The White House Part 35

Instantly the air was filled with the noise of bagpipes, horns, drums and voices,--Francois, the concierge and the gardener adding to the uproar with a prolonged _Vive monseigneur!_ The a.s.s that bore the person thus noisily welcomed continued at a fast trot across the greensward, for it saw at the left the entrance to its stable, beside a small cottage, where a cow and divers geese seemed also to be awaiting the new lord of the manor. But the infernal uproar which suddenly rent the air caused the donkey, which was not fond of music, to p.r.i.c.k up its ears; it broke into a gallop in order to reach its quarters more quickly.

Robineau tried to hold it back, but he had too much to do to hold himself in his seat. In vain did he call out to the peasants, to Francois, to stop the a.s.s; the strains of the instruments drowned his voice. The a.s.s shot through the midst of the villagers like an arrow, as they stood respectfully aside and saluted the new proprietor, who entered upon his domain at a gallop, clinging to the tail and mane of his mount. But the a.s.s, instead of going to the chateau, made for its own quarters, and did not stop till it reached the stable, where it immediately rolled on the floor with its rider. Monseigneur shrieked for help, while the a.s.s brayed l.u.s.tily, in order to have its share in the concert that was being given on the lawn.

Meanwhile, Francois and some of the peasants, surprised that monseigneur preferred to dismount in the stable of one of his va.s.sals instead of in the courtyard of his chateau, went thither after him, and not without much difficulty did they succeed in extricating Monsieur de la Roche-Noire from beneath the a.s.s. At last Robineau stood erect once more; he had fallen into the mire, which was in his hair and over one eye, and with which one side of his coat was besmeared. But his pleasure in having arrived and in hearing the tumult that was being made in his honor prevented him from observing the disarray of his costume. He strode proudly forth from the stable, and bent his steps, limping slightly, toward the peasants; he bowed to right and left and was intoxicated for some moments by the loud strains of the cowherds'

horns; he considered that Monsieur Cheval beat the drum as well as the wild Indian at the Palais-Royal, and that the peasant women had voices as good as choristers'.

But Monsieur Ferulus stepped forward to meet him; he made a gesture with his left arm, whereupon Francois immediately made another with his right, and everybody was quiet. Thereupon Monsieur Ferulus, having saluted as if he were about to dance a minuet, pa.s.sed his tongue over his lips and addressed Robineau thus:

"Monsieur de la Roche-Noire:--_Albo dies notanda lapillo!_--The Romans marked with white and black stones their happy and unhappy days; we shall make a cross for this day which brings you among us. Long has this domain been deserted. You will be the sun, which is more than perfect (_pluperfect_), you will be the _future_, which is _indefinite_, and these peasants will enjoy a happiness which will not be _conditional_."

Alfred and Edouard, who were behind the recipient of this complimentary address, bit their lips to avoid laughing in Monsieur Ferulus's face, and moved away from the new landholder, whose garments did not exhale a pleasant odor. But Monsieur Ferulus took snuff and continued his harangue:

"Monsieur de la Roche-Noire, _vitam impendere vero_; I have never declined compliments or flatteries; but it is very pleasant to me to be the first to salute the new owner of this chateau. May you be able to say of this castle: _Inveni portum!_ or, if you prefer, to settle in Auvergne! If I am to credit public report, which has spoken to me through the medium of your valet de chambre, you combine in a single person the wisdom of Socrates, the justice of Aristides, the grandeur of Themistocles and the eloquence of Cicero; may you add to these the good fortune of Polycrates, the wealth of Crsus, and the length of days of Methuselah!"

Monsieur Ferulus ceased to speak, wiped his forehead and took more snuff. Robineau, who had listened with keen delight to his harangue, bowed low and replied:

"Certainly, monsieur! I beg your pardon--your name, if you please?"

"Ferulus."

"Well, Monsieur Ferulus, I am deeply touched. For my own part, I propose to live as long as possible.--But come whenever you choose, to eat a plate of soup at the chateau; even to-day."

"With great pleasure, Monsieur de la Roche-Noire," said Ferulus, eagerly. He had never been known to refuse an invitation to dinner.

And Robineau returned to his friends, saying:

"That's a very learned man! deuce take it! he knows a lot!"

Francois, when he saw that Monsieur Ferulus had finished his speech, ordered the music to strike up anew. Monsieur Cheval, who was no speaker, but who was equally anxious to secure the newcomer's patronage, left his drum for a moment and went to his house, whence he soon returned leading a little horse, which he presented to Robineau, saying:

"Here, monsieur, is a stout nag, that won't throw you down like Nicolas's donkey; get on his back; he was newly shod this morning."

Robineau would have liked quite as well to make his entry on foot, but he dared not refuse Monsieur Cheval's offer, so he climbed to the nag's back, on condition that he should be allowed to go at a walk. They proceeded toward the chateau, around which could still be seen some vestiges of the ancient moats, wherein children were playing and tumbling about. At the right hand and the left were two towers which were in imminent danger of falling; but the buildings in the centre seemed to be in better condition. A large courtyard, where weeds were growing unchecked, preceded the buildings and was entered through a broad gateway with a small lodge on each side, occupied by the concierge and the gardener. Those worthies had remained at their windows awaiting their master's entrance to carry out a little surprise which Francois had devised.

