“Well; and, if it is a fair question, who is he?” pursued the brother-in-law.
“Jean-Marie,” answered the Doctor, “combines the functions of a son and stable-boy. He began as the latter, but he rose rapidly to the more honourable rank in our affections. He is, I may say, the greatest comfort in our lives.”
“Ha!” said Casimir. “And previous to becoming one of you?”
“Jean-Marie has lived a remarkable existence; his experience has been eminently formative,” replied Desprez. “If I had had to choose an education for my son, I should have chosen such another. Beginning life with mountebanks and thieves, passing onward to the society and friendship of philosophers, he may be said to have skimmed the volume of human life.”
“Thieves?” repeated the brother-in-law, with a meditative air.
The Doctor could have bitten his tongue out. He foresaw what was coming, and prepared his mind for a vigorous defence.
“Did you ever steal yourself?” asked Casimir, turning suddenly on Jean-Marie, and for the first time employing a single eyeglass which hung round his neck.
“Yes, sir,” replied the boy, with a deep blush.
Casimir turned to the others with pursed lips, and nodded to them meaningly. “Hey?” said he; “how is that?”
“Jean-Marie is a teller of the truth,” returned the Doctor, throwing out his bust.