"That is right. Well, I wish you to go to Landry's bathing establishment, and ask to see the fascinating Bathilde's mother. I know that she has returned home. You will hand this white plume to that woman and say to her: 'Your daughter's lovers lose their plumes at night when they scale balconies to join her; here is one belonging to a noble lord, whose name Mademoiselle Bathilde will be able to give you.'—Then you will bow and take your leave; and that is all. As I do not wish to put you out for nothing, be kind enough to accept this purse as compensation for the trouble I cause you."
The little clerk observed at a glance the plumpness of the purse which Valentine offered him with the plume; but he hesitated about taking them.
"Well?" continued the nobly born maiden, testily; "are you not willing to do what I ask?"
"Pardon, pardon, mademoiselle; assuredly, I am too fortunate in the confidence which you manifest in me."
"Then take this plume and this purse!"
"But, you see, I am wondering in my own mind how Dame Ragonde will take it—that is young Bathilde's mother's name. I know the family. Dame Ragonde is a very bad one, they say; and when I tell her that her daughter receives lovers at night, that will not afford her great pleasure! What if she should fall on me with fists and claws?"
"What, Monsieur Bahuchet! You, who claim to be so brave, afraid of a woman's anger?"
"Because with a woman one must accept anything without retaliating; whereas, with a man—what a difference! If he ventures to lack respect, to strike us, why, we fall on him and pay him back twice or thrice what we have received."
"Very well, monsieur; instead of taking the plume to this Bathilde's mother, hand it to her father, Landry the bath keeper; then, if he resorts to violence, you can pay him back twice or thrice."
The little clerk scratched his ear and opened his nostrils wider than ever; he saw that the young lady had no faith in his courage; however, he made up his mind at last and took both plume and purse, saying: