"But if Pierre should not commit matrimony," replied Hortense, "what
will become of him? and especially what will become of us?"
"We will drink his wine all the same, good fellow that he is! But
Pierre had as lief commit suicide as not commit matrimony; and who
would not? Look here, Pierre Philibert," continued the old soldier,
addressing him, with good-humored freedom. "Matrimony is clearly
your duty, Pierre; but I need not tell you so: it is written on your
face plain as the way betwen Peronne and St. Quintin,--a good,
honest way as ever was trod by shoe leather, and as old as Chinon in
Touraine! Try it soon, my boy. Quebec is a sack full of pearls!"
Hortense pulled him mischievously by the coat, so he caught her hand
and held it fast in his, while he proceeded: "You put your hand in
the sack and take out the first that offers. It will be worth a
Jew's ransom! If you are lucky to find the fairest, trust me it
will be the identical pearl of great price for which the merchant
went and sold all that he had and bought it. Is not that Gospel,
Father de Berey? I think I have heard something like that preached
from the pulpit of the Recollets?"
"Matter of brimborion, Chevalier! not to be questioned by laymen!
Words of wisdom for my poor brothers of St.
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