The Bashful Lover Part 23

Monsieur Poterne took a pasteboard box from his pocket, containing a very pretty, flat watch, a gold chain, which looked very light but was of beautiful workmans.h.i.+p, and a diamond pin. Cherubin uttered a cry of admiration when he saw the baubles.

"These, monsieur le marquis, are the finest and most stylish things to be had," said Poterne, pa.s.sing the chain about the young man's neck, and doing his utmost to a.s.sume an honest expression.

"Yes, they're in the latest style," said Darena. "My dear Cherubin, you must have these things; a well-dressed man cannot do without them. I have several chains myself; they are all broken just now, but I am having them mended."

"Oh! I will buy all these jewels," cried Cherubin. "Who would believe that there was a watch inside of this? What a pretty pin!--How much for them all, monsieur?"

Observing the young man's enthusiasm over the jewels, Poterne thought that he might add a little more to the price.

"Twenty-five hundred francs in all," he said.

Darena turned his face away and bit his lips, while Cherubin ran to his cash drawer.

At sight of that drawer filled with gold pieces, Monsieur Poterne turned blue, his brow became wrinkled, his eyes increased in size and his nose shrunk. Darena, observing his excitement, took advantage of the fact that Cherubin's back was turned to administer a kick to his friend, muttering:

"I trust, you villain, that you have no detestable intentions; if I thought that you had, I would break every bone in your body."

Poterne had no time to reply; he rubbed that portion of his anatomy which had been attacked, received the amount which Cherubin counted out to him in gold, and hastily took his leave. But he had hardly pa.s.sed through the bedroom door when Darena ran after him, saying:

"Excuse me, my young friend, I will return in a moment; I forgot to give my steward an important order."

Hurrying after Poterne, who seemed anxious to avoid being overtaken, Darena caught him on the stairs and seized him by his coat collar.

"Don't go so fast," he said; "you're in a great hurry, you old scoundrel. Come, give me two thousand francs, in a hurry."

"Two thousand francs!" muttered Poterne; "why, I've got to give eight hundred to the jeweler, who is waiting downstairs."

"You can give him five hundred; he will be satisfied to wait for the rest."

"But I----"

"I'll break you into six pieces, if you argue. Come, Poterne, be decent!

You know that when I am in funds, you never lack anything."

Monsieur Poterne complied, looking as if he were about to weep. Darena pocketed the gold and returned to Cherubin, who was admiring himself in the mirror. Jasmin came to say that breakfast was served, and the gentlemen took their seats at the table. They were hardly seated when Monsieur de Monfreville was announced.

When he saw Darena at table with their young friend of the preceding day, Monfreville moved his head imperceptibly and said to the count:

"Here already? The deuce! you must have come quite early."

"When I am fond of my friends, I am always in haste to see them,"

replied Darena.--"What wine is this, faithful Jasmin?"

"Beaune, monsieur," replied the old servant, bowing.

"It is very good; but I like sauterne and chambertin at breakfast. You must have a fine cellar here?"

"Oh, yes, monsieur; and all old wines."

"I imagine so, if they were laid in by our young friend's father.--Come, O model of old retainers, go and bring us several more bottles. When a cellar has been left in peace for a generation, it seems to me that it is high time to empty it."

Jasmin hastened to do as he was requested, and Monfreville said to Darena:

"But you give orders without even consulting the master of the house!"

"My friend has given me carte blanche, and I am making the most of it."

"Yes, monsieur," said Cherubin; "pray do whatever you choose in my house."

Darena leaned toward Monfreville and said in his ear:

"He was already talking of going back to Gagny this morning; if we don't make the young fellow giddy, he is capable of returning to his nurse, and that would be downright murder!"

"Aren't you going to breakfast with us, monsieur?" Cherubin asked Monfreville.

"Thanks, my young friend, but I have breakfasted. Were you satisfied with the tradespeople whom I sent to you this morning?"

"Oh, yes, monsieur; everything was beautiful. I bought a lot of things, and so did monsieur le comte."

Monfreville glanced at Darena, who pretended not to hear and seemed busily occupied helping himself to partridge pie.

"And look at my watch and my gold chain, and this pin. Monsieur Darena sent them all to me by his steward. How pretty they are, aren't they?"

"Did you pay much for them?" Monfreville inquired.

"Why, no, only two thousand five hundred francs; I don't call that dear!"

Monfreville looked again at Darena, who continued to stuff himself with partridges.

"Why, yes, it was quite enough," he said; "in fact, it was very dear. In the future, with your permission, I will advise you in your purchases; I fancy that I know at least as much about such matters as monsieur's steward."

Jasmin returned with a number of bottles; he broke one when he attempted to put it on the table, and dropped a cream cheese on Darena's head.

Cherubin was terribly distressed by his servant's awkwardness; and the old fellow, overwhelmed with confusion by what he had done, slunk out of sight behind a screen. Darena was the first to laugh at the accident.

"It's of no consequence," he said; "I am not dressed yet.--For all that, my dear marquis, if I may venture to give you a piece of advice, I advise you to relieve your old Jasmin from the duty of waiting at table.

His services will be ruinous to you and fatal to your friends. The excellent fellow has abundantly earned retirement and you must give it to him. I will go home to dress, and come back for you; for we will pa.s.s the day together, eh, Monfreville?"

"That is my wish, if it will not annoy our young friend."

Cherubin hesitated a moment, then said falteringly:

"But I intended to--to go to Gagny--to see my--my nurse."

"Oh! to-morrow! to-morrow!" cried Darena; "we have too many things to do to-day; I will hurry home to dress and return at once."

Darena took his leave. Monfreville would have liked to hint to his young friend that he would do well not to place too much confidence in the count's manifestations of friends.h.i.+p for him; but if he attempted so soon to destroy the young man's illusions, if he told him to be on his guard against false friends, selfish affections, the wiles of shopkeepers, and all the perils of Paris, would he not run the risk of disgusting him with that city, which he had consented to visit only with regret?

"After all," said Monfreville to himself, "Darena is jovial and bright; he has the art of inventing some new pleasure every day, and even if his friends.h.i.+p should cost Cherubin a few thousand-franc notes, the youngster is rich, and one must needs pay for one's apprentices.h.i.+p in everything. Besides, I will keep an eye on our pupil, and I will try to see to it that his inexperience is not over-abused.--By the way, my young friend," he said aloud, "what have you done with your tutor? He is to remain with you, is he not? Is he not well?"