"No; the letter was handed me by Dame Tremblay, with a cup of wine.
But the Intendant gave me a crown when he read it. I never saw the
Chevalier Bigot in better humor! That letter touched both his purse
and his feelings. But how did you ever come to hear of the Lady of
Beaumanoir?"
"Oh, Bartemy and I hear everything at the gate of the Basse Ville!
My Lord Bishop and Father Glapion of the Jesuits met in the gate one
day and spoke of her, each asking the other if he knew who she was--
when up rode the Intendant; and the Bishop made free, as Bishops
will, you know, to question him whether he kept a lady at the
Chateau.
"'A round dozen of them, my Lord Bishop!' replied Bigot, laughing.
La! It takes the Intendant to talk down a Bishop! He bade my Lord
not to trouble himself, the lady was under his tutelle! which I
comprehended as little, as little--"
"As you do your Nominy Dominy!" replied Pothier. "Don't be angry,
Max, if I infer that the Intendant quoted Pigean (Tit. 2, 27): 'Le
Tuteur est comptable de sa gestion.'"
"I don't care what the pigeons have to say to it--that is what the
Intendant said!" replied Max, hotly, "and THAT, for your law
grimoire, Master Pothier!" Max snapped his fingers like the lock of
his musket at Prague, to indicate what he meant by THAT!
"Oh, inepte loquens! you don't understand either law or Latin, Max!"
exclaimed Pothier, shaking his ragged wig with an air of pity.
Pages:
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451