nastandnearthestove,theydrewuptheirchairstothatconvenience,andinvitedmetodothesame.Iobeyedandbeingseatedfairlybetweenthem,IwasthusaddressedfirstbyMadamePelet,thenbyMadameReuter.
“Wewillnowspeakofbusiness,”saidMadamePelet,andshewentontomakeanelaboratespeech,which,beinginterpreted,wastotheeffectthatshehadaskedforthepleasureofmycompanythateveninginordertogiveherfriendMadameReuteranopportunityofbroachinganimportantproposal,whichmightturnoutgreatlytomyadvantage.
“Pourvuquevoussoyezsage,”saidMadameReuter,“etavraidire,vousenavezbienl’air.Takeonedropofthepunch”(orponche,asshepronouncedit)“itisanagreeableandwholesomebeverageafterafullmeal.”
Ibowed,butagaindeclinedit.Shewenton:
“Ifeel,”saidshe,afterasolemnsip—“Ifeelprofoundlytheimportanceofthecommissionwithwhichmydeardaughterhasentrustedme,foryouareaware,Monsieur,thatitismydaughterwhodirectstheestablishmentinthenexthouse?”
“Ah!Ithoughtitwasyourself,madame.”Though,indeed,atthatmomentIrecollectedthatitwascalledMademoiselle,notMadameReuter’spensionnat.
“I!Oh,no!Imanagethehouseandlookaftertheservants,asmyfriendMadamePeletdoesforMonsieurherson—nothingmore.Ah!youthoughtIgavelessonsinclass—didyou?”
Andshelaughedloudandlong,asthoughtheideatickledherfancyamazingly.
“Madameisinthewrongtolaugh,”Iobserved“ifshedoesnotgivelessons,Iamsureitisnotbecauseshecannot”andIwhippedoutawhitepocket-handkerchiefandwaftedit,withaFrenchgrace,pastmynose,bowingatthesametime.
“Quelcharmantjeunehomme!”murmuredMadamePeletinalowvoice.MadameReuter,beinglesssentimental,asshewasFlamandandnotFrench,onlylaughedagain.
“Youareadangerousperson,Ifear,”saidshe“ifyoucanforgecomplimentsatthatrate,Zoraidewillpositivelybeafraidofyoubutifyouaregood,Iwillkeepyoursecret,andnottellherhowwellyoucanflatter.Now,listenwhatsortofaproposalshemakestoyou.Shehasheardthatyouareanexcellentprofessor,andasshewishestogettheverybestmastersforherschool(carZoraidefaittoutcommeunereine,c’estuneveritablemaitresse-femme),shehascommissionedmetoste