madame Droguet’s party, sorely vexed at the turn affairs had taken, still tried to sneer at what was taking place.
“Bless my soul! this is superb!” said one.
“It is truly magnificent!”
“This scene was all arranged beforehand, doubtless, with the two ladies—that man’s friends. They wanted to produce a great effect.”
But these ebullitions of spite found no echo. Even Doctor Antoine exclaimed:
“I don’t know whether the gentleman from the Tower intended to produce an effect, but I regard as very noble what he has just done; it reconciles me to him and his dog.”
To add to Madame Droguet’s ill humor, her husband persisted in holding the big bellows under her nose, saying: