“Very good, then you will stay. You will meet Monsieur Dalville, a delightful young man, full of fun. His servant, who is an old soldier, is to give me a lesson in drilling, for I am appointed general——”
“What?”
“Why, yes, in the battue we’re going to have.”
“Oh, yes! I was saying——”
“Won’t you take part in it, Monsieur Monin?”
“Why, I’ll tell you: when I had my rifle, it was all right—”
“Madame, madame, a lovely calèche is just driving into the courtyard,” said Julie, rushing into the salon.
“A calèche?”
“With Monsieur and Madame de la Thomassinière.”
“What! have they come? How kind of them!” cried Monsieur Destival, running to the window. Madame Destival did not share her husband’s delight; however, she rose to satisfy herself concerning the arrival of her new guests, and went out to receive them; for persons who have a calèche and a livery deserve the very greatest consideration. Thus, Monsieur Destival flew at his wife’s heels, leaving Monsieur Monin, who was just about to tell him how many times he had hunted, and who, finding himself abandoned in the salon, turned to his ordinary resource, and succeeded, by dint of perseverance, in forcing two dainty pinches of snuff into his nostrils.