The Bashful Lover Part 24

"Dear me! you are right!" cried Cherubin. "I had entirely forgotten Monsieur Gerondif!--Jasmin, go and inquire what my tutor is doing; ask him why he doesn't come to breakfast."

Jasmin went to Monsieur Gerondifs room. The ex-schoolmaster was buried in his bed, sound asleep, and entirely hidden by the bedclothes and the pillows, which had fallen over his head. There was nothing save his snoring to indicate that the bed was occupied.

The old servant put out his hand toward the pillow; it came in contact with Monsieur Gerondifs prominent nose, which he laid hold of and pulled violently, crying out:

"Come, monsieur le savant, wake up; my master is asking for you."

Monsieur Gerondif opened his eyes and rescued his nose from the fingers that had grasped it.

"What's the matter?" he muttered; "what's the meaning of this violence, and why wake me by the nose? That's a new way, surely; rosy-fingered Aurora doesn't treat the fair-haired Phbus so."

But, on learning that his pupil had breakfasted, Monsieur Gerondif decided to rise; he made a hasty toilet and went down to pay his respects to the marquis.

"The delights of Capua enervated Hannibal's soldiers," he said, eying the remains of the breakfast, which were very appetizing. "My dear pupil, I became even as a woman on my downy couch. Accept my apologies; hereafter I will certainly rise with the chanticleer."

And Monsieur Gerondif seated himself at the table to make up for lost time, while Cherubin, to content Mademoiselle Turlurette, went to cast a glance at the different parts of the establishment. Monfreville, who had declined to accompany him, went to the tutor and said:

"Monsieur, you have a most important duty to perform; I doubt not that you will do your utmost to succeed."

Monsieur Gerondif looked up at Monfreville, opened his enormous mouth, apparently annoyed at having to reply instead of eat, and said at last:

"In truth, monsieur, I have a very hearty appet.i.te at this moment; but I hope to succeed in satisfying it with what is on the table."

"That is not what I referred to, monsieur, but to your pupil, to this young man who should be the object of your utmost care here in Paris, because, although it was absolutely necessary that he should come here, we must see to it that he is not made the dupe of his innocence and his amiable disposition."

After taking time to swallow a chicken wing, the tutor replied in a magisterial tone:

"In that respect, young Cherubin could not be in better hands! Never fear, monsieur, I will draw for my pupil a most appalling picture of the seductions in which people may seek to ensnare him. Morals before everything! That is my motto. St. Paul said: _Oportet sapere ad sobrietatem!_ But I say that, at the marquis's age, one must be virtuous first of all."

"No, no, monsieur, that isn't what I mean," rejoined Monfreville, with a shrug; "it isn't a question of terrifying the young man and trying to make a Cato of him. Let him enjoy such of the pleasures suited to his years as his means will allow; but prevent his abusing them, and see to it that he is not made the dupe of the schemers and swindlers with whom Paris is overflowing."

"That is just what I say, monsieur; I will be constantly on the lookout; I will keep my eyes and ears open and my nose in the air, and it will not be my fault if the child succ.u.mbs to temptation. Moreover, I have an entirely novel system of education--always in the interest of good morals.--Pardon me if I continue my breakfast."

"Clearly the man is either a fool or a hypocrite," thought Monfreville, as he turned on his heel. "I trust that he is not both!"

Cherubin concluded his inspection of his family mansion, which seemed to him old, dark and dismal. Monfreville advised him to have it painted, furnished and decorated according to modern ideas.

Darena returned, arrayed in the latest fashion; he had donned a part of the purchases he had made that morning without untying his purse strings, and with the money received from Poterne he had bought what he still lacked. So that his costume was beyond reproach, and he wore it with as much ease and unconstraint as he displayed in his old coat.

Cherubin admired Darena's elegant appearance and the grace with which he wore his clothes. Monfreville made similar reflections, regretting that a man possessed of so many advantages sometimes descended so low and frequented such wretched company.

