The servants returned, having visited all the most secret corners of the house and failed to find their master. This time it was certain that he was not in the house. They were about to look for him in the garden, when he suddenly appeared in the distance, drenched to the skin, with his hair glued to his face, and covered with mud from head to foot.
“Oh! monsieur! what a sight you are!” cried Thélénie; “where have you been, then? Don’t come near me; you are disgusting.”
“I am dripping wet, it’s true. I fell into the pond, my dear love. You know, we have a fine pond on our place.”
“Yes, monsieur, I do know it; but I should say that it was visible to the naked eye, and that it can hardly be mistaken for a lawn in broad daylight.”
“And so, madame, I saw perfectly well that it was a pond.—I was dressed before the time, for I did not want to keep you waiting; and, seeing that I had a few minutes to spare, I walked about our magnificent gardens. I spied the pond—I didn’t see it yesterday; I went close to it and looked in. What did I see? red, cherry-colored, orange fishes! It was a fascinating sight; I was dazzled. I saw one that gleamed so that its scales seemed to be gold! Faith, in my curiosity to see him nearer, I leaned over to catch him; he slipped through my fingers; I leaned over farther, and pouf! I fell in among the fish and came near drowning; there’s a lot of water there!”
“Oh, no! monsieur—only two feet and a half.”
“Three feet, madame; and then, the fish blinded me; I couldn’t find the bank. However, I succeeded in getting out.”
“And in a pretty state! You don’t expect to come with me in that condition, I take it?”
“No, madame; I am going to change.”
“Make haste. What an idea, to try to catch one of those fish! Really, monsieur, you are worse than a child!”