"Jeannette," said Robineau, "you will consider yourself at the orders of these ladies."
"What has she got there?" said Eudoxie; "I believe it is a foot-warmer! Do you take us for old dowagers, my girl, that you bring us that goodwife’s piece of furniture?"
"Oh! it ain’t that, madame," replied Jeannette, with a reverence; "but you see that, as my duty—as I have to warm——"
Monsieur Férulus, who was beside Jeannette, pulled her skirt and pinched her, to make her keep quiet. Luckily Cornélie interrupted her, saying:
"Well, it is all right! Go before us.—Uncle Mignon, have the boxes been carried up?"
"They have," replied Mignon, showing his enormous teeth, "and I have put the pins in the pin-cushion."
The ladies withdrew to their apartments. Monsieur le marquis, who had already expectorated in every corner of the salon, went to inspect his apartment, and Uncle Mignon, who was instructed to attend to all details, went to see if the chariot had been placed in the carriage house and the horse fed.
"How much activity and animation the presence of ladies gives to a house instantly!" said Robineau. "The arrival of the La Pincerie family is going to brighten up this abode tremendously, messieurs. Ah! by the way, monsieur le marquis is very fond of whist; he wants to play every evening; who will play with him?"
"Not I," said Edouard, "for I don’t know the game."
"I know it; but as it bores me, I shall not play!" said Alfred.