IV

The return of the married couple was the sensation of Keragouil, for the Comte de Bonzag, after the fashion of his ancestors, had placed his bride behind him on the broad back of Quatre Diables, who proceeded with unaltered equanimity.  Along the journey the peasants, who held the Comte in loyal terror, greeted the procession with a respectful silence, congregating in the road to stare and chatter only when the amiable Quatre Diables had disappeared in the distance.

Disdaining to notice the commotion he produced, the Comte headed straight for the courtyard, where Quatre Diables, recognizing the foot block, dropped his head and began to crop the grass.  The new Comtesse, fatigued by the novel position, started gratefully to descend by the most natural way, that is, by slipping easily over the rear anatomy of the good-natured Quatre Diables.  But the Comte, feeling the commotion behind, stopped her with a word, and, flinging his left leg over the neck of his charger, descended gracefully to the block, where, bowing profoundly, he said in gallant style: 

“Madame, permit me to offer you my hand.”

The Comtesse, with the best intentions in the world, had considerable difficulty in executing the movement by which her husband had extricated himself.  Luckily, the Comte received her without yielding ground, drew her hand under his arm, and escorted her ceremoniously into the chateau, while Quatre Diables, liberated from the unusual burden, rolled gratefully to earth, and scratched his back against the cobblestones.

“Madame, be so kind as to enter your home.”

With studied elegance, the Comte put his hat to his breast, or thereabout, and bowed as he held open the door.

“Oh, M’sieur le Comte; after you,” said Francine, in confusion.

“Pass, Madame, and enter the dining-room.  We have certain ceremonies to observe.”

Francine dutifully advanced, but kept an eye on the movements of her consort.  When he entered the dining-room and went to the sideboard, she took an equal number of steps in the same direction.  When, having brought out a bottle and glasses, he turned and came toward her, she retreated.  When he stopped, she stopped, and sat down with the same exact movement.

“Madame, I offer you a glass of the famous Keragouil Burgundy,” began the Comte, filling her glass.  “It is a wine that we De Bonzags have always kept to welcome our wives and to greet our children.  Madame, I have the honor to drink to the Comtesse de Bonzag.”

“Oh, M’sieur le Comte,” said Francine, who, watching his manner, emptied the goblet in one swallow.

“To the health of my ancestors!” continued the Comte, draining the bottle into the two goblets.  “And now throw your glass on the floor!”

“Yes, M’sieur,” said Francine, who obeyed regretfully, with the new instinct of a housewife.