"I, monseigneur, flatter myself that I play it correctly," said Férulus.
"Very good, Monsieur Férulus; you, Uncle Mignon and I, if necessary, although I don’t know it very well; no matter, someone will advise me; besides, Mademoiselle Cornélie told me that she was very particular that I should play whist with her father. What a pity that we haven’t so much as a harpsichord here! My fiancée plays the harpsichord, and her sister sings like Orpheus. And there is not the slightest instrument here to accompany the singers!"
"You might send for Monsieur Cheval with his drum."
"None of your poor jokes, Alfred."
"Monseigneur, I play the fife rather well," said Férulus, "and if it would give pleasure to the ladies——"
"We will see, I will suggest it. But they don’t return! Is dinner ready?"
"All ready, monseigneur; my only fear is that it will get cold."
"Oh! you don’t understand, my dear fellow," said Alfred; "I’ll wager that the ladies won’t come down for another hour. You don’t know what it means to make two toilets, especially when they have but one lady’s maid! But here is the uncle; I have not as yet heard him say anything except: ‘Yes, nieces.’—I am curious to find out whether he knows any other sentence."
The uncle, after he had seen his brother’s noble steed attack his grain, joined the company. He entered the room bowing, smiling and hopping; then he looked from one to another without saying a word. But Alfred went to him and said:
"They say that monsieur le marquis is very fond of hunting; you like it too, no doubt, monsieur?"