“No, but I had a client who used often to talk to me about it. How delicious the country air is! what a pleasure to breathe it!”
At that moment Thélénie was holding her handkerchief to her face because they were passing a heap of offal and muddy water which emitted a most offensive odor.
“You are not happy in your observations, monsieur; there is a horrible smell here.”
“That’s nothing, madame; a pond stirred up by the ducks—that’s all; it’s gone already.—There are some very pretty houses. Ah! this one is built in imitation of a chalet; that’s an original idea.”
“Have you ever seen any real chalets, monsieur?”
“No; but one of my clients drew a sketch of one for me.”
“Monsieur de Belleville, I trust that you will soon stop talking about your clients; you must try not to say such things before company. Why need you let people know that you were once in business? You are stupid!”
“Why, madame, I might have been an advocate; that’s a fine profession!”
“Ha! ha! an advocate! you an advocate! Great heaven! who would believe it?”
“Everybody is running to their doors and windows to see us pass, madame.”