"He did line his
livery a little, but lightly, as his Honor would see!" said he,
bringing out a bottle of cognac and a drinking-cup.
"It is to keep us from catching cold!" continued Cadet in his
peculiar way. "Is it good?" He placed the bottle to his lips and
tasted it.
Marcele assured him it was good as gold.
"Right!" said Cadet, throwing Marcele a louis d'or. "I will take
the bottle to the Intendant to keep him from catching cold too!
Mind, Marcele, you keep your tongue still, or else--!" Cadet held
up his whip, and bidding the porter "good-night!" rejoined Bigot.
Cadet had a crafty design in this proceeding. He wanted not to tell
Marcele that a lady was accompanying them; also not to let him
perceive that they left Beaumanoir without one. He feared that the
old porter and Dame Tremblay might possibly compare notes together,
and the housekeeper discover that Caroline had not left Beaumanoir
with the Intendant.
Bigot sat faint and listless in his saddle when Cadet poured out a
large cupful of brandy and offered it to him.
Pages:
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886