At last the proprietor arrived; they heard the hullabaloo caused by the shouts, the cowherds' horns, the drum and the bagpipes; the children came first, then the peasants. The procession was swelled by Alfred and Edouard, laughing till the tears came; and Monsieur Ferulus walked solemnly beside the horse. At the moment that they entered the courtyard of the chateau, the gardener hurled the wreath of flowers which he had prepared for his master; but instead of falling upon Robineau, it landed on the ears of his steed, who was thus crowned with flowers. At the same moment, the concierge leaned from the window to present the keys of the chateau, which he had placed in a salad-bowl, in default of a salver. He held this out with one hand, while with the other he raised a gla.s.s of wine, crying:

"_Vive monseigneur! vive not' bourgeois!_"

The bourgeois did not inquire what there might be in the salad-bowl that was offered him. But, as he was rather inquisitive, he said to the concierge:

"Give it to me, my friend."

The concierge, who was drunk, thinking that his master wished to drink, held out the gla.s.s and spilled on his head a large part of its contents, while Monsieur Ferulus exclaimed:

"O thrice happy day! I fancy that I am present at the ceremonies of the Corybantes! I seem to enter the Temple of Cybele! Music, flowers, libations--everything is here!"

"Yes, everything, absolutely," said Robineau, wiping his face; but, as he was not anxious to receive any further libations, he urged his begarlanded nag, and covered with wine and cow-dung, entered La Roche-Noire amid the cries and plaudits of all the little brats in the neighborhood.

Robineau dismounted, and as he still had some difficulty in walking, as a result of the fall under the donkey, he did not feel in condition to inspect his domain at once. After tossing with n.o.ble indifference a handful of small coins to the children, who grovelled in the dirt to scramble for them, which, according to Monsieur Ferulus, recalled the tournaments of old, Robineau bade the concierge provide the whole company with refreshments; then, having saluted them all, he followed Francois to his bedroom, where he threw himself, tired out, on his bed, crying:

"Dieu! how pleasant it is to be a seigneur! to be harangued--ow!--and complimented!--Ah! my ribs! It's a little fatiguing, but I shall get used to it.--Francois, while I take a little rest, cause a magnificent repast to be prepared, and inform the peasants that there will be a ball at the chateau this evening. I have been too well received not to show my grat.i.tude."

XI

THE CHaTEAU DE LA ROCHE-NOIRE.--A VILLAGERS' FeTE

Alfred and Edouard followed Robineau's example; they seized the opportunity to rest from the fatigue of the journey. Francois showed them to two large rooms where there were bedsteads and mattresses; the beds in the chateau lacked bedclothes only; but Francois had already sent servants to Clermont to bring linen, with the carriage and the luggage of his master and his friends.

After three hours' rest Robineau woke. He lay beneath a crimson canopy; ancient silk curtains surrounded the bed on which he had thrown himself and which was decidedly hard. But Robineau said to himself as he rose:

"I will have the mattresses stuffed."

Then he glanced about the room which was to be his bedroom. The cornice was gilded; the ceiling was adorned with Cupids, whose features were not clearly distinguishable; and the apartment was hung with old tapestry representing the story of the Chaste Susannah.

"This is magnificent!" thought Robineau; "it's after the style of Versailles and Saint-Germain!--Gilt fillets over the doors! mouldings everywhere! beautiful mirrors!--To be sure, there are some cracks in the wall here and there, and a few holes in the floor; but I'll have all those things repaired. I will have workmen here to-morrow."

Robineau saw a cord hanging over the mantel; he pulled it, a bell rang in the distance, and Francois appeared.

"Did monsieur ring?" he asked.

"Faith, yes, I rang without meaning to.--But no matter; where are the gentlemen, Francois?"

"They did like monsieur, they lay down; but I think they're awake."

"Francois, we must have complete beds for to-night; it would not be decent to sleep at La Roche-Noire without sheets.--Send for dealers and buy some; I appoint you my factotum, my steward."

"Very good, monsieur."

"By the way, I should be glad to inspect my servants. How many are there here besides yourself?"

"The concierge and the gardener, monsieur, that's all."

"That is not enough; I must have a good-sized staff of servants. But no matter, tell my people to come to me; I will give them my orders."

Francois left the room, and Alfred and Edouard joined Robineau, who stood at the window overlooking the gardens and rapturously surveyed his property.

"Well, Robi--I mean La Roche-Noire, are you satisfied?" said Alfred as he entered the room; "here you are in your chateau!"

"Agree, messieurs, that such rooms as this are beautiful, majestic!"

"Yes, this is very large.--But aren't we going to inspect the house?"

"In a moment. I am waiting for my people, I have some orders to give them; then we will inspect the chateau from cellar to eaves."

The concierge and the gardener made their appearance; they were both drunk, but the concierge especially found it difficult to stand erect, because he was already tipsy when his master ordered him to treat the peasants, and he had felt bound to keep them company.