The Galley Slave's Ring Part 15

"I understand that--they were accustomed thereto--while my daughter--you see--confound it!--she is only eighteen, and has been brought up--like a bourgeois girl."

"You need not feel uneasy on that score. I never thought for a moment that your daughter should give the victor a kiss."

"That is good, monsieur! How kind you are! And if you will also consent that my daughter do not embrace--"

"That goes without saying, my dear monsieur. You do not need my consent.

I am too happy, as it is, to have you and also your family, accept my invitation."

"Oh, monsieur, all the honor is on our side!"

"Not at all, it is on my side!"

"Surely not! Surely not, monsieur! You are too kind! I can clearly see that you mean to bestow great honor upon us."

"Well, have it your way, my good man! There are faces like yours--that charm one on the spot. Besides, I found you to be so honest a man in the matter of the price of the shirts--"

"It is only a matter of conscience, monsieur. Only a matter of conscience."

"That I said to myself on the spot--This Monsieur Lebrenn must be an admirable, an honest man. I would like to be pleasant to him--even to oblige him, if I can."

"Oh, monsieur, I know not how to express to you--"

"Come, you told me a minute ago that business was poor--would you like me to pay you in advance for my order?"

"Oh, no, no, no, monsieur; that is unnecessary."

"Do not be bashful! Be frank. The amount is large--I shall give you an order upon my banker."

"I a.s.sure you, monsieur, that I do not need payment in advance."

"Times are so hard yet."

"Very hard, indeed, the times are; that's true, monsieur; we must hope for better."

"Admit it, my dear Monsieur Lebrenn," said the Count, again pointing to the pictures that ornamented the walls of the salon, "the times in which those redoubtable seigneurs lived, were the real good times!"

"Truly so, monsieur."

"And who knows! Perhaps those better times may come back again!"

"Indeed! Do you think so?"

"Some other day we shall talk politics--I suppose you talk politics, occasionally?"

"Monsieur, I do not indulge myself so far. You understand, a merchant--"

"Oh, my dear Monsieur Lebrenn! You are a man of the good old pattern; that's what you are; I'm glad of it! Right you are not to meddle in politics! It is the silly mania that spoiled everything. In those good old times, that I was speaking about to you, n.o.body grumbled. The King, the clergy and the n.o.bility ordered--and everybody obeyed without saying a word."

"Sure! Sure! It must have been very convenient, monsieur."

"Zounds! I should say so!"

"If I understand you rightly, monsieur, the King, the priests and the seigneurs said: 'Do that!'--and it was done?"

"Just so!"

"Pay!--and people paid?"

"Exactly."

"Go!--and people went?"

"Why! Yes! Yes!"

"In short, everything as on the parade ground--to the right!--to the left!--forward!--double quick! People did not even have the trouble to will this or that? The King, the seigneurs and the clergy took to themselves the trouble of willing for us? And they have changed that!

They have changed all that!!!"

"Fortunately we need not despair, my dear Monsieur Lebrenn."

"May the good G.o.d hear you!" said the merchant, rising and bowing respectfully to the Count. "Monsieur, to command."

"So, then, next Sunday--at the tournament. You will come, my good fellow--you--your family--agreed?"

"Certainly, monsieur, certainly. My daughter will not fail to attend the festivity--seeing she is to be the queen of--of?"

"Queen of Beauty, my dear fellow! It is not I who a.s.sign the role to her--it is Nature!"

"Oh, monsieur, if you would only allow me--"

"What?"

"To repeat in your name to my daughter the gallantries that you have uttered about her."

"Why, my dear fellow, not only do I authorize you to do so, but I request you. Moreover, without further ceremony, I shall myself carry to Madam Lebrenn and her charming daughter the invitation that I extend to them."

"Oh, monsieur--the poor women--they will feel so flattered by your good will towards us. I shall say nothing about myself; if I were to receive the Cross of Honor I could not feel prouder."

"You are a first cla.s.s fellow, my dear Lebrenn!"

"Your servant, monsieur, your servant with all my heart," repeated the merchant, moving away.

The moment, however, that the linendraper reached the door, he seemed to change his mind, scratched himself behind the ear, and returned to the Count of Plouernel.

"Well, my dear fellow?" asked the Count, rather astonished at his return. "What is the matter?"

"The matter is," said the merchant, continuing to scratch the back of his ear, "meseems a thought strikes me--I beg your pardon for the great liberty--"

"Zounds! Speak up! Why should you not have an idea--as well as anybody else?"