"It is the people cheering the Intendant on
his way through the city!" remarked La Corne St. Luc, ironically.
"Zounds! what a vacarme they make! See what it is to be popular
with the citizens of Quebec!"
There was a smile all round the table at La Corne's sarcasm. It
offended a few friends of the Intendant, however.
"The Chevalier La Corne speaks boldly in the absence of the
Intendant," said Colonel Leboeuf. "A gentleman would give a louis
d'or any day to buy a whip to lash the rabble sooner than a sou to
win their applause! I would not give a red herring for the good
opinion of all Quebec!"
"They say in France, Colonel," replied La Corne de St. Luc,
scornfully, "that 'King's chaff is better than other people's corn,
and that fish in the market is cheaper than fish in the sea!' I
believe it, and can prove it to any gentleman who maintains the
contrary!"
There was a laugh at La Corne's allusion to the Marquise de
Pompadour, whose original name of Jeanne Poisson, gave rise to
infinite jests and sarcasms among the people of low and high degree.
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