The Bashful Lover Part 22

"So you call that not making a noise?"

"I was walking so carefully that I ran into that little piece of furniture, and it fell. But no matter; you can find those things at all furniture shops."

"Oh! I am not at all alarmed, Jasmin. I am going to dress and go back to Gagny."

"What! already, my dear master? Have you examined your cash-box?"

"No; why should I?"

"That is all full of gold, monsieur," said Jasmin, pointing to the cash drawer in the secretary; "and it's all yours. And when it's all gone, there is plenty more; you have only to apply to your banker. And one can enjoy so much in Paris with money."

"Jasmin, you know that I don't like to be thwarted. Where are my clothes and my shoes?"

"I threw them all out of the window, monsieur, except what Monsieur de Monfreville brought you yesterday."

"What does that mean? Do you mean that I haven't any trousers to put on?

Are you mad, Jasmin?"

"It was Monsieur de Monfreville who advised me to throw away all monsieur's old things. But there's a tailor waiting outside, and a boot-maker and a s.h.i.+rt-maker and a hatter, who have brought some things that are more in style. It was Monsieur de Monfreville again who sent them all here; they've been waiting an hour for you to wake."

"Let them come in then."

The tradesmen were admitted. Each of them was attended by a boy laden with merchandise. While Cherubin selected those things which pleased him and which he was told were the most fas.h.i.+onable, Comte Darena was announced.

Darena wore his old ragged coat, his shapeless hat, and his rumpled cravat of the night before; but he appeared with his usual charming and playful manner, and shook the young man's hand with great heartiness, crying:

"Here I am, my dear fellow; I intended to be here to salute you when you woke. I have come to breakfast with you.--Ah! you are making purchases?

You should have left that to me; I would have sent my tradesmen to you.

You left very suddenly last night, did you not? The ladies were all terribly surprised when they found that you were no longer there."

"Monsieur d'Hurbain told me it was time to go--that we ought not to stay any longer at a restaurant," replied Cherubin artlessly.

"Ah! charming! delicious!--In Paris you stay at a restaurant as late as you choose--you even pa.s.s the night there when the fancy strikes you.

Your Monsieur d'Hurbain is a most estimable man, but he is not of our time, nor on the level of the age we live in. Luckily he won't always be with you, for he would be a terrible bore.--Aren't you going to take this blue coat?"

"I have already selected two sack coats and two frock coats."

"Then I'll take it; I can see at a glance that it will look well on me.

I am also attracted by this little polonaise--it's a whim. Parbleu! I like the color of these trousers; I'll take them and these two waistcoats. When I am once started, there is no good reason why I should stop. Here are some s.h.i.+rts which should fit me perfectly. They make s.h.i.+rts now that fit as tight as a coat; I will take this dozen. These boots look as if they were well made.--You have a very pretty foot, Cherubin, of the same type as mine. I will take this pair of boots. Are they the same size as the ones selected by monsieur le marquis?"

"Yes, monsieur," the boot-maker replied, with a bow.

"Then I will keep them.--I am curious to see if my head is the same size as yours, also. Let me see the hat you have chosen."

Doing his utmost to squeeze his head into a hat which the hatter handed him, and which was much too small for him, Darena cried:

"It will fit me--oh! it will end by fitting me. Have you another one like it there, hatter--but a little larger?"

"Yes, monsieur."

"Let me see--that is just right; I will take it."

The tradesmen glanced at one another with some uneasiness; one could see in their eyes that they were wondering whether they ought to trust this gentleman, who selected so many things without even asking the price, and whose costume did not inspire unbounded confidence. Darena put an end to their uncertainty by adding:

"By the way, here I am buying and buying, and I have no money with me!

Parbleu! my friend the young Marquis Cherubin will pay for my purchases with his own; it is useless to make two bills. Then I will settle with him.--Will that inconvenience you, my young friend?"

"No, monsieur, it will give me great pleasure," replied Cherubin, as he proceeded to dress; "I am delighted to accommodate you!"

And Jasmin whispered to his young master, as he a.s.sisted him to put on his waistcoat:

"It's very good form, too, very n.o.ble, to lend to your friends; the late Monsieur de Grandvilain, your father, did it all the time! I will settle with monsieur's tradesmen."

Jasmin paid the various accounts.

Darena gave the dealers his address, so that they might send him what he had selected, and they took their leave, greatly pleased.

While the old servant went out to give orders for breakfast, Darena said to Cherubin:

"Now you are dressed in perfect taste--that is very good so far; but it isn't enough; I propose that my young friend shall have all the little trifles, all the jewelry that is absolutely essential for a Parisian lion."

"What do you say? a lion?"

"That is the name given to-day to a young man of fas.h.i.+on. Have you a watch?"

"Yes, this one; it belonged to my father."

As he spoke, Cherubin showed Darena a gold watch as thick as it was broad. The count roared with laughter as he glanced at it.

"Why, my dear fellow, if you should be seen carrying such an onion, people would laugh in your face."

"What's that? Why, it's gold!"

"I don't doubt it; and I may add that it is a most respectable watch, as it came from your father; but such watches are not worn now. Put it away carefully in your desk and have a stylish one, as thin as a sheet of paper. I have instructed my steward to find one for you, and to bring you this morning all the jewelry that you ought to have. Stay, I hear him asking for you now in your reception room.--This way, Poterne, this way; monsieur le marquis is visible."

Poterne's villainous face appeared at the bedroom door, and Cherubin invited him to come in. As he pa.s.sed Darena, he said to him rapidly and in an undertone:

"The dealer wouldn't trust me with anything; he's waiting at the door."

"All right, you will be able to pay him. They're not false, of course?"

"No, they're genuine stones."

"How much does he want for them?"

"Eight hundred francs."

"Call it two thousand."