The White House Part 20

"Yes, to be sure."

"Will the gentlemen sleep here?"

"No! no, indeed! we sleep at my estate of La Roche-Noire."

At that name the stranger raised his head and looked closely at Robineau, who continued:

"You must know that chateau, monsieur l'aubergiste?"

"La Roche-Noire? no, monsieur. I know the village of La Roche-Blanche, which is about two leagues from here."

"I say, Robineau," laughed Alfred, "perhaps you are mistaken; maybe you're lord of La Roche-Blanche."

"Not at all; I have my t.i.tle deeds; I am perfectly sure that it's _Noire_.--However, what estates are there at La Roche-Blanche?"

"Oh! most of the people live in caves, monsieur; in a sort of caverns, dug out of the cliffs."

"You see, messieurs, that there's no resemblance--caverns! And I have a magnificent chateau!--You know the town of Saint-Amand, I trust?"

"Saint-Amand-Talende? Yes, messieurs; it's but a few leagues from here."

"Well, my chateau is near there; it must be visible from a distance, because----"

"Oh! let us go to our dinner, for G.o.d's sake!" cried Alfred. "Your chateau has given me indigestion already, before I have seen it."

"Yes, yes, let us not stay here."

As he spoke, Robineau cast a contemptuous glance at the stranger, who, instead of lowering his eyes, frowned and looked after the Seigneur de la Roche-Noire. That gentleman made haste to leave the room, saying to the inn-keeper:

"Why do you have people like that in your house?"

"Like what, monsieur?"

"Parbleu! like that beggar who is sitting in your common room, and who didn't even rise when we came in."

"He is not a beggar, monsieur, he's a traveller."

"Well, he's a very neat, attractive person, your traveller! He has a most insolent air, too; and if I hadn't been afraid of--of compromising myself, I would have taught him that that isn't the way to look at a man like me."

"Oh! Robineau, don't play the fire-eater, I beg," said Alfred, seating himself at the table; "since you have had a chateau, you want to intimidate and crush everybody. Do you think that wealth gives you the right to play the master everywhere?"

"There's no question of that. I want to be treated politely, that's all.

It seems to me that that isn't too much to ask."

"But were you very polite yourself, Monsieur Jules, to that poor fellow?" asked Edouard. "As soon as you saw him, you insisted on leaving the room. He probably noticed the scornful glances you cast at him. The unfortunate are more sensitive than other people, because they constantly dread humiliation."

"Bah! let us not talk about that man any more. In truth, I have too many things on my mind to pay attention to such creatures. Let us eat quickly, messieurs, so that we may arrive at my place the sooner."

"Choke yourself to death, if you choose; I propose to dine quietly.

Remember that it's only two o'clock! we have plenty of time!"

"But why go on foot? Let us keep the carriage, and we will hire other horses."

"Oh! we are tired of being in a carriage; it will be much pleasanter to walk these last two or three leagues and admire the landscape and the peasant women; for you must find out what sort of neighbors you have to deal with."

"Then we will leave the chaise and our luggage here, and I will send my people to fetch them to-morrow.--However, messieurs, I am going to send Francois ahead, to have our apartments made ready."

"Send Francois ahead, if you choose."

Robineau left the table and went in search of his valet; he led him aside and said to him:

"Francois, you are to go on to my chateau in advance of us."

"Yes, monsieur. Where is it, monsieur?"

"Take the Saint-Amand road and inquire. Parbleu! it must be well known."

"Oh, yes! I will find it, monsieur."

"You will tell the concierge that his new master will soon arrive, with two young gentlemen of his acquaintance."

"Yes, monsieur."

"You will tell him to make all preparations to receive us--in a fitting manner."

"Yes, monsieur; I will tell him to make the beds."

"You will give him to understand, as if it were your own idea, that I am not insensible to compliments, and that it would be well for him to make me a speech."

"Yes, monsieur, I will tell him that you told me you would not be insensible to a speech."

"No, you idiot! Don't say that I told you that, but that you guessed it."

"Oh! I understand, monsieur."

"Then, Francois, you will go about the neighborhood, to all the peasants, and tell them also of my arrival; you will impress upon them that I am very rich, a very great man."

"Must I say that you are great?"

"I mean generous; that I intend to make _rosieres_."

"Yes, monsieur, I will tell them that you intend to have _rosieres_ made for them."

"And that if they should bring me bouquets, if they should give me a little reception, with a discharge of firearms and shouts and dances, it could not fail to give me pleasure."

"Very well, monsieur; I will tell them that you want a reception that you don't know anything about."

"Yes, that's just it; in short, Francois, stir all the people up."