"Faith, messieurs, I didn’t suspect that you were going to begin on tragedy!—Oh! that’s all right! laugh away! you don’t know what you lose by not reaching my estate before dark. You fancy that we should have been received by the concierge alone. But you would have seen something very different!—The bouquets and the dancing and the congratulations that awaited us—we are missing all those!"
"Why, how do you know they would have celebrated our arrival?" asked Edouard.
"Ah! I can guess!" cried Alfred; "François didn’t go on before for nothing.—Oh! I understand: Robineau had ordered an extemporaneous reception—that his people should surprise him with cries of Vive monseigneur! and bombs, after the style of popular celebrations."
"No, messieurs, no; I ordered nothing; but I know François’s zeal, he is certain not to have concealed the fact that I should soon arrive, and it seems to me quite natural to think that the news would make some sensation in the neighborhood."
"Well! don’t be disheartened; if we don’t arrive until to-morrow morning, the fête will be all the better for the delay; they will have had time to prepare, to commit complimentary speeches to memory, and to wash their faces, which is never a disadvantage. To be sure, if they have a display of fireworks for you, it will be in the daylight; but that’s the fashion in China, and the Seigneur de la Roche-Noire cannot object to bear some resemblance to a great Mandarin."
"And poor François! how anxious he will be when we don’t appear! You forget that, messieurs."
"Oh! my dear Robineau, it isn’t on François’s account that you are so annoyed!—But, after all, there is some hope left, we are sure to arrive somewhere!"
"Yes! somewhere! in some excavation into which we shall tumble without a branch to hold on to! You can’t see your hand before your face."
"It’s becoming more romantic; you don’t feel the beauty of our situation—travelling at night among the mountains."
"It is certain that I don’t see the beautiful side of it; if we only had weapons—but you left your pistols in my post-chaise!"