“Oh, yes, monsieur; everything was beautiful. I bought a lot of things, and so did monsieur le comte.”
Monfréville glanced at Daréna, who pretended not to hear and seemed busily occupied helping himself to partridge pie.
“And look at my watch and my gold chain, and this pin. Monsieur Daréna sent them all to me by his steward. How pretty they are, aren’t they?”
“Did you pay much for them?” Monfréville inquired.
“Why, no, only two thousand five hundred francs; I don’t call that dear!”
Monfréville looked again at Daréna, who continued to stuff himself with partridges.
“Why, yes, it was quite enough,” he said; “in fact, it was very dear. In the future, with your permission, I will advise you in your purchases; I fancy that I know at least as much about such matters as monsieur’s steward.”
Jasmin returned with a number of bottles; he broke one when he attempted to put it on the table, and dropped a cream cheese on Daréna’s head. Chérubin was terribly distressed by his servant’s awkwardness; and the old fellow, overwhelmed with confusion by what he had done, slunk out of sight behind a screen. Daréna was the first to laugh at the accident.
“It’s of no consequence,” he said; “I am not dressed yet.—For all that, my dear marquis, if I may venture to give you a piece of advice, I advise you to relieve your old Jasmin from the duty of waiting at table. His services will be ruinous to you and fatal to your friends. The excellent fellow has abundantly earned retirement and you must give it to him. I will go home to dress, and come back for you; for we will pass the day together, eh, Monfréville?”
“That is my wish, if it will not annoy our young friend.”