What
brings him back before the rest of the hunting party, I wonder?"
"That officer must have been to Beaumanoir, and is bringing the
young seigneur back to town," remarked Jean, puffing out a long
thread of smoke from his lips.
"Well, it must be something better than smoke, Jean!"--Babet
coughed: she never liked the pipe--"The young chevalier is always
one of the last to give up when they have one of their three days
drinking bouts up at the Chateau. He is going to the bad, I fear--
more's the pity! such a nice, handsome fellow, too!"
"All lies and calumny!" replied Jean, in a heat. "Le Gardeur de
Repentigny is the son of my dear old seigneur. He may get drunk,
but it will be like a gentleman if he does, and not like a carter,
Babet, or like a--"
"Boatman! Jean; but I don't include you--you have never been the
worse for drinking water since I took care of your liquor, Jean!"
"Ay, you are intoxication enough of yourself for me, Babet! Two
bright eyes like yours, a pipe and bitters, with grace before meat,
would save any Christian man in this world.
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