- Tant pis,
replied the marquis.
It is H- the historian, said another, - Tant mieux, said the
marquis. And Mr. H-, who is a man of an excellent heart, return'd
thanks for both.
When the landlord had set me right in this matter, he called in La
Fleur, which was the name of the young man he had spoke of, - saying
only first, That as for his talents he would presume to say
nothing, - Monsieur was the best judge what would suit him; but for
the fidelity of La Fleur he would stand responsible in all he was
worth.
The landlord deliver'd this in a manner which instantly set my mind
to the business I was upon; - and La Fleur, who stood waiting
without, in that breathless expectation which every son of nature
of us have felt in our turns, came in.
MONTREUIL.
I am apt to be taken with all kinds of people at first sight; but
never more so than when a poor devil comes to offer his service to
so poor a devil as myself; and as I know this weakness, I always
suffer my judgment to draw back something on that very account, -
and this more or less, according to the mood I am in, and the
case; - and I may add, the gender too, of the person I am to govern.
When La Fleur entered the room, after every discount I could make
for my soul, the genuine look and air of the fellow determined the
matter at once in his favour; so I hired him first, - and then began
to enquire what he could do: But I shall find out his talents,
quoth I, as I want them, - besides, a Frenchman can do every thing.
Now poor La Fleur could do nothing in the world but beat a drum,
and play a march or two upon the fife. I was determined to make
his talents do; and can't say my weakness was ever so insulted by
my wisdom as in the attempt.
La Fleur had set out early in life, as gallantly as most Frenchmen
do, with SERVING for a few years; at the end of which, having
satisfied the sentiment, and found, moreover, That the honour of
beating a drum was likely to be its own reward, as it open'd no
further track of glory to him, - he retired a ses terres, and lived
comme il plaisoit a Dieu; - that is to say, upon nothing.
- And so, quoth Wisdom, you have hired a drummer to attend you in
this tour of yours through France and Italy! - Psha! said I, and do
not one half of our gentry go with a humdrum compagnon du voyage
the same round, and have the piper and the devil and all to pay
besides? When man can extricate himself with an equivoque in such
an unequal match, - he is not ill off.
