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"Why, you fool, M. Gringuet's deputy arrived two hours before you. You must get up a little earlier another time. They are poor tricksters who are too late for the fair. And now be silent, and it may save you a stripe or two to-morrow." There are situations in which even the greatest find it hard to maintain their dignity, and this was one.
The violence of the action, and Maignan's heat, were such that the nearest drew back affrighted; and even Gringuet's servants recoiled, while the market people gasped with astonishment. But I knew that the respite would last a moment only, and I stood forward. "Arrest that man," I said, pointing to the collector, who was grovelling on the ground, nursing his foot and shrieking foul threats at us.
Therefore, my friend, I will trouble you to show me to my room." I thought that this announcement would impress him as much as I desired; but, to my surprise, he only stared at me. "Eh!" he exclaimed at last, in a faltering tone, "M. Gringuet's deputy?" "Yes," I said, dismounting somewhat impatiently; "he is ill with the gout and cannot come." "And you are his deputy?" "I have said so."
"Very well," I answered pompously, considering that I had just such an audience as I desired by which I mean one that, without being too critical, would spread the news. "I am M. Gringuet's deputy, and I am here with authority to collect and remit, receive and give receipts for, his Majesty's taxes, tolls, and dues, now, or to be, due and owing.
But I found nothing to laugh at in the position; since the people outside might at any moment leave us where we were to fast until morning; and, after a moment's reflection, I called out to know who the speaker on the other side was. "I am M. de Fonvelle," he answered. "Well, M. de Fonvelle," I replied, "I advise you to have a care what you do. I am M. Gringuet's deputy.
But judging from the fact that the deputy had not confronted us himself that he was an impostor, to whom Gringuet's illness had suggested the scheme on which I had myself hit, I hoped for the best; and, to be sure, in a moment an outcry arose in the house and quickly spread. Of those at the door, some cried to their fellows to hearken, while others hastened off to see.
Full of indignation, I made in my mind a note of M. Gringuet's name; but at the moment I said no more, and we proceeded to the house, the exterior of which, though meagre, and even miserable, gave me an impression of neatness. From the inside, however, a hoarse, continuous noise was issuing, which resolved itself as we crossed the threshold into a man's voice.
I answered. "Open the door instantly! Are you all mad here, that you shut up the King's servants in this way?" "The King's servants!" he cried, jeering at us. "Where are they?" "Here!" I answered, swallowing my rage as well as I might. "I am M. Gringuet's deputy, and if you do not this instant " "M. Gringuet's deputy! Ho! ho!" he said.
At a little inn, a league short of Le Mesnil, I stopped, and instructing my two attendants in the parts they were to play, prepared, with the help of the seals, which never left Maignan's custody, the papers necessary to enable me to enact the role of Gringuet's deputy.
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