"Here I am, at your service," said Darena. "We must take Marquis Cherubin somewhere. I can't make up my mind to say 'Grandvilain'; indeed, the name doesn't fit our young friend at all, and if he takes my advice, he will be content with Cherubin alone, which is a most gallant name."

"What!" murmured Jasmin, "is monsieur going to drop his father's name? I tell you, I object!"

n.o.body paid any heed to the old servant, and Darena continued:

"First of all, our friend must see everything in Paris that deserves to be seen. That will take time; for a shrewd observer there is a great deal to see."

"And then," said Monfreville, "Cherubin will do well to give a few hours every day to the masters who are quite indispensable; for his education is far too incomplete for him to go into society."

Monsieur Gerondif's fork stopped in the act of conveying food to his mouth, and he cried:

"Who says that my pupil's education is incomplete? He will surely know as much as I do very soon."

"Come, come, learned Master Andre, don't get excited," said Darena, with a laugh; "I have no doubt that you are very strong in the dead languages,--and in the art of carving a chicken; yes, you're very good at that. But can you teach our friend music, dancing, riding, fencing, boxing?"

"Boxing?" muttered Jasmin, with an air of stupefaction.

"Yes, boxing, and all the fashionable sciences which a young man of rank and fortune must know, unless he wishes to be laughed at."

"Trust me," said Monfreville, taking Cherubin's arm; "my father was a friend of yours, and even without that, your youth and innocence would be sufficient to awaken my interest and to arouse in me a wish to make an accomplished gentleman of you."

"And to begin with," said Darena, "a short ride in the saddle; there is nothing pleasanter in the morning. Do you know anything about riding?"

"Oh! I can ride very well, and I'm not afraid," Cherubin replied; "at the village I used to ride all our neighbors' horses."

"Good! there's a livery stable close by where there are some very good horses; let us go there and hire, pending the time when you have horses in your stable--another indispensable thing."

Cherubin went out with his two friends; he was beside himself with delight at the thought of a riding party. Being still a novice in all sorts of pleasure, Nicole's foster-child had never before ridden anything but plough horses.

They went to the stable-keeper, who ordered his three best horses saddled. Just as the gentlemen were mounting, they heard a voice calling:

"Well! isn't there a horse for me too?"

Thereupon they discovered Jasmin, who had followed his master, after tightening the waistband of his breeches as much as possible, covering his head with a long-vizored cap, which entirely concealed his eyes and nose, and arming himself with a hunting crop.

Cherubin and his friends could not help laughing at the aspect of Jasmin in the garb of a groom, and Monfreville exclaimed:

"This old servant's devotion is becoming very painful."

"But I don't need you, Jasmin," said Cherubin; "go back to the house; you can't come with me, it would tire you too much."

"I know my duty, monsieur," replied Jasmin; "my place is always in your rear."

"Yes, yes, he is right," said Darena; "and as he insists on coming with us, why, let him come.--A horse for this faithful retainer--a good little trotting horse. Jasmin has the look of an excellent rider."

"He will certainly be thrown," said Cherubin, in an undertone.

"That is what I expect too; but it will do him good. This fellow needs a lesson; he is extremely pig-headed; he insists on breaking your dishes, capping your friends with cheese, climbing up behind carriages, and riding horseback; we must try to cure him of this exuberant zeal."

A horse was saddled for Jasmin, and, with the aid of two hostlers, he succeeded in climbing to its back. The cavalcade started; in the streets of Paris they went slowly and the old servant was able to follow his master, which he did with much pride, sitting erect in his saddle and bearing heavily on his stirrups; but when they reached the Champs-Elysees, Cherubin and his two companions started off at a gallop.

Jasmin, seeing his young master disappear in a cloud of dust, was determined to follow him, and began to strike his steed with his crop.

The beast, desiring nothing more than to join his stable companions, sprang forward and darted in pursuit.

But his old rider had presumed too much on his strength; in a few seconds the horse was galloping alone and Jasmin was rolling in the dust.

When they reached the Bois de Boulogne, Cherubin turned and said: