"Can it be that Monsieur Jules de la Roche-Noire is going to be married?" said Edouard.
"Messieurs," said Férulus, "I have read in some Italian author—as he said this he waved his corkscrew—‘Lontano dagli occhi, lontano dal cuore!’ You, messieurs, are away from the château all day, and consequently you cannot know what is in preparation here. But here is Monseigneur de la Roche-Noire, who will inform you."
Robineau was in fact coming toward the young men at that moment.
"Upon my word, messieurs," he said, "you are very agreeable! I never see you now; you start off in the morning to go—I have a shrewd idea where! If I had not had Monsieur Férulus, this estimable scholar who has established my household upon a magnificent footing, I should never have got through with it. I hope that to-morrow at least you will be kind enough not to absent yourselves. I am giving a party—a magnificent dinner, a ball, and games of all sorts; the entertainment will begin at noon precisely; is that not so, Monsieur Férulus?"
"Yes, monseigneur; at noon the cannon, that is to say, three muskets fired spontaneously, will give the signal for the party."
"Mon Dieu! it is after the style of the Tivoli at Paris," said Alfred.
"First of all," continued Férulus, "a foot race in the gardens, followed by homage to the ladies."
"What is this homage to the ladies to be, Monsieur Férulus?"
"A bouquet presented to each one of them, monseigneur, in which there will be a little compliment in verse, of my composition."
"That will be very gallant."