And all these young fellows, my dear, are like that; they have the most deplorable opinion of women, that one would say that their mothers had all been very easy-going ladies.  And now, that is enough.

Together they passed in minute review all the young village beaux, but Durand’s suspicion did not rest on any.

LXXIX

IN THE DILIGENCE

“Hydras and apes.  Triboulet puts on the mitre, and Bobeche the crown, Crispin plays Lycurgus, and Pasquin parades as Solon.  Scapin is heard calling himself Sire, Mascarillo is My Lord ...  Cheeks made for slaps, are titles for honours.  The more they are branded on the shoulder, the more they are bedisened on the back.  Trestallion is radiant, and Pancrace resplendent.”

  CAMILLE LEMONNIERE (Paris-Berlin).

During this time, the diligence for Nancy was carrying away Marcel and Ridoux at full trot.  Marcel had appeared to yield to his uncle’s exhortations, and said to himself:  “Let us go; that does not bind me to anything.  In a couple of days at the latest, I shall be on my way back;” and this had made the worthy Ridoux quite happy.

They were alone in the coupe, and could converse at their ease.

—­Look at this lovely country, that valley, those little hills, and away there the large woods, and do you not think that I shall feel some regret at leaving this part?

—­And that little white house at the foot of the hill?...  Is it there?

—­Ah! so Veronica has pointed it out to you.

—­Reluctantly, my son.  But I wanted to know all.  She is a cautious and trustworthy person who is entirely devoted to you.

—­Not a word more about that cautious woman, uncle, I pray.

—­Let us rather talk about your promotion.

—­My promotion.  I assure you, uncle, that I am no longer ambitious.

—­What are you saying there?  You are no longer ambitious!  You are going perhaps to make me believe that you are happy in your shell.  Come, rouse yourself.  Has a moral torpor already seized you?  You are no longer ambitious.  Well, I will be so for you, and I intend, yes, I intend, do you hear, that you should make your way.  What happiness for a poor old man, like me, when I hear them say:  “Monsieur Ridoux, I have just seen your nephew, Monseigneur Marcel, go by.”  I shall answer then:  “It is I, however, who have made him, who have formed him, his Right-Reverence.”  You will give me your patronage, will you not?

—­Dear uncle, said Marcel softened, pressing the old Cure’s hands, you still have those ideas then, you always think then that I shall become a Bishop?

—­What? yes I think so; I do more than that, I am sure of it.  Are you not of the stuff of which they make them?  Why should not you become one as well as another?

—­A bishopric is not for the first-comer.