“His Excellency the Governor!”
We rose, and Madame was courtesying and I was bowing to the little man. He was in uniform, his face perspiring in the creases, his plump calves stretching his white stockings to the full. Madame extended her hand and he kissed it, albeit he did not bend easily. He spoke in French, and his voice betrayed the fact that his temper was near slipping its leash. The Baron was a native of Flanders.
“To what happy circumstance do I owe the honor of this visit, Madame la Vicomtesse?” he asked.
“To a woman's whim, Monsieur le Baron,” she answered, “for a man would not have dared to disturb you. May I present to your Excellency, Mr. David Ritchie of Kentucky?”
His Excellency bowed stiffly, looked at me with no pretence of pleasure, and I had had sufficient dealings with men to divine that, in the coming conversation, the overflow of his temper would be poured upon me. His first sensation was surprise.
“An American!” he said, in a tone that implied reproach to Madame la Vicomtesse for having fallen into such company. “Ah,” he cried, breathing hard in the manner of stout people, “I remember you came down with Monsieur Vigo, Monsieur, did you not?”
It was my turn to be surprised. If the Baron took a like cognizance of all my countrymen who came to New Orleans, he was a busy man indeed.
“Yes, your Excellency,” I answered.
“And you are a Federalist?” he said, though petulantly.
“I am, your Excellency.”